JoeRay Skrha / D-45 SS owner! A testimonial of an elated owner of a Stephen Stills Signature Series Martin D-45 SS "The Southern Cross." Photo © from JoeRay Skrha's collection. JoeRay talks below about the time when he received his brand new Martin guitar. I did my first public performance last weekend on my D-45 SS and it continues to blow me away. I have done 100's of concerts and never has the guitar sounded so full and in perfect tune. It is heaven to play and even nicer to listen too. Stephen is so right when he says it always stays in tune and it's sound filters through your body like wind through a feather. I knew allot of guitar players (some much better than myself ) that tried to talk me out of buying it. They said I could buy a prewar D-28 Martin for half the cost...and it would be a much better instrument. I am so glad I played my hunch that anything bearing Stephens' name and Martins' at the same time would be special. I played what Kenny Weiss (Stephen's former manager) told me back in Cleveland circa 1980, was Stephens "Maybelle" and was amazed at the sound and playability. I thought I'd never play such a spectacular guitar again. That was an original prewar D-45. I have played many post 1968 D-45's since and NEVER have I been satisfied in comparison to Stephen's prewar D-45. That was until I opened and played my D-45 SS several weeks ago. The D-45 SS is a continuation of where the pre-war D-45's left off. I am told that Stephen insisted that Maybelle be followed identically. Martin obliged and you have a STATE OF THE ART guitar. To my surprise, when I first strummed my D-45SS with the opening chord to Wooden Ships (open E in the seventh position) I couldn't believe my ears! All I could do was smile and hold back the tears. This was the sound I have heard on all those wonderful records such as the SUITE, 4 +20, Black Queen (acoustically), Word Game, Blackbird, and yes, Wooden Ships that I could not fully reproduce even with my corral of D-35's, D-28's, and a few single O's, OO's and OOO's. Now I have found a guitar that is just like Maybelle and best of all, it is mine...#20 of 91.