C. F. Martin D-28 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947)
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C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 103121, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
There are certain guitars that are the standard by which all others are judged; the vintage Martin D-28 is absolutely one of them. This is a lightly played just post-war example made in late 1947, soon after Martin's serial numbers rolled over into 6-digits; it is stamped with one of the last few hundred numbers issued that year. It shows some general playwear but remains in excellent playing condition with the expected splendid sound.
In a "Missed it by THAT much" moment this D-28 lacks the celebrated pre-war "herringbone" Style 28 top trim; that had been discontinued early in this year when Martin's backstock ran out. This guitar shows the then-new 1940s-into-'50s 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 the then brand new Kluson Deluxe closed-back tuners. It features beautifully grained Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides with nice straight grain on the back with some visible saw marks. The tight and very even-grained spruce top would also be considered premium wood today.
The neck is fairly slim but has a slightly chunkier feel than typical wartime examples, more round backed than those but with a noticeable dress away to the shoulders that shades towards a soft "V" flavor. The ebony fingerboard is unbound with mixed-size pearl dot inlay. The headstock is faced with rosewood adorned with the gold Martin logo decal and fitted with the VERY earliest Kluson Deluxe enclosed tuners, then a brand new fitting.
This D-28 dates to the "golden era" of postwar Country music in the 1940s and 1950s, when few stars of the day would be seen without one! After WWII this was the biggest, best and most expensive Martin guitar available. The elaborate pearl trimmed models were discontinued during the war. Despite strong competition from Gibson's Jumbos by the later 1940s the Martin D-28 was the final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players; there was no other serious option for a Brazilian rosewood instrument of this type. At a $144 list price (plus case) in '47 this was an expensive guitar but a relative bargain compared to the carved top instruments favored by orchestra and jazz players.
While traditionally not as highly venerated as pre-WWII examples the just post war Martins like this D-28 are now 75+ years old and have much to recommend them. Exactly 450 D-28s were sold in 1947, by modern standards practically a limited edition number. While this is a fabulous guitar to look at as with most old Martins the real beauty comes in the playing. This instrument remains a fantastic performing or recording guitar, offering a huge deep sound with a powerful bass response but a crisp top end as well. This D-28 is well suited to the classic Bluegrass style requiring an authoritative and deep response from the guitar but also quite applicable to many modern styles as well. Overall a this is great early postwar example that was very well-cared for and ready for many more decades of picking.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 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 is a very nicely preserved example of a postwar D-28 showing only fairly light wear compared to many and the typical maintenance repair work; many of these workhorse guitars have been worn FAR more heavily than this. The original thin lacquer finish is all original and overall well preserved, with a collection small dings and scrapes and a few areas of more noticeable wear. There are scattered scrapes and dings to the top, and some pick scrapes mostly over the fingerboard extension and soundhole. The usually worn spots below the pickguard and on the soundhole lower lip are hardly marked at all.
The back of the neck has some small feelable dings and scratches but no large worn away areas. There is deeper scratching along the upper middle of the back going well into the finish, but no major area of belt buckle loss. The instrument is amazingly crack free, with just the slightest hint of grain pulling up from the shrinking pickguard on the upper and lower edges, not opened into actual cracks.
The guitar has had a neatly done neck reset and period correct refret; The nut appears original and the ebony fingerboard looks to have been lightly trued for optimal playability. The ebony bridge appears original, lowered slightly long ago with a re-worked saddle and new pins showing some very light scarring to the top around the perimeter from previous removal and regluing. Internally the original small maple bridge plate and all bracing are original and undisturbed.
The tuners are the original just post-war closed back Kluson Deluxes, quite clean and still fully functional. The guitar plays extremely well and has a rich full-range tone, powerful and sweet in equal measure and a delight to play in any style. It is housed in a later hardshell case. Overall Excellent - Condition.
There are certain guitars that are the standard by which all others are judged; the vintage Martin D-28 is absolutely one of them. This is a lightly played just post-war example made in late 1947, soon after Martin's serial numbers rolled over into 6-digits; it is stamped with one of the last few hundred numbers issued that year. It shows some general playwear but remains in excellent playing condition with the expected splendid sound.
In a "Missed it by THAT much" moment this D-28 lacks the celebrated pre-war "herringbone" Style 28 top trim; that had been discontinued early in this year when Martin's backstock ran out. This guitar shows the then-new 1940s-into-'50s 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 the then brand new Kluson Deluxe closed-back tuners. It features beautifully grained Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides with nice straight grain on the back with some visible saw marks. The tight and very even-grained spruce top would also be considered premium wood today.
The neck is fairly slim but has a slightly chunkier feel than typical wartime examples, more round backed than those but with a noticeable dress away to the shoulders that shades towards a soft "V" flavor. The ebony fingerboard is unbound with mixed-size pearl dot inlay. The headstock is faced with rosewood adorned with the gold Martin logo decal and fitted with the VERY earliest Kluson Deluxe enclosed tuners, then a brand new fitting.
This D-28 dates to the "golden era" of postwar Country music in the 1940s and 1950s, when few stars of the day would be seen without one! After WWII this was the biggest, best and most expensive Martin guitar available. The elaborate pearl trimmed models were discontinued during the war. Despite strong competition from Gibson's Jumbos by the later 1940s the Martin D-28 was the final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players; there was no other serious option for a Brazilian rosewood instrument of this type. At a $144 list price (plus case) in '47 this was an expensive guitar but a relative bargain compared to the carved top instruments favored by orchestra and jazz players.
While traditionally not as highly venerated as pre-WWII examples the just post war Martins like this D-28 are now 75+ years old and have much to recommend them. Exactly 450 D-28s were sold in 1947, by modern standards practically a limited edition number. While this is a fabulous guitar to look at as with most old Martins the real beauty comes in the playing. This instrument remains a fantastic performing or recording guitar, offering a huge deep sound with a powerful bass response but a crisp top end as well. This D-28 is well suited to the classic Bluegrass style requiring an authoritative and deep response from the guitar but also quite applicable to many modern styles as well. Overall a this is great early postwar example that was very well-cared for and ready for many more decades of picking.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 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 is a very nicely preserved example of a postwar D-28 showing only fairly light wear compared to many and the typical maintenance repair work; many of these workhorse guitars have been worn FAR more heavily than this. The original thin lacquer finish is all original and overall well preserved, with a collection small dings and scrapes and a few areas of more noticeable wear. There are scattered scrapes and dings to the top, and some pick scrapes mostly over the fingerboard extension and soundhole. The usually worn spots below the pickguard and on the soundhole lower lip are hardly marked at all.
The back of the neck has some small feelable dings and scratches but no large worn away areas. There is deeper scratching along the upper middle of the back going well into the finish, but no major area of belt buckle loss. The instrument is amazingly crack free, with just the slightest hint of grain pulling up from the shrinking pickguard on the upper and lower edges, not opened into actual cracks.
The guitar has had a neatly done neck reset and period correct refret; The nut appears original and the ebony fingerboard looks to have been lightly trued for optimal playability. The ebony bridge appears original, lowered slightly long ago with a re-worked saddle and new pins showing some very light scarring to the top around the perimeter from previous removal and regluing. Internally the original small maple bridge plate and all bracing are original and undisturbed.
The tuners are the original just post-war closed back Kluson Deluxes, quite clean and still fully functional. The guitar plays extremely well and has a rich full-range tone, powerful and sweet in equal measure and a delight to play in any style. It is housed in a later hardshell case. Overall Excellent - Condition.