List of original (pre-war) Martin D-45s

The "best sounding" (1942) D-45 was sold to Kentucky musician and repairman Harry Sparks for $7,500[102] and can be seen in this video interview of Vince Gill,[103] who also owned the instrument for a while and has it on loan as at 2016 (serial number not known).

The well known U.S.-based Japanese collector Mac Yasuda has an extensive collection of American vintage guitars including 14 original D-45s according to this report[104] among others, some of which are detailed in the section above.

[109] The late Steven Kern Shaw, son of well known clarinetist Artie Shaw and grandson of Broadway composer Jerome Kern, has donated his substantial collection of iconic 20th century American-made instruments - including historic Gibson mandolins and Martin guitars - to Belmont University in Nashville as of November 2016, where they went on display in a museum opened in Spring 2017.

A 1939 D-45 (serial number not stated) is illustrated and discussed by George Gruhn in the July 2004 issue of "Vintage Guitar" magazine.

[127] U.S. Country artist Doyle Dykes owns a 1940 D-45 (serial number not stated), pictured in the May 2020 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine.

[130] A 1941 D-45 (serial number not stated), refinished with "multiple professionally repaired top cracks" and other issues was being offered for sale by Gruhn Guitars in 2007, inventory no.

[132] A 1942 D-45 (serial number not stated, peghead repair by Dan Erlewine) was being offered for sale by Gruhn Guitars in 2007, asking price $175,000, inventory no.

An article entitled "Martin D-45: A Chronicle of the Jewelled Dreadnought" appeared in the Japanese magazine "Acoustic Guitar Magazine", volume 4, Spring 2000 (Rittor Music, 2000)[135] Some links to vintage film clips featuring Wilma Lee Cooper and Red Smiley playing their pre-war D-45s are given here.

[136] Other 1930s-1960s country / bluegrass performers who have been pictured with their D-45s include Gene Autry (owner of the first D-45 guitar), Jackie "Kid" Moore,[137] Jimmy Martin,[138] Charlie Monroe,[108] Skeeter Bonn, Toby Stroud,[139] Ken MacKenzie,[140] Smiley Maxedon (see information above for #81578), Ernest Tubb, Red Allen (whose D-45 was apparently loaned to him by his group's bass player, Tom Morgan),[141] and Nolan "Cowboy Slim" Rinehart.

When last available new from the Martin Guitar Company, the 1942 D-45 retailed at $250 (letter from Martin Guitar Company to Mr. Harold Wagler dated October 1963, reproduced here[142]), equivalent to approximately $3,630 in 2014 dollars as a straight conversion,[143] however bearing in mind average incomes of the time, could be construed as between $6,700 and $11,100 in today's terms (same reference, calculated as labor value/income value).

In accordance with its gradual acceptance as possibly the finest production steel-string acoustic guitar ever made, the value of an all original, pre-war Martin D45 has gone up considerably over the intervening 70+ years.

According to a post in the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, a 1938 snowflake D-45 with forward-X bracing in "excellent original condition" recently changed hands for $400,000 in a private sale.

Detail of Smiley Maxedon's 1942 D-45, no. 81578, presently in the C.F. Martin Museum, Nazareth, PA., U.S.A.
Gene Autry 's original 1933 D-45, s/n 53177, photographed at the Autry National Center; one of only three with 12-fret neck (and longer body), all the remainder have 14-fret necks.
Ernest Tubb with his customized 1938 D-45, s/n 70594 (publicity shot). Before Tubb purchased it, this instrument would have had "snowflake" inlays in the fingerboard, replaced with 2 pearl blocks plus "Ernest Tubb" in pearl letters along the fingerboard (also, "Texas Troubadour" in gold paint on the headstock).