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Martin Acoustic Guitar 42D Serial # 80650 (1942).

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:80,000.00 - 1,000,000.00 USD
Martin Acoustic Guitar 42D Serial # 80650 (1942).
<B>Martin Acoustic Guitar 42D Serial # 80650 (1942).</B></I> The year was 1950, and Milton Beasley's rough-and-tumble band, the Southern Serenaders, was set to go on the air, over the 5,000-watt radio station WSLI in Jackson, Mississippi. The program was named "The Farmer Jim Show", hosted by disc jockey "Farmer Jim" Neal, and the featured guest that particular morning was none other than lanky Grand Ole Opry star Hank Williams. Hank never traveled with his own guitar, preferring to use whatever was handy at each stop, so, that day he borrowed Milton's Martin 42D double-ought dreadnought acoustic to play three songs -- "Lost Highway", "I'm a Long Gone Daddy", and a brand new tune, "Long Gone Lonesome Blues." The songs were captured on tape, and were later included in a deluxe 10-CD box set released by Mercury Records. As for the guitar, it has survived all these many years in remarkably nice condition. The neck was professionally reset by Martin a few years ago, otherwise it remains as it was back when Hank first strummed its strings. One of only six 42D guitars made in 1942, this is truly a rare instrument, inlayed with mother-of-pearl and rosewood; it has been owned by Mr. Beasley since 1947, when he purchased it from a Chicago-area musician. It's been in his hands ever since, and has been played on many famous stages, including the Opry, as well as on numerous recordings (Milton's big single was "Mississippi Boogie"). The guitar comes with a modern Martin case, and is ready to be played by its lucky new owner. <BR><BR><B>Important notice:</B> Heritage usually auctions material at the rate of 200-250 lots per hour. On some occasions eBay Live bid software or the Internet may not be able to keep up with the pace of the auction. We recommend placing a realistic absentee bid now as insurance to avoid disappointment. Occasionally the auctioneer may eliminate or reject an eBay Live bid, and the auctioneer may also reopen a lot after the close of the eBay live bidding (usually because we missed an audience bid), and may reject your bid even if it shows you as the winning bidder. By bidding via eBay Live, you agree that Heritage may award the lot to another bidder at its sole discretion under the circumstances described above or any other reasonable circumstances. Since eBay bids are not shown to us until we open the lot on the floor, we treat those bids just like floor bids. In most cases the floor responds before the eBay bid is presented to us, due to Internet lag time, so for consistency we have made it a policy that floor bids are always considered first over tie eBay live bids. Also please note that all Heritage lots purchased through eBay Live carry a 24.5% Buyer's Premium. Please make sure you read the Terms and Conditions before you bid.