Martin OM-45GE Golden Era

This is the most beautiful Martin I have ever seen or had. I have owned it for approx. 4 years and it just keeps sounding better. The Brazilian Rosewood back is gorgeous as is the ebony fingerboard with the snowflake inlays. All the bindings and inlays are exceptional. The neck has a slight V shape to it which makes it a dream to play. The adirondack spruce top has a nice wide grain and is finished in a golden satin gloss.

The guitar sounds fantastic and projects a wonderful rich tone which is surprisingly big for the OM size. It sounds as big as my D-42 and bigger than my Gibson J-45.

Everything about the guitar is exceptional. The neck shape and size contribute to its ease of play for even someone like me who is not a virtuoso.

This guitar is almost too good for playing live in a bar or other venue. It was expensive and I take great care when I remove it from the case or stand. It is more of a special instrument I play on my own, or use for recording with friends at home.

I'm sure it is durable but the possibility of a ding would make me cringe.

I haven't had to deal with this but I would hope that only the best would be forthcoming in the event I would need assistance.

I have around 12 guitars (electric and acoustic) and enjoy collecting, playing and messing around with instruments as a hobby. I have been playing guitar for around 15 years after 30 years as a bass and saxaphone player. This guitar is my prize possession. I have looked for better but either can't afford it or it is not available.

Well this is one of the higher end guitar that Martin makes, and frankly I bought this guitar to try and trade like I normally do, so the fancy features are not really the issue. I own or have owned other fancy featured Martins and other brands, with or without abalone, with or without brazilian, abalone or no abalone, blah blah.
So for academic sake and to make this review complete,I will summarize that this guitar all the normal factory specs you will see in the 45 series. And the prewar constructioin of the golden eras is known. This one is colored in sunburst, but this was not something I decided since I bought it used.

Story has it, supposedly from CF MARTIN himself, who also allegedly was behind the concept of this guitar,

That the brazilian rosewood back and sides set for these GE 45's is a limited number of vintage aged select stock.
Indeed if there is some element of truth to this, then by all means has my mind come at peace with this "select tone woods" model.I have now experienced guitar nirvana again, to new heights.

Good enough about the brazilian and abalone purfling myth. The fantastic tonewood and features paradise of gimmickry. let us get down to business.

This guitar layed a big one on me. I have played a lot of acoustics, and frankly never fit better with a guitar, and never made better sounds. Forgive me if I have bad taste, but that is the plain truth. i have had all kinds of martins, d28, d21, 000-28,000-21, from the 40's and fifties. Gibson, of which my treasure is a 1948 j50, beatup but fine. I was not expecting to captivated by this guitar, but I have to say that this guitar effortlessly for both her and the player produces some of the crispest most defined notes I have heard from an acoustic. It has beautiful presence accross the board. I have no desire for more bass response, and trust me, I kick a lot of bass into some riffs.
This guitar is like in a category of its own, in my own little history of guitars. In fact, it is this guitar that has inspired my first contribution to this harmony central review center.

Flawless, as expected.

I hope it lasts, especially in my hands. I hope i don't have to sell, or have found something to fill the heartbreak.
An instrument like this doesn't come easy in $$ so It Should be Babied.

Weelll, I hope I don't need it! I would only expect to be treated like royalty if something ever happened though!

Been playing for 27 yrs
Not a pro, private player
I have probably owned/played more than one hundred acoustics, including many vintage and collectible martins, including the infamous vine of life d45 deluxe. This guitar has absolutely stunned me. I know I may have to sell it someday, I bought it on borrowed money for the opportunity to experience it. I think i will divest out of some other little jewels before I let go of this one.