Sigma DR45

I bought a nice Sigma DR-45 (inside ink stamp, with burned in marks (Sigma Guitars Made in Japan for C.F. Martin&Co.) back around 1985 for $400 mint. It has gotten nicer sounding over the years and is still dead straight. My Sigma is Japanese made. It has a solid polished solid spruce top and 2-piece rosewood back & sides. The strike plate is dark amber. The neck and head are mahogany and the fret board looks like ebony with mother of pearl(abalone?) scale markings. The mahogany head has rosewood facing with gold Sigma tuners. The body, neck and head have beautiful white bindings with mother or pearl purfling, front and back,and on the spacings on the neck, and sound hole, real sweet. It has 21 frets. It has a high gloss polish.The only modification I did was to put a strap pin on the bottom of the neck brace. I use a Dean Markley, Promag, Grand humbucking pickup in the hole for amplifying it. This works great for me because I am leery of messing with the body of the guitar

I play Contemporary Gospel and folk/rock style. I do some finger picking, mostly rythym backup, but it sounds greattoo when I punch it. Has great tone, but could have a better bottom end. It plays rich, on the bright side but I tone it down by amping it. I can also get a decent jazz tone out of it. I love the sound is makes, just would have liked a little boomier sound. Now I?m looking for a good amp and effects processor. I play every Thursday and Sunday and need to be able to carry my gear in one load, so the amp will have to be about 16kg. I also have my original Hofner Strat copy, cream colored, with three soapbar pickups, four dial knobs and three slide switches and still plays ok. It never was great, but it?s a keeper. I want to teach my grandson to play in a few years. Occasionally I pick up my Harmony, F-hole Mandolin numbered F-77-FS.

Action is good, just high enough to do some decent picking. Fit and finish are excellent. When I got it it was clean and smooth. I've put sa few tiny dings in it since, but not easy to noitice. The wood is wellmarched and the lines are clean.

I have played this guitar nearly every week for 25 years and it is dead straight, no warp. It still stays in tune well. The finish has held up beautifully, be cause I keep it in the case to make sure it isn't subjected to too mabny quick temperature changes or get knocked around. I depend upon it every week and love it.

I'm the second owner. I've never had to get it looked at, so not much to say there. I notice that others have had trouble finding complete information on the compay though. I did my own research on the net.

I've been playing since 1960. I think I would like to acquire a thinline electric acoustic as well, and maybe a Martin D-28. I also still have my original Hofner Strat copy, cream colored, with three soapbar pickups, four dial knobs and three slide switches and still plays ok. It never was great, but it?s a keeper. I want to teach my grandson to play in a few years. Occasionally I pick up my Electric Harmony, F-hole Mandolin numbered F-7Y-FS.