Martin Releases The 000-40S Mark Knopfler "Ragpicker's Dream" Signature Edition

Jul 14, 2006

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Most musicians who participate in Martin's Signature Edition program consider their personal Signature Edition guitar a prized possession. For Mark Knopfler, it became much more: his muse.

When C.F. Martin introduced the HD-40MK Mark Knopfler Signature Edition back in 2001, the sound of the instrument he took home inspired a burst of songwriting. All the songs on "The Ragpicker's Dream," his well-received, mostly acoustic 2002 album, were written on that guitar, as were several songs on 2004s "Shangri-La" and his new album with Emmylou Harris, "All the Roadrunning."

Seeking fresh inspiration, Mark asked C.F. Martin to undertake a second collaboration; a guitar with many of the same appointments as his original Signature Edition, but one designed for his incredible fingerstyle playing. The fruit of this new collaboration is the 000-40S Mark Knopfler "Ragpicker's Dream" Signature Edition, a fingerstyle dream that even strummers will love.

For this new Signature Edition, Mark selected Martin's traditional 000 12-fret body style with the long 25.4-inch scale, considered by many to be among the most beautiful and best sounding designs Martin ever made. Many of the elements that make the Martin 000 12-fret guitars from the late 1920s so prized are here. In ornamentation and premium solid tonewoods, the new Mark Knopfler Signature Edition 000 bears a striking resemblance to his Signature Edition dreadnought. The body combines a top of rare Italian alpine spruce (the same wood used by Antonio Stradivari) with back and sides of beautiful East Indian rosewood. The neck is carved from genuine mahogany, while the fingerboard and bridge are crafted from African black ebony. Both body and neck are protected by Martin's beautiful polished gloss lacquer finish. Mark Knopfler's signature is inlaid in mother of pearl between the 18th and 20th frets.

The 000-40S Mark Knopfler "Ragpicker's Dream" Signature Edition is delivered in a Geib™ style Vintage Series hardshell case with plush Cabernet interior. Left-handed instruments may be ordered without additional charge: factory-installed electronics also are available. Each 000-40S Mark Knopfler "Ragpicker's Dream" Signature Edition bears an interior label personally signed by Mark Knopfler and Martin Chairman C.F. Martin, IV and numbered in sequence with the edition total, as well as a special "Ragpicker's Dream" designation laser-etched on the neck block.

For more information, visit their web site at www.martinguitar.com.