An up-close look at the limited-edition Martin OM-45B, a guitar worth $30,000 that Fremont's Dusty Strings Acoustic Music Shop is selling. Dusty Strings won the chance to sell one of the three unsold guitars that were inspired by Roy Rogers. Dusty Strings Acoustic Music Shop recently won the opportunity to sell a limited-edition Martin OM-45B, a guitar worth $30,000 that was built in honor of the music and screen career of Roy Rogers.
The store was one of many across the country to enter the lottery at a music merchandiser's convention, but only one of 14 dealers to win.
A rare commodity
Rogers' career spanned more than 60 years, and his legacy continues today, eight years after his passing.
He was the first person to be elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame twice: first in 1980 as an original member of the Sons of the Pioneers, and again in 1988 in recognition for his own contributions to country music.
For most of his career, Rogers played a 1930 OM-45 Deluxe, one of only 14 made by the C.F. Martin Co., for which he paid only $30. Today, it is a featured exhibit at the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo.
Just as in the original 1930 run, only 14 of the OM-45Bs have been built. There are only three replicas left for sale in the world, which includes the one on sale at Dusty Strings, 3406 Fremont Ave. N.
"This guitar has that elusive, 'mystery tone' that is often attributed to Brazilian rosewood guitars," explained Dan Murdoch, a musician and woodworker who has co-managed Dusty Strings for more than 10 years.
Brazilian rosewood, a protected species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, was far more abundant in 1930, when Martin built Rogers' OM-45 Deluxe guitar.
"Brazilian rosewood is a highly coveted wood," Murdoch said. "It has just a beautiful, tonal quality to it."
This same level of authenticity appears in every detail of the replica, including the teardrop pick guard, which bears an intricate floral abalone inlay.
"Aesthetically, it's faithful to the original design and demonstrates the highest level of woodworking, which - although common in the 1930s - is rare today," Murdoch noted. "It's just so beautifully done that it's a marvel to look at."
Protected by a heavy-duty, Geib-style hardshell case, each guitar bears a special "sheriff's star" interior label personally signed by Roy Rogers' son, Roy "Dusty" Rogers Jr.; and C.F. Martin Co. chairperson C.F. Martin IV.
Valuable instrument
The guitar is the second-most valuable guitar sold at Dusty Strings in the store's 26-year history. The most valuable guitar was a Martin D-50 guitar with a list price of $50,000.
"Martin is the only company in the world that could've done this," Murdoch said, of the OM-45 Deluxe replica. "It's a great American company that invented a great guitar."
For more information, call 206-634-1662, or visit www.dustystrings. com.
Jessica Davis writes about arts and entertainment for the Herald-Outlook. She can be reached via e-mail at needitor@nwlink.com.
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