Every now and again, you get a shot at something truly unique. Case in point: This Martin Custom Shop 28 Style Dreadnought with an Adirondack spruce top and flamed mahogany back and sides. Specially spec'd out by our Martin-loving team here at Russo Music, this Martin Custom Shop Expert build represents a unique artistic outlook brought to life by the artisans over at the Martin Custom Shop.

Here at Russo Music, we're delighted to hold the distinction of being a Martin Custom Expert dealer. What this means is we're part of a small circle of dealers privy to special and exclusive Martin Guitar models and builds. Where this brings us today is to this Martin Custom Shop dreadnought acoustic model with a number of high-quality specifications and woods. A one-of-a-kind model throws it over to a number of historical sights, sounds, and shapes for an altogether unique and compelling Custom Expert model.

This Custom Expert "D" Dreadnought begins with a Martin "D" dreadnought body brought together by Adirondack spruce and two-piece premium flamed mahogany – the latter of which hand-selected by us here at Russo Music. Rich and exquisite producing a full, authentic Martin dreadnought sound, these two tonewoods are decked out with Martin's Aging Toner gloss finish and Spanish cedar ribbons, respectively. Imparting a classy lived-in visual quality, this Custom Expert dreadnought's woods are visually, tangibly, and audibly breathtaking. Within the dreadnought body, Martin's X-Brace pattern comes together with hand-shaped scalloped spruce braces for expanded projection and tonal nuance. The model's 12-Fret dreadnought form hearkens to lesser-seen acoustic designs with a deeper reach on the neck that meets the body at the twelfth fret.

From here, this Custom Expert "D" brings on a select hardwood neck assembled through dovetail neck joint construction with Martin's Modern Adhesive. This more modern assembly features further uniqueness with a Modified V profile and a satin lacquer finish for a softer, geometric feel in hand. The model's High Performance taper compounds on this modernity for an effortless feel at every position.

The modernity of the neck is matched with an impressive fingerboard. Oiled black ebony makes up this board with twenty Standard frets across a sixteen-inch radius. An effortless feel on the fingertips complements this Custom Expert's intricate Mother of Pearl Maltese Snowflake inlays for a dazzling look up-close-and-personally.

Backing up this arrangement, this Custom Expert "D" features a number of high-quality hardware specifications. At the base of the 25.4" scale length, a black ebony Golden Era Modern Belly bridge lands with a drop-in compensated bone saddle. This element introduces a stable connection string-to-body while a bone nut and Grover nickel tuning machines plant strings at the headstock for smooth stringing and tuning accuracy. The headstock, as it happens, is another standout of this model with its square-slot slotted configuration that bends from usual Martin tradition.

Aesthetically, this Martin Custom Shop dreadnought shines with a number of intricate flourishes. On its flamed mahogany back, HD Zig-Zag back purfling appears for a detailed aesthetic element. Additional appointments coalesce across this model with a Style 28 Boltaron soundhole rosette, Antique White body binding, and mahogany body and neck stains with a rosewood neck filler top off the finer regions of this dreadnought for a totally impressive piece at every level.

For the 12-Fret dreadnought and slotted headstock fans of the world, this Martin Custom Shop Expert piece is a work from one artist's hands to yours.

• Russo Music Martin Custom Shop Expert build
• Martin 12-Fret "D" dreadnought body shape
• Adirondack spruce top with Martin Aging Toner gloss top color
• Russo Music hand-selected two-piece premium flamed mahogany back and sides
• Martin Golden Era hand-shaped scalloped spruce braces in X-Bracing pattern
• Satin-finished neck with Martin Modern adhesive and dovetail neck joint assembly
• Modified V neck profile with High Performance taper
• Oiled black ebony fingerboard with twenty Standard frets
• Mother of Pearl Maltese Snowflake inlays
• Black ebony Golden Era Modern Belly bridge with drop-in compensated bone saddle
• Slotted headstock with Grover tuning machines and bone nut
• HD Zig Zag back purfling with spruce center strip and Spanish cedar ribbons
• 28 Style Boltaron rosette with Antique White body binding
• Martin five-ply hardshell case included