C. F. Martin D-28GE Golden Era Limited Edition #65 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1999), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 698015, natural finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Adirondack spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a lovely special D-28 Herringbone made in 1999, one of the first 100 D-28GE guitars produced. This special "Golden Era" series saw Martin taking their own history seriously, offering a more historically accurate Dreadnought than many previous attempts based firmly on the original 1930s 14-fret D-28. This guitar's replica features start with a solid Adirondack spruce top and solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides in natural polished gloss finish with Aging Toner on the top with the correct tortoise-style beveled-edge pickguard.
The scalloped X brace is laid out in what is now termed "forward shifted" (i.e. the original 1930s) position. The soundhole is trimmed with the old Style 28 three-stripe rosette (in 5/9/5 grouping) while the top border has grained ivoroid binding around the classic herringbone inlay. The select mahogany neck has a premium ebony fingerboard with diamond and square pearl inlay, solid Brazilian rosewood headstock overlay with Golden Era-style logo and three-per-side Waverly nickel tuners with butterbean buttons. The ebony 1930s-style belly bridge has the correct long saddle, white bridge pins with black dots.
These "GE's" were originally built from 1999-2004, and then reintroduced summer 2005-6. This is a splendid early example from 1999, #65 in the first limited edition run with a special label signed by C.F. Martin IV. Modern era Martin Dreadnoughts do not come a whole lot nicer than this, and with 25 years of ageing behind it this guitar has matured into a real powerhouse, still waiting to be seriously played.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 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 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This guitar is extremely well kept, showing few signs of actual use. There are some very light handling marks (mostly scuffing to the pickguard) and minimal fret wear, but the guitar looks hardly played over the last quarter century. It plays and sounds excellent and resides in the original Martin HSC. Excellent + Condition.
