I wil have to check that out. Not sure if prototype would have it. I also seemed to think the prototype may have some different features...can you post some pics up of yours?

Here are some of my Prototype:

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...0LSH/Label.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2.../Headstock.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...LSH/Neck-1.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...20LSH/Body.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...0LSH/Body2.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...SH/Rosette.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...LSH/Bridge.jpg
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g2...20LSH/Back.jpg

Would there be any risk of the original owner showing up and saying "I paid my loan off - I demand you return MY guitar!"?

Sounds like a personal problem of the old owner. :D

Mine looks zackly like yours....except the pins...are those the original ones. Mine came with plastic with abalone inlay "I think"..

Sorry, I should have said I changed them to FWI (fossilized walrus ivory). I have the originals.

They are beautiful guitars, I have never actually seen one for sale so the OP is lucky!

Which leads to my question: How did you end up with a prototype? I'm hoping there's an interesting story behind it.

I got it from a guy who had a collection and I literally bought 8 guitars that day, with this being the one out of the group I really wanted. So when I looked at the package buy, I made $4000 or so and I got this one for free.

Well, I ended up buying it, and got a chance today to clean her up a little and put some fresh strings on her. Once my luthier gets back from Montreal, I'll have him look it over and give me an idea about whether the frets can be dressed, or if he'll have to replace the first 4 or 5. The rest of the guitar looks to be in good shape, although it's definitely been played alot - but no complaints from me.

Interestingly, I never even noticed the 1-11/16" nut, which I tend to stay away from - on this neck, it doesn't feel tight. The inlays are very tasteful, and the back has a fascinating multi-color centerstrip, while the front has standard herringbone binding around the outside, but the double pearl rosettes around the oversize soundhole. I hadn't looked inside, but it does have a couple dozen signatures in black ink on the soundboard, including large ones from C F Martin and Lester Wagner, as well as the signatures on the label - Tone seems to me to be classic Martin - no complaints there, for sure!

These pics aren't very good, but the best I could do today. Once I have had it gone over and played it a bunch more, I'll try to take some better ones-

Thanks to everyone for the info and encouragement. This is my first Martin, and the second dreadnaught I've ever owned (the first went away in days), but this may yet turn out to be a long term keeper! Tad

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0001.jpg

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0002.jpg

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0003.jpg

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0005.jpg

http://i472.photobucket.com/albums/r...h_IMG_0006.jpg

You got a really nice deal on a very special guitar. I would have bought one of those in a second just to be a playing guitar since my other is a prototype because I think it is such a good sounding and playing guitar.

Here's the sig's!!!
 

Here is a pic of mine with a mirror in the sound hole. You can see the sig's underneath the top!!!
http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/q...8/DSC_0004.jpg

It's really a "special" Martin. If you ever want to sell it????

Not sure what you mean.

??
 

Not sure about what?....

Dang Tad you have really gone through lots of guitar changes in the last month or so... I bet its confusing. You have let several go from some posts I have read. I think this will be a nice compliment to your Cruz, louder than your Larrivee's and just an overall great fit to the herd.

Interesting you did this as I have been posting over at the UMGF for an older D28. I will be looking at a 91 soon. I think it will be a great counterpart to my D/PW custom. Two different guitars. Not sure what got me started on it... I guess I started thinking of how many musical careers were cut using a D28 and it just went from there. Great catch you have there... Come over to SCGC players forum and tell us about how it compares to the Cruz. I bet Magwa will be excited...and jealous ;)

CONGRATS!!!!

Thanks!

Yeah - quite a few changes recently. I keep thinking I have finally "refined" my interests, and cured myself of GAS, and then . . . well . . . it's a sickness - what can I say.

I have a few Larrivees - 3 of which aren't going anywhere, but a couple I'd like to sell or trade for something different. Not really sure what though. I've also gotten a few Santa Cruz's now, and they are really wonderful. Then the J. Patterson, which is a unique shortscale handmade, really a sweet and special guitar -

But this Martin - well, I didn't intend to buy it. I'd heard about it a few times, and said it would be fun to check it out, but once I played it a few minutes, it was pretty obvious it was quite different from any Larrivee I'd ever had, and also from the SC's. Not better - just a different but very familiar and comfortable sound. Not needing another guitar, I kinda wished he'd priced it out of reach - kinda - ;)

But if Magwa takes a shine to it, I may not be able to hang onto it - although I don't think its quite his specs, I'd be privileged letting it spend some time in his music room -

I'll definitely put some pics and feedback up on the SC forum, once I get the fret / setup issues resolved, and had a couple months to really get to know her better. Good luck in your hunt!

I'm looking at one of these guitars and am going to the shop in a few weeks to try it out. Are you still enjoying it or do you wish you bought something else? I would really like to know.