Martin Felix III Limited Edition Acoustic Guitar
One look at the colorful CF Martin Felix III acoustic guitar and you’ll swear you’re back at Woodstock. Or San Francisco. Or wherever you imagine yourself groovin’ in the “far out” sixties. The Felix III makes use of Martin’s highly advanced X technology, with textured HPL (high pressure laminate) one-panel back and sides. The top, also of durable HPL material, is reinforced with style Sitka spruce cross braces. Fingerboard and bridge are crafted of black Micarta, an excellent and environmentally friendly alternative to ebony. Nut and compensated saddle are shaped from black Corian and Tusq material, respectively. The colorful Felix graphics, custom designed for this special edition, are carefully applied to the top and the headplate and then coated for protection and durability.
The graphic approach for this spectacular little guitar, the third and newest in Martin’s series of Felix Limited Edition LXM guitars, is the creation of artist Don Oriolo, the son of Felix The Cat originator, Joe Oriolo. Don and his merry band of artists have spun dozens of Felix designs but Dick Boak, Martin’s resident old-hippie and Martin Artist Relations Director, said this one “really moved me, man.” Don Oriolo himself is no stranger to the San Francisco flower power scene of the mid-60s. “I was going to school in the Bay Area right in the middle of that whole era,” says Don. “We were all ‘Dead Heads’ (fans of the Grateful Dead, the legendary SF band) and regulars at the Fillmore. A lot of Dead Heads loved Felix; he’s really a rock n’ roll character with his cheeky personality. We thought the tie-dye approach was a natural for Felix. It’s like he’s dancing at a Fillmore light show.”
Since the issue of the Felix I in 2004, the demand for these impish little cat guitars has grown to gigantic proportions. Collectibility is synonymous with Martin guitars and Felix memorabilia of any kind, so the Felix the Cat series has become especially coveted by both players and Felix fans alike. This colorful tie dye design provides the perfect accent – and centerpiece – to its two black-white-red predecessors. While the Felix guitar is a fun and wonderful novelty, it is first and foremost a real Martin guitar. And as with all Martin guitars, tone, playability and quality are integral to its design.
The body is a compact 0 size, similar to a traditional tenor design. It is the same size as the standard Little Martin guitar. An adjustable, modified low profile 14-fret neck (23” scale) was selected for easy playability. Gotoh Cosmo Black tuning machines with embossed C. F. Martin logo are chosen for precision and appearance.
CONSTRUCTION: Mortise/Tenon Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: Modified O - 14 Fret
TOP: Custom Felix III Design on HPL
ROSETTE: none
TOP BRACING PATTERN: Modified X Series "X"
TOP BRACES: Crowned Cross Brace & Graphite Bowtie Plate
BACK MATERIAL: Jett Black HPL Textured Finish
BACK PURFLING: none
SIDE MATERIAL: Jett Black HPL Textured Finish
ENDPIECE: none
ENDPIECE INLAY: none
BINDING: none
TOP INLAY STYLE: none
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: none
NECK MATERIAL: Natural Stratabond
NECK SHAPE: Modified Low Oval
NUT MATERIAL: Black Corian
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Square Taper
HEADPLATE: Custom Felix III Design w/ Printed Logo
HEELCAP: none
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Black Micarta
SCALE LENGTH: 23"
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-11/16"
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-1/16"
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: none
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: none
FINISH TOP: none
FINISH NECK: none
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Black Micarta
BRIDGE STYLE: Belly
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2-1/8"
SADDLE: 16" Radius/Compensated/Black Tusq
TUNING MACHINES: Gotoh Cosmo Black
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin M550 Phosphor Bronze
BRIDGE & END PINS: Black w/ White Dots
PICKGUARD: none
CASE: Felix Gig Bag
INTERIOR LABEL: Signed by Don Oriolo
Each guitar label will bear the imprinted signature of Don Oriolo with the Felix graphic, serial number and patent number. The Felix III comes with a premium black travel gig bag, embroidered with a Felix design (talk about letting the cat out of the bag!) Beautiful. Durable. Great sounding. Environmentally friendly. This little Felix guitar really is, well, very far out indeed!
Like all Martins, this guitar features a limited lifetime warranty.
