2004 Martin HD-40 Tom Petty 18/274 East Indian/Italian

Rich, comprehensive tone; silky smooth setup; gorgeous appointments–this 2004 Martin HD-40 is a Tom Petty Limited Edition, number 18 of 274, and it lives up to its heritage handsomely. We’re looking at a fingerstylist’s dream Dreadnaught, folks: encompassing sonority with an excellent balance across the strings, and a newly refretted fingerboard (by our own Ken Jones) for a glassy playing experience. Explorations into lowered tunings like DADGAD yield clean, crisp voices–no flat or tubby bass strings on this HD-40. The Italian Spruce and East Indian Rosewood have been thoroughly opened up and played-in by the guitar’s previous owner, giving this Dreadnaught an effortless richness which makes a simple G Major chord sound bigger, fuller, more dynamic. Coupled with a bombproof Fishman Ellipse VT preamp and undersaddle pickup, all that richness translates faithfully into amplified territory. That means these sweet, present trebles won’t be lost in the mix, nor will the expressiveness of the low-end.

True to Tom Petty’s style, this guitar features an illustration of the phases of the moon across the fretboard and culminates in a shower of stars on the upper frets and, or course, Mr. Petty’s signature on the 20th fret. Looking for a dynamite guitar for home or at the gig? This HD-40 is the ticket, and comes in a Hiscox hardshell case to ensure it remains in good health for years to come.