C. F. Martin 00-28 Custom Shop Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2018), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 2237067, natural finish, Cherry wood back and sides, Adirondack spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
Of all of the Martins to come down the pike from Nazareth over the last twenty years, this Custom Shop 00-28 upholds their traditional standards exceptionally well. This is a modern version of a 1920s 12-fret, slot head 00-28. It is unusual in utilizing cherry wood for the back and sides instead of rosewood, an interesting idea few guitar makers modern or vintage have tried. The wood has a very attractive almost 3-D figure and the sound is excellent, with a character somewhere between the typical 28 style rosewood and 18 style mahogany. The custom Shop booklet included notes this wood as "Selected by Guitar Riot Cherry set #3".
The top is Adirondack spruce, as is the beautifully scalloped X-bracing. The soft "V" profile neck is the traditional mahogany with an ebony fingerboard inlaid with small slotted diamonds. The top trim is the traditional style 28 herringbone with multiple sound hole rings. This is a great feeling and sounding guitar, a remarkable instrument that pays homage to the 12-fret bodied Martins from over a century before while offering a new sonic wrinkle with a non-traditional wood palette.
Overall length is 38 3/8 in. (97.5 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This lovely Martin shows only minimal signs of use retaining all the original factory appointments, down to the bridge pins and end pin. Save for a couple of small nicks in the center of the heel and side along the upper bout, the guitar appears virtually untouched. Internally, all of the braces and bridge plate are intact and show no signs of movement. It resides in the original case with the Martin Custom Shop spec sheet/booklet included, a very nice if not flashy example of the company's best work. Overall Excellent + Condition.
