Murray The MD-40 is a resonator style by Epiphone[Gibson].Ifound it in a small store in Cumberland,a small town on Vancouver Island. It was traded in on a standard guitar for some unknown reason. I just happened to wander in on them and asked what he wanted for it. The shop keeper said $400. He then told me how nobody was interested in them. I took it away for $225. They are worth $700 or so new. THE epiphone co. only made them for 2 years as it was something to do with buying another manufacture out and training their own people .I am sure there is much more to it but that is the story I got.I would have prefered the Johnson slide guitar but that is around $1000. Mine is a round neck played in the up possition but I did see a fellow at the Chilliwack bluegrass festival play lap stye with one similar to mine.