Hello, Multiple Sigma Owner,

I just wanted to let you know that at least some of the 52 series Sigmas have solid tops. I have a made-in-Japan 52SDR-9 which I purchased new in 1977, and it definitely has a solid spruce top.

My particular guitar has a laminated 3-piece rosewood back and sides, with white ivoroid bound top, back, fingerboard, and headstock. The greek "sigma" letter (sideways M) is inlaid on the rosewood covered headstock in MOP, with "SIGMA" in gold capital letters below it.

The rosewood fingerboard has inlaid MOP "snowflake" position markers, and the headstock is covered in rosewood veneer. The enclosed tuners have octagon shaped covers, and are silver in color.

This sound of this guitar has continued to improve with age, as would be expected with the solid top. I played it side-by-side back in '77 with other guitars of comparable price, and it sounded better by a significant margin. Not as good as the D-35 Martin I wanted, but definitely not run of the mill. It sounds better, in my opinion, than many of the lower end Martins of today, and at any rate, I would never let go of it because we have been together for so many years now.

kysigma