C. F. Martin D-35 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1969)

C. F. Martin  D-35 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar  (1969)
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Item # 8679
Prices subject to change without notice.
C. F. Martin D-35 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1969), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 247300, natural lacquer finish, Sitka spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back & sides, ebony bridge & fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.

This lovely one-owner D-35 has been enjoyed for exactly 50 years by the original purchaser and is now looking for a new home! Made in early 1969, this is from the final original period of Brazilian rosewood Dreadnoughts at Martin before the switch to Indian later in the year. The D-35 was specifically designed with a 3-piece back to use Martin's stock of smaller rosewood panels, and this one has beautiful straight-grained sides with more colorful figure to the back, especially the darker outer sections.

The guitar has typical period features: rounded headstock edges, Grover Rotomatic tuners, black pickguard, and rosewood bridgeplate. The D-35 was listed as a higher grade model than the D-28 and made in smaller numbers. This guitar was bought new in 1969 and the original price tag is still in the case pocket -- sorry, the $465 price (plus $72 for the case) on it no longer applies. A nice playing D-35, one of the last Brazilian babies out the door at Martin as the '60s dribbled to a close.
 
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 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.).

This is a very well-cared for guitar, showing just some minimal wear overall. It shows a very clean original finish with only some light pick wear, mostly around and forward of the sound hole area. There is one notable grain crack on the top off the back edge, solidly sealed with some light touch-up to the top and the adjacent binding. There is also a small repair to the sound hole rim just off the bass side of the fingerboard with a semi-circular cleat underneath. The pickguard is the correct style but likely a later replacement, as most of these early black acetate guards have curled up into plastic potato chips by now! A very nice playing guitar with a big bassy sound, typical of these early D-35s. Excellent - Condition.