C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1971), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 290837, natural finish, Indian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
The Martin D-28 Dreadnought remains one of the most iconic of all flat top guitars. This one was built in 1971, a period when Martin had experienced years of tremendous growth. The company responded by ramping up production as much as possible, including moving into a huge new factory in 1964. Even so Martins were essentially hand-built instruments by modern standards, and at the time still indisputable the finest flat-tops available.
1971 saw a boom in sales of Martin flat tops and the D-28 in particular, with a grand total of 5466 shipped at a list price of $495 (plus case). After 1969 Martin substituted Indian rosewood for the Brazilian used earlier; apart from that the instruments are not much changed from the late '60s models. The guitar has typical period features including a nicely ambered natural lacquer finished spruce top with 6-ply celluloid binding around, a short-saddle ebony bridge, black Acetate pickguard and multi-ply soundhole rings. The mahogany neck has an ebony fretboard with mother of pearl dot markers graduating in size. The rounded-corner headstock (typical of this era, when Martin's templates were heavily worn) carries original PAT. PEND. Grover Rotomatic tuning machines.
This is a fine sounding and playing early '70s D-28 an excellent gigging example of this always sought-after guitar with a deep rich sound but worn-in enough to gig without worry.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 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 shows a decent amount of play wear to the original finish with moderate checking, dings, dents and scrapes overall, most obviously to the top. There is pick wear into the finish in several typical areas (most heavily down to the wood along the bottom rim of the soundhole) and some deeper case lid dings to the top above the strings. The rest of the guitar is somewhat cleaner (the back has light scratches mostly in the center) while the back of the neck is worn down to the wood in the first position.
There is one typical small spruce grain split off the upper edge of the pickguard, sealed and cleated. There are a couple of small sealed bash marks in the sides, one between the waist and lower bout on the treble side, the other on the bass side just above the endpin. There are very light stress marks on the back of the headstock between the high and low E string tuners, and another running off of the low E tuner securing screw. These marks are superficial and do not extend onto the side or face of the headstock; they are not moving at all and have been secured with no added finish. All of these are minor flaws; there are no large crack repairs or major damage.
The guitar has had a clean neck reset, and appears to have had an older correct style refret showing a little subsequent wear. The original ebony bridge is intact, previously reglued and perhaps lowered just a hair on the front edge fitted with a newer bone saddle. The original Acetate pickguard has been reglued with a few visible marks; it shows less shrinkage than most, many of these have been replaced due to them curling up badly. Internally the original braces and rosewood bridgeplate remain intact. The original tuners and nut are also still present, even the bridgepins and endpin appear original or at least period. Beyond the small repairs and cosmetic imperfections this now well over 50 year old D-28 is a lovely sounding Martin, well aged in and a very friendly player. Overall Very Good + Condition.
