Martin Ltd Ed HDN Negative Guitar (2003)

From the lacquered black body and neck to the color-reversed appointments, the HDN Negative Limited Edition is among the most striking guitars Martin has ever made. The HDN Negative is also among the most celebrated, having already achieved star status in print and on stage.

The story of the HDN Negative Limited Edition began in 2000, when Martin designed and built the first two Negative guitars to honor Acoustic GuitarMagazine's 10th Anniversary. Photos of the audacious instrument in Acoustic Guitar generated plenty of buzz, culminating with requests from some of the most prominent recording artists in the music industry.

A visual tour de force, the HDN Negative showcases Martin quality in both tonewoods and construction. Solid East Indian rosewood back and sides complement the solid Engelmann spruce top and scalloped "Hybrid" X bracing to produce rich, full Dreadnought tone. The genuine mahogany neck features a low profile shape, 1 3/4" width at the nut, diamond volute and solid, square tapered headstock for deep sonority and true playing comfort.

The HDN Negative's polished black lacquer body and satin black lacquer neck provide a spectacular "canvas" for the instrument's color-reversed appointments. Bold pattern herringbone top purfling shines against the reversed black top binding and black/white side inlay. The same reversed black binding and edge inlay appear on the back. Reversed black/white inlays also highlight the black endpiece. The Style 45 rosette of select green abalone pearl adds a touch of color against the black body and ivory colored polished and beveled Micarta® pickguard.

The HDN Negative's unique style continues in the headstock overlay, fingerboard and bridge, all created from polished ivory colored Micarta®. The headstock overlay features a modified torch inlay in select green heart abalone pearl, nestled under the familiar gold foil "C.F. Martin & Co." logo. In contrast, chrome enclosed tuners sport contrasting black ebony buttons. Style 45 select green abalone pearl snowflake inlays grace the fingerboard, brilliant against the contrasting black/white edge inlay and black binding with white side position dots. The nut, compensated saddle, heel cap, bridge pins and end pin are all color reversed black, the latter two inlaid with abalone pearl dots. Each Martin HDN Negative Limited Edition guitar bears a unique black reverse printed interior label signed by Martin Chairman and CEO C.F. Martin IV and is numbered in sequence with the edition total. Each guitar is delivered in a Geib™ vintage-style hardshell case.