Colin

I don't think the 'Sundown' guitar is a 000-28 - I seem to recall that it was a '21'. Look again if you have the record - you probably know all this, but 21s have a dark border (black or faux tortoiseshell) and the 28s edges are off-white ivoroid. As I say, that's just my recollection - I haven't seen that sleeve for years.

Bear this in mind, too. When Lonnie first looked for a Martin, they were unavailable in Britain, so a new one wasn't an option. They did turn up very rarely (Wally Whyton had a 000-28 - he told me he wanted one 'cause Lonnie had one! - but his was second-hand) because I managed to get a 000-18 in 1959 for 64 Pounds in Lew Davis' shop on Charing Cross Road.

Lonnie did travel to the USA, but I wouldn't be surprised if he bought a used one - the 000-28 on the Lost John sleeve (and remember that HAD to be in 1956!!!) is far from new with several scratches on the face.

Keith: You and I will never agree on this - I don't think that guitar was Herringbone.

(MY APOLOGIES!!!! I misled you all - I said in my earlier thread that the 'Lost John' guitar was a 000-21 - NOT!!!! It is, of course (as I've said in this post) a 000-28.)

So - the sequence is:

0-17 (earliest Martin)
000-28 (1955/6 - 'Lost John' - Herringbone? I don't think so - keith does!)
000-21 (see the sleeve of 'Lonnie', his second LP
000-28 (Grand Coulee Dam period - also in '6-5 Special' film)

Some time later - and for unknown reason....

Another 000-28 - this one's a 1967; still in the family as far as I know.
Finally, the Signature sunburst model (too much like a Christmas tree for my taste, but that's just me...)

I apologise if all this is too obsessive for most people; Keith and I tried to get at the truth while Lonnie was alive, but he was so vague....

RR