This week's podcast with the Founder of Ciari Guitars  

When I asked Jonathan Spangler, Founder and CEO of Ciari guitars, how the idea came to him to create a travel guitar he responded with… “Study the friction in your day, solve it for you and you’ll solve it for someone else.”

The seminal moment for Jonathan and his idea for a premium, pro-level travel guitar came about when he flew to Germany to perform a 40-minute set of Johnny Cash at a German metal festival.

The podcast is 43 minutes and it is absolutely packed full of information about Ciari’s history, the design and innovation that has gone into developing their guitar line, and what is on the horizon for the company in the coming years.

What strikes me the most is Jonathan’s passion and enthusiasm for the guitars they’ve developed. It’s not a gimmick, it’s not about bringing something to market to make a buck, he is totally focused on the customer and providing the best solution possible.

To that point, Jonathan has gone out of his way to find the brightest minds to consult Ciari on development and delivery. A couple of names that may ring a bell are Joe Glaser and Grover Jackson.

During “show and tell” time we see the very first prototype and get a demo of the Ascender Custom and Ascender Standard models. Future Ciari products include a carbon fiber acoustic and hopefully a bass guitar as well. Of special note is Ciari’s development of a “Music Oasis” guitar lounge in airport terminals, a long-lived dream of Jonathan’s that is coming true.

This is a splendid conversation from start to finish and a longform look into the complete evolution of Ciari Guitars.

Thank you so much Jonathan for your time and being a guest on the show! For more information visit https://ciariguitars.com/.

Myth and Legend - - Martin D12-45 

It does exist!  However, only 83 of these were reportedly ever made between 1969 and 1987.  Being a special order instrument, appearances in the Martin catalog were rare with sightings in 1970, 72, and 1981.  

The body is an elongated dreadnought, sloped shoulders, with abalone hexagon inlays and abalone about anywhere else it can be shown off.  

Essentially it has the same aesthetic appointments as a “run of the mill” D-45.   

Speaking of, the original prewar D-45’s, of which there are less than 100 produced between 1933 and 1942 are put in holy grail territory. 

Gene Autry is the reason. In 1933 he asked Martin to make the baddest mamma jamma they could and the 45 came to life. 

D12-45 Specs:

12-frets
Spruce top
Indian Rosewood back and sides
Mahogany neck
Ebony fretboard and bridge
Slotted headstock (Some paddle heads are out there)

Here are some pictures of a modern 6-string D-45 I took at NAMM - $9,699