C. F. Martin HD-28KM Keb Mo Limited Edition #41 of 252 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2001), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 807908, natural lacquer finish, Flamed Koa back and sides, Engelman spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
The Martin HD-28KM "Keb' Mo'" Signature is a limited-edition guitar originally released in 2001. It was co-designed by modern/traditional bluesman Keb' Mo' (Kevin Moore) and C.F. Martin IV as a new take on the company's venerable Dreadnoughts. Only 252 of these unique guitars were produced; this is #41.
The most unique appointment is flame-grained Hawaiian Koa for the back and sides, a wood familiar to Martin since the 1910s but only rarely used on a Dreadnought. The beautiful super tight-grained Englemann spruce top has forward-shifted scalloped bracing, herringbone trim with grained ivoroid binding and a side line. The soundhole has a fancy Style 45 rosette centered around an abalone ring. The low profile mahogany neck has an unbound ebony fingerboard with small diamond inlay and Keb' Mo's signature delicately inlaid between the 19th and 20th frets. The tuners are Schaller Gold M6 machines with ebony buttons. Harking back to the earliest Dreadnoughts the nut is wider than most at 1 3/4" inches making the guitar as amenable to more ragtime style fingerpicking as well as flatpicking.
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 now 25(!) yar old guitar appears very little played, with only some very light scuffing and handling wear. The guitar remains original as sold in 2001 except for a newer bone saddle with a subtle compensation and a strap button added to the heel. This is a fine playing Dreadnought with a deep but defined sound, partially at least courtesy of the koa back and sides. It resides in the original HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.
