1998 C.F. Martin x Thomas Humphrey C1-R

This Martin Thomas Humphrey C-1R dates to 1998 and is in very good, clean condition. It features a solid Red Cedar top with Sitka Spruce bracing and laminate Indian Rosewood back and sides. The body uses a tapered construction to allow for the elevated fingerboard. Mahogany is used for the body blocks and neck. The bridge and fingerboard are Indian Rosewood. For hardware, the tuners are excellent Gotoh 35G1800 models with 2R buttons.

Humphrey was not precisely the first to use this elevated neck design as it was used for different reasons by Stauffer in the first part of the 19th century, and is found on Stauffer-style guitars built by C. F. Martin himself in the mid to late 1830s. Here, there is also a lock and key neck angle adjustment mechanism. Seeing the elevated fingerboard on a modern Martin is a reflection of Martin’s earliest days!

This guitar was modified by Humphrey following production by Martin. Humphrey stripped the top of the C1R and French polished it. He removed the bridge, finished it and re-glued it directly to the body. He also replaced the mycarda saddle and nut with bone. The results are a guitar with clarity, sustain, and a brilliant dynamic range. 

The guitar has been professionally inspected and setup and includes a HSC.