C. F. Martin D-28V Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1983), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 445027, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This guitar represents C.F. Martin & Co.'s first really serious attempt to re-capture the glory of their most sought-after pre-war instruments for a new generation of players. By the early 1980's the strong interest in older Martins -especially "herringbone" D-28's- inspired the company to create this special limited-edition model, designated the D-28V ("V" for vintage spec.) with many of the most requested features from the original 1930's D-28's. The D-28Vs' most noteworthy characteristic is the Brazilian rosewood back and sides, something Martin had originally abandoned almost 15 years earlier. Many players had requested this; at the time the wood was already becoming a scarcer resource but was not yet legally challenged. The herringbone trim had already been re-instated a few years before on the HD-28.
This D-28V also has a lovely Sitka spruce top with a consistent and attractive bearclaw figure. Other vintage style features including nicely scalloped braces and a small maple bridge plate; The binding is ivoroid and the top sports an old-style finished-over tortoiseshell celluloid pickguard. The fairly subtly-profiled V-shaped neck features an ebony fingerboard fitted with 1930's style slotted diamond inlays. The headstock is slightly more squared-off shape than was typical of the 1970-80's, but the tuners are still sealed back "C F Martin" logo'd chrome Schaller style pegs with metal buttons-there were no re-issue tuners in 1983! The company's 150th anniversary stamp appears on the back's center strip. There is a Vintage Series paper label under the treble side of the soundhole hand-signed by both C.F. Martin III and C.F. Martin IV; the elder Mr. Martin passed away just a couple of years on.
Martin was aware this was not an exact reproduction of the classic herringbone-the label actually reads "A limited edition adaptation"- but this very limited run D-28V was certainly the finest and most inspired guitar Martin had built for some time in 1983-the inspiration for the "vintage" models to come.
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 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Very clean and all original with just the lightest signs of wear-some small scuffs, pickwear spots, light checking and a small screw hole in the heel for an added strap button (easily filled or re-buttoned as desired) and an endpin jack (no pickup is currently fitted. No other alterations; this is very nice example of this most collectible of '80's Martins. Overall Excellent + Condition.
