Martin B540 Acoustic/Electric 5 string bass.

[2skinnywheels]

I'm trying to find out what this is worth. I've contacted Martin and here's what they told me:

27 of them were made between 1994-1996 and that's it. They sold for $2790.00 then. They also sent me the specs below.



CATEGORY
CURRENT DETAIL

MODEL:
B540


CONSTRUCTION:
Standard; Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint

BODY SIZE:
Jumbo Acoustic Bass

TOP:
Solid Spruce

TOP BRACES:
Scalloped 5/16''

PATTERN:
Acoustic Bass


TOP PEARL:
None

ROSETTE:
D-28

PICKGUARD:
Black

BACK:
Indian Rosewood

BACK PANELS:
2 Pc.

PURFLING:
D-28

BACK PEARL:
None

SIDES:
Indian Rosewood

SIDE PEARL:
None

ENDPIECE:
White Boltaron

ENDPIECE INLAY:
B/W Boltaron

Line 1:
CFM Logo

Line 2:
B5-40

Line 3:
SERIAL #

NECK:
5 -String Bass Neck

HEADSTOCK:
Solid

BACK/HEAD STAMP:
None

TRUSS ROD:
Adjustable

HEELCAP:
M-38

HEADPLATE:
Indian Rosewood/New Decal

TUNING MACHINES:
Bass Chrome

FINGERBOARD:
Striped Ebony - Do Not Stain

ACTUAL SCALE LENGTH:
34.15*

WIDTH AT NUT:
1 3/4''

WIDTH AT 12 FRET:
2 9/16''

FRETS CLEAR:
17

TOTAL FRETS:
24

PEARL INLAY:
None - Side Dots only - 3-5-7-9-(Dbl 12)-15-17-19-21

FINISH BODY:
Polished Lacquer/Dark Filler

FINISH TOP:
Clear

FINISH NECK:
Satin /Dark Mah. Stain/Dark Filler*

BRIDGE:
Striped Ebony - Do Not Stain

STYLE:
Belly - 5 String Bass

STRING SPACING:
2 13/16''

ELECTRONICS:
optional

STRINGS:
M-590 Bass Phosphor Light

BRIDGE PINS:
White w/ Black Dots

CASE:
560

 

[smike]

do you still have your B5-40?

lmk,
thx,
smike

 

[smike]

i now have two of these, as well as more information on them... from martin, a martin historian, and richard johnston's martin technical reference. there were 54 built between '91 and '95. four were prototypes. two built in '93 were fretless. the best-but-expensive strings for them are the thomastik acousticore AB-345 wound over nylon... supple, sound like an upright bass. my '91 came from the sf bay area. the '94 was just purchased (12/2014) from toronto, canada. simultaneously, one sold in tokyo for $2100 (+ $130 shipping via an unspecified shipping method).

i've been playing 5-string electric for so long now i have trouble playing 4-stringers!

i love being able to grab an acoustic 5-string off the wall next to my desk on clear my thoughts by playing a little... all the benefits of playing a vintage martin acoustic, made even better by it being more resonant bass frequencies vibrating into your chest.

if anyone else has one or is interested in them, please feel free to check in: blinde @ 5happy.com (remove the spaces)

 

[cyberhawk]

Hi, Mines a 1991. Has Macassar Ebony board and bridge. Same as striped ebony?
Thanks for sharing yours, Hawk

 

[smike]

dude -

i'm not alone on planet B5-40... cool! not sure about the type of fingerboard, but both of mine look like yours.

i've been playing americana lately, and the sound (with the thomastik strings) is truly awesome. you can hear me playing through a pignose 'hog' on a rough practice track here: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] ... 30 miles from austin is probably the least butchered of the tracks! this is just sitting around a living room, with some sampled percussion added after... rough but promising.

sorry i didn't see your post until now... happy holidays.

smike

p.s.: where are you located?

 

[bholder]

Oooooh. I don't have one of those. Yet.

 

[cyberhawk]

Hey smike, Well it's been almost two years, but I just saw your post!

Just listened to you and Stephen Gregory, very nice! Those Thomastics sound great! I've still got the factory original phosphor bronze on mine, still sound good. They've gotten a bit darker, both cosmetically and acoustically.

My bass is still looking like new, it's never left my basement. I'm in Colorado, but I've never used any type of humidifier at all and it hangs on the stand in the bass room with my other current rotation.

I bought it new from George Gruhn at the Dallas Guitar Show in 1993, so it may be a '92 or '93.

Just touching bass, Cheers, Hawk

 

[DerekG]

If anyone knows where to find one of these, please PM me!

 

[mikeoso]

Martin's abgs are excellent. Not the biggest or loudest, but really great build and super tone. My first bass, and only one for a long time, was the mahogany 4 string version of this.

 

[bassdudepat]

Any one got a line on a Martin 5er? Not too many made it looks like.