Category:C. F. Martin 000-42 (1939, serial number 73234)

Guitar, 000-42 (serial number 73234)
C. F. Martin & Co.
Nazareth, Pennsylvania, 1939
Body length: 19 3/8 in.
Spruce, rosewood, mahogany, ebony, abalone, tortoiseshell celluloid
On loan from the Collection of George Square, courtesy of the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, Cleveland

C. F. Martin & Co. has been building guitars for 180 years, and since 1838
in the town of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. This guitar is one of the most
famous instruments ever to have been built by C. F. Martin & Co. It was
owned and played by Eric Clapton, appearing prominently in his January
16, 1992 performance that was recorded and later televised for MTV's
series Unplugged. This performance has been credited with helping to
revive the use of the acoustic guitar in popular music. One of five guitars
used by Clapton in that performance, it was played on his acoustic
rearrangement of his megahit “Layla.” This 14-fret 000-42 was made
in 1939, during the pre-World War II era that is now considered Martin's
golden era. It is one of only 113 guitars of this model made during that
time and served as Clapton's main acoustic guitar through 1998.

[photo] Eric Clapton performing with his
        000-42. Photo by John Bellisimo ?