Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition Guitars Available at Graceland
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Elvis’ guitar playing served him well, especially in the early years of his career. His pulsing, rhythmic strumming was featured on many of his early recordings and on stage in the mid-1950s, and during this time, Martin was his guitar of choice. He began with a used 000-18 in 1954, but within months had traded it in for a 1942 Martin D-18. The next year he got a 1955 D-28; it became perhaps his most recognized acoustic due to the many Elvis concert photos in which it appears fitted with a custom-tooled leather cover with his name across. At the end of his career, a Martin was Elvis’ main acoustic guitar. He played a mid-1970s D-28 during his last concert tour and it was the last guitar he played on stage in June of 1977.
Limited to just 175 guitars to mark C.F. Martin’s 175th anniversary, the D-28M Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition features rare Madagascar rosewood back and sides, an Adirondack spruce top and Adirondack spruce braces for brilliant, powerful tone. The tooled leather guitar cover made Elvis’ original D-28 instantly recognizable and unforgettable. Therefore the D-28M Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition is outfitted with a tooled leather guitar cover modeled after the original and is delivered in a special oversized vintage Geib style hardshell case to hold the guitar and cover.
The unrestricted D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Edition features back and sides of East Indian rosewood and a top of Carpathian spruce. The grouping of these fine tone woods produces a approachable guitar with remarkable volume, punch and sustain. The D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition comes sans leather guitar cover with a vintage Geib style hardshell case, but the cover may be ordered at extra cost, an enhancement that also includes the oversized case.
The Elvis design of these dreadnoughts begins on the polished black ebony headstock, where the silhouette of the King and his Martin – modeled after a famous 1956 photograph - are inlaid in mother of pearl and black pearl. Small pearl-bordered abalone star position markers inlays at the 5th, 7th (two), 9th, 15th, and 17th frets on the fingerboard flank Elvis’ signature at the 12th fret. The heel cap features his “TCB Lightning Bolt” logo inlaid in mother of pearl – a design that originated with the “Taking Care of Business” pendants Elvis gave to friends.
Factory-installed electronics (those Martin offers without side controls) can be ordered as an extra-cost option. Left-handed instruments may be ordered at no additional cost, though tooling on the leather guitar cover cannot be reversed. Each D-28M and D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition guitar bears two interior labels specially designed for these editions. The primary interior label for the D-28M Elvis Presley is numbered in sequence with the total number of guitars in the edition, while the primary label for the D-28 Elvis Presley is numbered in sequence without total: both include a holographic, official “Elvis Presley Signature” sticker of authenticity. Authorized C.F. Martin dealers will begin taking orders for the Martin D-28M and D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Limited Edition guitars immediately and participating dealers will be listed on the Martin Guitar website, www.martinguitar.com.
Available for purchase at Graceland:
D-28 Elvis Presley Commemorative Edition Without Optional Cover
East Indian Rosewood With Carpathian Spruce Top
Does Not Include Optional Leather Cover
Case Accommodates Guitar Without The Cover
Not Limited, Numbered In Sequence Without Total
Retail is $6,999.00
D-28M Elvis Presley Commemorative Edition With Cover
Madagascar Rosewood With Adirondack Spruce Top
Comes With Leather Cover (not optional)
Special Case To Accommodate Guitar With Cover
Limited to 175 Instruments, Numbered In Sequence With Total
Retail is $11,499.00
Source: http://www.elvis.com/news/full_story.asp?id=1558
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Thu Aug 07, 2008 12:27 pm