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1945 Martin D-28
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Serial #: 91971
Materials: Solid bookmatched figured Brazilian Rosewood back and sides; solid bookmatched Adirondack spruce top; solid one-piece Honduras mahogany neck; solid ebony fingerboard; Brazilian rosewood peghead veneer; solid bone nut; solid ebony bridge with bone saddle; Grover Sta-Tite tuners; tortoise pickguard, inlaid ivoroid bridgepins.
Notes: You could spend more for a new Brazilian re-issue. Or you could get the real thing.
The Martin D-28 has been regarded by players and collectors as the gold standard for the flat top guitar, and remains the most widely imitated acoustic guitar of all time. Introduced in 1931, the D-28 has been built with 14 frets since 1934, and with herringbone-trimmed Adirondack spruce tops until 1946. The superior strength-to-weight ratio of Adirondack produces a uniquely powerful voice, but with postwar supply depleted, Martin turned to Northwest Sitka spruce for their soundboards thereafter.
The combination of feather-light spruce and rock-hard Brazilian Rosewood gives the herringbone dreadnoughts a projection and resonance that is legendary. From Lester Flatt to Clarence White and Tony Rice, the herringbone D-28 has been the go-to guitar for bluegrass players and country stars alike. In 1945, the year this handsome guitar was built, no more than 181 examples rolled out the doors in Nazareth, PA. Of these few, we can only guess how many have managed to survive house fires, bar fights, and angry girlfriends over the decades since.
This stunning guitar is crafted of gorgeous, deeply figured Brazilian Rosewood, with highlights ranging from deep purple to cafe-au-lait, and the back has the signature prewar zig-zag backstripe. A vintage-correct soundboard has been re-installed using quartersawn, bookmatched, fine grained genuine Adirondack spruce, employing the original tapered braces, and an amber toned true nitrocellulose finish throughout. Vintage touches include the thin translucent swirl tortoise pickguard, and solid ebony open-slot bridge, with a fine high compensated solid bone saddle. The solid mahogany neck retains its original Grover Sta-Tite 'butterbean' tuners, and has been fitted with a precision double-acting truss rod for an ultra-smooth action a prewar picker could only dream of.
Best of all, the voice of the guitar is simply thrilling, with deep resonant bass, crystal highs, superb balance, and volume to burn: a true banjo killer. In wonderful condition, the guitar is free of pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear, showing only a pair of tiny hair-breadth stress cracks in the back, barely visible, and soundly resealed. Insatiable demand and dwindling supply have driven original herringbone prices to nearly orbital heights. Even the reissues have gotten crazy. At this writing, a new '41 D-28 Museum Edition will set you back $12K, with rosewood from...Madagascar. You want Brazilian? The D-45 Authentic 1942 will run you a cool $48K just now. On the street. So take this booming prewar Brazilian 'bone to the gig instead. It's got all the sound, at an unbeatable price. An amazing opportunity: call now.
Setup: This instrument is strung with medium gauge bronze strings (.013-.056). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference.
Case: Older deluxe black arched plush lined hardshell case.
