John used a 12-string guitar to record parts of “Ascension” from his 2005 solo album Curtains. Reflecting on the recording process, John shared his inspiration:
On “Ascension” I also played a 1940’s Martin 12-string. I really love David Bowie’s Hunky Dory album, and there’s a few songs on there that have a 12-string in one speaker and a six-string in the other that basically play the same thing.
Guitar World Acoustic – May 2005
Model, Specs
The specific model of the guitar has been the subject of some confusion. In a separate interview with Total Guitar in 2005, John mentioned using a Martin 12-string and an “E12-36” from the 1940s:
Yeah, and on Ascension I also played a Martin acoustic 12-string, and an E12-36, which was also from the 1940s.
Total Guitar – 2005
However, the issue arises with the “E12-36” model, as no such guitar exists. It’s likely that the interview transcription contains an error. John may have said “D12-36,” but even that model does not exist. Martin has produced models such as the D12-20, D12-28, D12-35, and D12-45, but not a “D12-36.”
Looking at the details, John’s guitar is most likely a D12-35. This model aligns with the description: it features white binding on both the body and neck, along with standard dot inlays, which match the visual characteristics of the guitar seen in photos and videos.
Another point of confusion is John’s mention of the guitar being from the 1940s. The Martin D-35 series wasn’t introduced until the mid-1960s, so this part of the story may reflect a memory lapse. It’s likely that John was referring to a 12-string Martin from the 1960s, and the “1940s” detail was either a mistake or an assumption on his part.
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