Elvis Presley’s 1975 Martin D-28, serial number 369735, represents important bookends on a legendary life. His career was begun on Martin dreadnoughts, and this guitar had been bought two years before his death. The guitar was used by Presley during his last three years of performing, including the King’s final concert at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Indiana, on June 26th, 1977. Presley passed away at his Graceland home just two months after that final show, but this D-28 didn’t surface until 1982 when it was discovered in an upstairs closet. Great songs are how we remember this great songwriter.

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Willie Nelson bought his first Martin guitar, sight unseen in 1969. He named his most iconic guitar, a Martin N-20, “Trigger,” after Roy Rogers’s famous horse. Photographs taken throughout Willie’s career show the gradual evolution of Trigger from its original pristine condition to its current road-worn look! In fact, Trigger has been played so much over the years that a sizable hole has worn right through the top! Willie estimates that he has 100 signatures on his Martin including those of Leon Russell, Roger Miller,  Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, lawyers, football coaches, and friends. A classic guitar for a cherished songwriter.

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Onstage in 1992 for Eric Clapton’s “MTV Unplugged” were a 1939 Martin 000-42 and a 1966 Martin 000-28. The show might be seen as a turning point in music, marking the beginning of a stripping music of the reverb and digital cold of the 1980s.  Clapton has remained one of the most innovate and creative Martin players around, and that’s why he is one of our favorite songwriters.

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Hunter Hayes, a Martin ambassador, is a multi-talented producer, songwriter, and performer. The Louisiana-born multi-instrumentalist has been impressing fans with his guitar prowess since receiving his first guitar at age six.  Says Hunter, “to me, the Martin brand is a name I can trust.” Wonderful words, from one of our favorite songwriters.

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Johnny Cash’s favorite Martin guitar, out of the many he played, was a D-35. His first guitar had a polished black finish. The creation was perfect for the “man in black.” Johnny Cash played this very guitar on stage for nearly 20 years. His legacy lives on and  is one of our favorite singer and songwriter to have ever played a Martin.

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Famous John Mayer is an avid Martin guitar player. He designed a custom Martin guitar,an 00-45SC John Mayer Edition. Only 25 John Mayer Edition guitars were created, two of these belong to John; one for playing and one to store. The concept of the design was for a “collectors mindset.” John says the the guitar’s sound is the musical foundation for his last album which he describes as “organic cowboy guitar sounds.”

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Bob Dylan is a Martin player and used the guitars in some of his most famous performances. In Newport with Joan Baez he used her 0-45; for Unplugged her used a D-28; he performed with Leon Russell in Bangladesh with a D-28; in a duet with Johnny Cash, “Girl From the North Country”, he played a 000-18. I Dylan also owned 00-21 Martin guitar.

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A beautiful Custom X Series and D-15M from Martin!

(Source: echoesandglimpses)

John Mayer at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! With his Martin and a notebook of lyrics on display!

(via backtojm)