Martin Honors Diane Ponzio with "Clinician's Choice" Signature Edition
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| Diane Ponzio |
January 16, 2003
Martin Guitar is proud to present longtime Martin clinician and guitar advocate Diane Ponzio with a special jumbo guitar, the Signature Edition Martin JDP. Born out of her nearly two decades with Martin Guitar, this "clinician's choice" reflects Diane's experience working at hundreds of music stores all over the world, demonstrating guitars at scores of trade shows, and appearing at thousands of her own concerts.
A longtime singer-songwriter, Diane's first encounter with a Martin guitar was while visiting Berkeley, California during spring break. Overhearing someone playing a guitar that sounded "like an orchestra," she asked if she could have a try. Playing an "E" chord on the D-28, Diane was instantly "smitten and bitten."
Fast forward to 1985, when a friend suggested that Diane write to the Martin Guitar Company to see if they needed an artist to promote their instruments. "She dared me to do it," said Diane, "I wrote the letter and sent a tape of my music and some bio materials. Imagine my shock when I heard from "Chris" Martin, a.k.a. C.F.M. IV, a young, forward-thinking businessman who was enthusiastic about my music and intrigued by the notion of doing Martin Clinics with an unknown singer-songwriter, one who just happened to be an avowed Martin guitar fan. He was also keen to promote a "new" model: The J-40."
"I fell in love with the sound, feel, versatility, and look of a J-40," said Diane, "The J-40 embodies the panache of an OM, the balance of a 000, and the engine of a Dreadnought, making it the unheralded gem of the Standard line. The JDP incorporates appointments that render it uniquely attractive, collectible, and sonically superior."
The Martin JDP features a sunburst spruce top, accentuated with a black micarta nut and saddle, highlighting the abalone rosette, and style 45 headstock. The three-piece, solid Indian rosewood back, being offered for the first time on a jumbo body, sports herringbone backstrips between the wedges. The top features 1/4" forward-shifted, scalloped braces, which will unequivocally boost volume and tone, further colored by the solid Indian rosewood sides.
A portion of the proceeds from sales of this instrument will benefit the NY Chapter of The Alzheimer's Foundation. Diane Ponzio is working on her sixth CD. Information about her music is online at www.dianeponzio.com.
The edition size is limited to a specific ordering period to close on April 16, 2003. After the order period closes, the size of the editions and the names of participating dealers will be posted on the Martin website. For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com. |
