"The Band's" Robbie Robertson Honored With Twin Flamed Hawaiian Koa Martin Signature Guitars

Jul 28, 2007

"I pulled into Nazareth, was feelin' about half past dead." As written by Robbie Robertson and performed by the Band, the opening lines of "The Weight" rank among the most evocative in all of rock. The song is a spiritual journey, but the story behind the song is one of a Martin guitar providing musical inspiration of a most unusual kind.

While the Band was living in Woodstock, New York in 1967, Robertson began writing "The Weight" on his D-28, but struggled to come up with lyrics. At some point he looked into the guitar's soundhole and saw the word "Nazareth" (along with the rest of the C.F. Martin logo) stamped there. It became the focus of the song's opening verse and the rest of the lyrics quickly fell into place. He has said looking inside the guitar "gave" him the first line of the song.

Martin guitars have remained a constant element in Robertson's music. His favorite Martin is a unique 1919 00-45K, the only Koa 00-45 ever produced. To honor Robbie Robertson and his contributions to American music, C. F. Martin is proud to introduce two guitars based upon and inspired by this exquisite instrument: the 00-42K and 00-42K2 Robbie Robertson Signature Editions.

These strikingly beautiful guitars feature Martin's traditional short-scale 00 12-fret design, spectacular solid tonewoods: backs and sides of rare Hawaiian flamed Koa and tops of either rare Italian Alpine spruce - for warmth and power - on the 00-42K or Hawaiian flamed Koa - for clarity and punchiness - on the 00-42K2.

Style 42 abalone inlay around the top and fingerboard, a Style 45 abalone inlaid rosette, black/white fine line purfling around the sides, back, end piece and heelcap accent grained ivoroid bindings and fittings throughout. A colorful Style 45 mosaic embellishes the back. A flawless polished gloss finish allows the body's stunning tonewoods and appointments to shine.

Carved from genuine mahogany, the modified V neck, with its diamond volute, slotted tapered headstock and square slots, is true to the original. The handsome polished Madagascar rosewood headplate bears the Martin "Torch" inlay first seen on Style 45 Martins from the 1920s and early 1930s. Waverly™ open geared tuners with engraved bronze plates and ivoroid buttons, and the "C. F. Martin" pressure stamp on the back of the headstock, add to the vintage vibe. The black ebony fingerboard showcases Style 45 snowflake position markers. A black ebony pyramid bridge. Like the guitar that inspired them, the 00-42K and 00-42K2 Robbie Robertson Signature Editions come sans pickguard.

The 00-42K and 00-42K2 Robbie Robertson Signature Editions are limited to 100 guitars each, with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each guitar going to Robertson's chosen charity, the American Indian College Fund, an organization that supports Native American college students, and tribally run colleges and universities, throughout the United States.

Delivered in a Geib™-style hardshell case, each of these Signature Edition guitars bears an interior label personally signed by Robbie Robertson and numbered in sequence with the edition total. Authorized C.F. Martin dealers will accept orders for the 00-42K and 00-42K2 Robbie Robertson Signature Editions beginning immediately and continuing until the editions are fully subscribed. Martin then will post the names of participating dealers on its website.

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