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Tex Fletcher Martin D-42

At left is a shot of Tex's son George (also a professional guitar player and instructor) and the infamous, original Tex Fletcher Martin D-42 the Fletcher family contributed to the Martin Guitar Museum in Pennsylvania. This picture was taken in 1993. It is the family's understanding that the guitar is no longer on display at the Martin factory, so this may well be the last place you can "visit" the guitar. For a larger view of the picture, including a detailed look at the fretboard inlay, click on the picture at left.

Thanks to Music123.com for providing this historical synopsis of the Martin D-42:

"Historically, the D-42 is among the rarest of all Martin guitar models. Prior to l989, when it was reissued as a limited edition Guitar Of The Month, only one example of the D-42 had ever been built. This was a special left-handed instrument ordered in 1934 for Tex Fletcher, a popular movie cowboy singer. Like its prototype of the 1930's, the D-42 features scalloped 'high X-bracing,' forward shifted to a position one inch from the soundhole. With this positioning, the corners of the bridge rest less directly on the lower half of the X-brace allowing greater vibration of the bridge area. The sound is noticeably louder and more resonant.

"Special features of the D-42 include a highly colored abalone border around the top edge, fingerboard perimeter and rosette. Traditional diamond and snowflake inlays are used on the grained ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard; a five-point snowflake adorns both flutes of the genuine ebony bridge. Grained ivoroid bindings, multi-colored Style-45 marquetry backstrip and vintage style gold "butterbean" Gotoh tuners complete the appointments of this elegant 'new old' instrument."

Links to sites featuring the Tex Fletcher Martin D-42

All information on this site is copyright George A. Fletcher. All music is copyright Tex Fletcher (ASCAP). No materials may be reproduced without the express permission of George A. Fletcher. To contact George, email hisnibs@georgefletcher.com.