C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1955), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 144120, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This well used "genuine relic" of a Martin D-28 dates to mid-1955, now exactly 70 years along. It has obviously seen several lifetimes of play but still sings with the deep, powerful tone these guitars are revered for.
After WWII this D-28 was the biggest, best and most expensive guitar Martin made. The elaborate pearl trimmed models were discontinued during the war and not revived, leaving this comparatively austere rosewood Dreadnought as top of the line. Despite competition from Gibson's flashier Jumbos, in the 1950s the D-28 was the final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players; many Country & Western stars of the day would not be seen without one!
This example is one of 806 D-28's sold in 1955 at the fairly stiff price of $225 (without the case). It shows the classic period appointments: straight-grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides, a very tight and even-grained spruce top with some nice cross-grain figure, multi-layer celluloid binding, a long-saddle ebony bridge, "Big-dot" graduated pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard and a tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard. The woods used would universally be considered a premium selection today. The mahogany neck is relatively slim with the typical '50s "very soft V" profile.
While this guitars shows the scars of decades of hard use its real beauty comes out in the playing. The D-28 is one of the most respected of all Martin models, and this is a fine sounding example. It offers a full-range tone maintaining the powerful bass response D-28's are prized for, perfectly suited to period styles including purely acoustic Bluegrass of folk, acoustic/electric Honky Tonk or any more modern playing applications. This is a real "road dog" '50s D-28, likely with thousands of miles under its belt and enough music left inside for many decades more.
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 a lot of use over nearly seven decades but remains largely original if showing quite a bit of honest play wear. The original finish overall shows, dings, dents, scuffs, press marks and crazing. This is most noticeable on the top, which is heavily ambered and checked with dings, noticeable pick wear to the lower lip of the soundhole, above the strings, around the fingerboard extension and off the bottom and back edges of the pickguard. There is some touch up to a few spots on the top but most of the finish there is unmolested. There is some belt buckle wear into but mostly not through the lacquer on the back, with dings and dents to mostly the lower side. The neck finish is partially worn down to the wood over much of its length, with some dings and dents and a deeper chip to the headstock diamond.
The top has one repaired spruce grain split off the back edge, tightly sealed with no noticeable overfinishing. Apart from this the guitar is crack free, kind of amazing considering the wear it has had. The instrument has had a cleanly done older neck set with a bit of touch up around the heel. The ebony bridge is a well done repro and the original small maple bridge plate has a very minor repaired split through the center and the pin holes were plugged and redrilled. The original bracing is intact and unaltered.
The tuners are modern Waverly openback machines, minor scarring from previous fittings are visible around the bushings. The ebony fingerboard has been neatly refretted with correct style wire with minimal wear and plenty of life left; the board has some light wear in the lower positions. This "Ol'Hoss" is a very fine player; it is quite responsive to a lighter touch but retains a tremendously powerful ringing sound when pushed, the hallmark of a fine D-28. It is housed in a later HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
