Is this real??

[holoholo]

Local deal in my area. $1500 is the asking price. I'm looking at the serial and that makes it a 1944 Martin OM-45. This price either sounds like a knock off or he doesn't know what he has. Funny part is I think I recognize the name in the ad...he's a local photographer for music gigs in the area but not a musician himself.

 

[mavrick102000]

He doesn't know what he has.

Even before seeing the headstock, I could tell you the inlay work and purfling is Martin Factory. I grew up near the factory and saw a lot of the high end Martin's in just about all stages of build over several decades. However, it looks more like a 60's ish model.

Get it cleaned up with strings on it to check how true the neck is, then buy it. Or heck if you want it buy it, and you could have the factory do whatever you want to fix anything without damaging the historic value. It's surely worth a heck of a lot more than he's asking.

You could also wait until Tuesday and call the factory and see if you can validate with them, beyond the serial #.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I'm not hip to Martin's serial numbers but no way that guitar is from 1944. Probably no more than 20 years old.

 

[holoholo]

I'm not hip to Martin's serial numbers but no way that guitar is from 1944. Probably no more than 20 years old.

I’m thinking the same. The tint doesn’t look as amber as I would think for a guitar from 1944. The spruce looks “newer”

 

[FuzzyAce]

I’m thinking the same. The tint doesn’t look as amber as I would think for a guitar from 1944. The spruce looks “newer”

Definitely a modern era guitar. Still a seemingly great guitar and looks like a decent price.

 

[FuzzyAce]

2 things that bother me though -- the cut of the pickguard and the tuning machines used. Not sure those would come stock like that, but of course I could be totally wrong. Just seems out of place.

 

[holoholo]

2 things that bother me though -- the cut of the pickguard and the tuning machines used. Not sure those would come stock like that, but of course I could be totally wrong. Just seems out of place.

Yea they both look big now that look at it

 

[mavrick102000]

Might have had some repairs.

 

[la szum]

Grovers on a 1944 Martin. Cool!

 

[FuzzyAce]

The bridge piece looks wrong too. Edges are hard, not much care went into that. My guess, this is a knockoff -- unless these are all changes someone made later. I highly doubt Martin would let that slide out the door.

 

[fretworn]

The bracing even looks modern

 

[mavrick102000]

Could be a decently done fake/replica. I'd wait and call the factory for confirmation, too many little things seem at least off - ignoring the tuners on the "little bit" part.

 

[the-trooper]

Grovers on a 1944 Martin. Cool!

You can put Grovers on 1687 Stradivarius.

 

[la szum]

Not if you knew it was a legit 1687 Stradivarius you wouldn't. Or a legit 1944 Martin-OM45.

 

[la szum]

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Fake Chinese Martins love fake Grovers.

 

[FuzzyAce]

yep, all the signs are pointing to a fake martin.

 

[holoholo]

Thanks for all the help fellas. I’m gonna pass on it. Not worth the risk and looks like the deal is already pending.

 

[la szum]

Someone else is gonna get robbed. Yikes.

 

[fretworn]

For Thousands of years … caveat emptor

 

[Eagle]

Can’t tell from the pictures but it certainly is newish and possibly a fake . There are a few candidates that could be converted. Most likely newish real and stolen.