C. F. Martin D-28 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1955)
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Item # 10226
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C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1955), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 142194, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This Martin D-28 dates to the "golden era" of postwar Country music in the early 1950's, when few of the stars of the day would be seen without one! It has had some repair work over the years but remains a fine playing and sounding example. After WWII the D-28 was the biggest, best and most expensive Martin guitar available. The elaborate pearl trimmed models were discontinued during the war, leaving this comparatively austere rosewood guitar as top of the line. Despite strong competition from Gibson's Jumbos, by the mid-'50s the D-28 was the absolute final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players.
This example was built near the beginning of 1955, one of 806 sold that year. It shows the classic period appointments: multi-layer celluloid binding on the back and top, a long-saddle ebony bridge, "Big-dot" graduated pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard, tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard and "Waffleback" Kluson Sealfast tuners. It features beautiful straight-grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides. The tight and very even-grained spruce top would also be considered premium wood today.
The D-28 is one of the most respected of all Martin models, and this is a decently preserved offering a big full-range sound with a brighter top end than many while still maintaining a powerful bass response. This guitar is perfectly suited to period styles including purely acoustic Bluegrass, acoustic/electric Honky Tonk or to more modern playing.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 5 in. (12.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 67 year old guitar has seen some play time over the decades but overall has been generally well-maintained, though there have been some notable repairs. It has been neatly refretted, as well as having the neck reset with a new correct repro bridge and saddle. The top has a fairly noticeable touch up over a previously sealed crack repair between the pickguard and the bridge. Other than this, the top is crack-free.
The finish has some small dings and scrapes, but no particularly heavy wear. There are a few scratches along the upper bout near the fingerboard extension on the bass side, as well as strum marks along the rosette near the pickguard. There is a small amount of belt buckle wear at the center of the back, but besides that the guitar only has a handful of nicks, dings and scrapes over the body, with a few minor spots of touch-up.
There is an old side crack repair that was discreetly filled in, running from the waist to the lower bout, that had been oversprayed and reinforced internally with bias tape. There is evidence of a strap button that was once installed at the base of the heel, which had previously been removed and filled in. Internally, there was a larger maple overlay installed over the original bridge plate, but other than this there have been no major changes made to the guitar's interior. It is fitted with more modern bridge pins, end pin, and bone nut. The repairs notwithstanding this D-28 retains a full, well-balanced tone and is a lovely piece for various playing styles and genres, housed in a new black tolex hardshell case. Excellent - Condition.
This Martin D-28 dates to the "golden era" of postwar Country music in the early 1950's, when few of the stars of the day would be seen without one! It has had some repair work over the years but remains a fine playing and sounding example. After WWII the D-28 was the biggest, best and most expensive Martin guitar available. The elaborate pearl trimmed models were discontinued during the war, leaving this comparatively austere rosewood guitar as top of the line. Despite strong competition from Gibson's Jumbos, by the mid-'50s the D-28 was the absolute final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players.
This example was built near the beginning of 1955, one of 806 sold that year. It shows the classic period appointments: multi-layer celluloid binding on the back and top, a long-saddle ebony bridge, "Big-dot" graduated pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard, tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard and "Waffleback" Kluson Sealfast tuners. It features beautiful straight-grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides. The tight and very even-grained spruce top would also be considered premium wood today.
The D-28 is one of the most respected of all Martin models, and this is a decently preserved offering a big full-range sound with a brighter top end than many while still maintaining a powerful bass response. This guitar is perfectly suited to period styles including purely acoustic Bluegrass, acoustic/electric Honky Tonk or to more modern playing.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 5 in. (12.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 67 year old guitar has seen some play time over the decades but overall has been generally well-maintained, though there have been some notable repairs. It has been neatly refretted, as well as having the neck reset with a new correct repro bridge and saddle. The top has a fairly noticeable touch up over a previously sealed crack repair between the pickguard and the bridge. Other than this, the top is crack-free.
The finish has some small dings and scrapes, but no particularly heavy wear. There are a few scratches along the upper bout near the fingerboard extension on the bass side, as well as strum marks along the rosette near the pickguard. There is a small amount of belt buckle wear at the center of the back, but besides that the guitar only has a handful of nicks, dings and scrapes over the body, with a few minor spots of touch-up.
There is an old side crack repair that was discreetly filled in, running from the waist to the lower bout, that had been oversprayed and reinforced internally with bias tape. There is evidence of a strap button that was once installed at the base of the heel, which had previously been removed and filled in. Internally, there was a larger maple overlay installed over the original bridge plate, but other than this there have been no major changes made to the guitar's interior. It is fitted with more modern bridge pins, end pin, and bone nut. The repairs notwithstanding this D-28 retains a full, well-balanced tone and is a lovely piece for various playing styles and genres, housed in a new black tolex hardshell case. Excellent - Condition.