Martin Custom K-1 Major Kealakai 12-Fret 000 Acoustic Guitar – New

In 1916, Martin built a unique guitar for Major Kealakai, the conductor of the Royal Hawaiian Band who also played Guitar, trombone, and flute. This guitar had the silhouette of a 12-fret 000 but it was wider, deeper, and longer and was designed to be loud so it could be heard in the concert halls Kealakai played in. Now, Martin is honoring that historic milestone with a new take on that custom 12-fret guitar. The Custom K-1 Major Kealakai features a vintage gloss finish, sinker mahogany back and sides and an Adirondack spruce top with Martin’s own VTS treatment, which replicates the tone of aged spruce. It’s assembled with hide glue and it has authentic 1931 X bracing. This is a remarkable sounding guitar, with a rich, complex tone that really pops when you dig in with a flatpick but it also responds well to lighter fingerstyle touch. Includes a deluxe hardshell case.