C. F. Martin 0-28K Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1928), made in Nazareth, PA, natural lacquer finish, koa body, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
Starting in the mid/late 1910's Martin began fielding requests to make Hawaiian style guitars, as the craze for native musical stylings had taken hold of the country. After some (in retrospect) quizzical experiments with fan-bracing tops, Martin reverted to the scalloped X-bracing pattern used on the standard guitars, beefed up just a bit for steel strings. Hawaiian koa was used for the body in place of the traditional woods. While many were intended for use as lap-style instruments, the early examples were fretted and set up in standard style with a nut elevator used to adapt them for steel playing as needed.
The 0-28K was a more deluxe model, first shipped in 1918 but not officially cataloged until 1923. This one dates to late 1928, one of only 75 shipped out this year; 641 was the total production run for the model from 1918 up into the 1930s. After the mid-20's Martin began to usually ship them in a dedicated Hawaiian mode for lap-style play. As Hawaiian bands used guitars for rhythm as well as lead, same group could sometimes order identical models with differing set ups!
This guitar has the same dimensions and basic features as a standard 1928 Martin 0-28, with the exception of a fantastically grained koa body in place of spruce and rosewood. The straight cross-grain figure on the top, back and even sides this guitar is truly stunning, one of the fanciest koa Martins from this period we have seen. The body bindings are ivoroid with the celebrated herringbone trim around the top, the classic mark of the Style 28.
The 12-fret neck is mahogany, with a slotted rosewood-faced headstock and unbound ebony fingerboard inlaid with small slotted pearl diamonds. The tuners are engraved Waverly strips with ivoroid buttons. Construction is very light overall, even compared to later Hawaiian style Martins. Many of these instruments were used as Hawaiian guitars in the old high A tunings with the heavy strings of the period; this is one of them but has been neatly restored.
Martin's koa models were somewhat more expensive than standard models in any given style; this guitar listed for $75 (without case) in 1928, which was a fairly substantial sum at the time. The company imported the woods from Hawaii, usually using an intermediary on the west coast but the process must have added considerable expense. Early koa Martins like this are really a connoisseur's delight, a different and distinct flavor of the best small body flat tops ever made and especially favored for fingerpicked and, as intended, Hawaiian styles. This one plays perfectly with a lovely and quite powerful sound and looks simply fantastic, a visual symphony in koa.
Overall length is 38 1/8 in. (96.8 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/16 in. (10.6 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 15/16 in. (49 mm.).
This guitar is in excellent playing condition overall, with only some typical finish wear and very well-executed repair. The thin lacquer finish has some general wear with small dings, dents and scrapes but the only really notable damage is an area on the top on the lower soundhole rim and under the highest string worn down to the wood. The back of the neck is relatively clean, with some general light wear and a couple of more noticeable dinks the deepest behind the second fret. There are no grain cracks in the flamey koa body, which is rather unusual for 95 years on!
The ebony bridge is a slightly oversized correct style replacement, as is the maple bridgeplate. The bone saddle is angled for standard play, which the original was not. The original bridge lifted and split long ago which very common on these, as they were subjected to higher tension than many Martins when new. The owner reinforced it with bolts and a metal bridge plate support which have obviously been removed but remain in the case pocket for the possible wry amusement of future owner! All work was very neatly done and not conspicuous at all; the non-slotted bridge pins appear original.
The neck has been very cleanly reset and the bar frets replaced and the guitar is very playable, the bone nut is also later. The guitar retains its original deluxe three-on-a plate white button Waverly tuners that still work fine. The original finish is intact throughout without overspray, except some very minor touch-up near the bridge and around the heel.
The interior of the guitar is quite clean, including the replaced maple bridge plate; the new piece is the same depth as the original but is extended just slightly to support the repaired bridge. Even considering this repair work this is a supremely lovely, beautifully preserved example of a 1920's deluxe koa Martin, a fancy, superbly elegant looking guitar perfectly restored into a great player with a very fine sound. Overall Excellent Condition.
