The "higher end" Martin styles (style 41, 42 and 45) offered/offer more fancy presentation (pearl/abalone inlay) and possibly, the highest grade timbers, for an increased price of course, however with a few notable exceptions (Joan Baez with her historic 1929 0-45, Crosby/Stills/Nash/Young with their D-45s) most notable players seem to have "stuck" with the plainer models, apart from some older style country stars who liked the D-45 "luxury" on stage but were not necessarily noted for their guitar playing (I could be doing some a disservice here, of course).

As an example I offer the great Gene Autry, noted star of the "singing cowboy" genre; while I have never really studied his guitar playing (and probably never will), his custom built guitar (the first ever D-45, costing him $200 in 1933, plus a little more for his name on the fretboard) would probably be worth a cool million today, or very close to it. Martin issued some replicas in the 1990s that seem to sell for a bit less than the original $60k asking price on the used market, a high price for a "recent era instrument" perhaps, but what a sound! (There are a few videos of different examples on YouTube if you hunt around). If anyone is looking for a Christmas present for me this year, you know what to get me!