C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1951), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 119968, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a played-in but great sounding Martin D-28 dating to the "golden era" of the newly jumped-up postwar 1940s and 1950s Country music when few stars of the day would be seen without one! 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 and not revived, 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 final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players.
This example was built in early/mid-1951, one of 476 sold that year (up by just 1 from the year before!) at a list price of $200 (plus case). It shows the classic period appointments: multi-layer celluloid binding on the back and top (the Herringbone now well gone) a long-saddle ebony bridge, "Big-dot" graduated pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard, tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard and the then brand new "Waffleback" Kluson Sealfast tuners with metal buttons. It features nicely grained Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides and a very even-grained spruce top that would be considered premium wood today.
The D-28 is one of the most respected of all Martin models and this is powerful sounding example, offering a huge full-range sound with a stronger top end than many while still maintaining a strong bass response. This guitar is perfectly suited to period styles including purely acoustic Bluegrass, acoustic/electric Honky Tonk or to more modern playing. This is a gem of a player's postwar D-28, worn enough to gig without worry.
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 guitar has seen some serious play time over the last seven decades, still looking very original and still showing less wear than many. The all-original finish has wear overall, the most notable being heavier pickwear to the top as is common. There are areas worn into the wood off both sides of the fingerboard extension, the back edge of the pickguard and into the lower edge of the soundhole ring along with some random dings and scrapes. The back and sides are comparatively clean with only small dings, scuffs and dents. There is some finish worn down off the back of the neck from the first position down the spine with small dings and dents but no heavy capo wear.
The only crack to the top is largely hidden underneath the pickguard along the outer edge; the pickguard has been reglued in that area and the crack neatly cleated. There is a grain split to the back off the front edge above the heelblock; this has been neatly sealed with no cleats or touchup. There are no other visible crack repairs.
The interior of the guitar is mostly quite clean, complete with the original unmolested bracing. The original small maple bridge plate has had the pin holes patched and re-drilled with some glue residue remaining. The instrument has had a cleanly done neck set, with just a bit of finish touch up around the heel. The fingerboard was trued and refretted with slightly larger wire than 1950s spec but not oversize. The bridge is a later ebony repro with a bone saddle, the original waffle back tuners are intact and a (gold plated) strap button was added to the heel. This is a fine player with a tremendous sound, housed in a the original period green-lined HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
