1957 MARTIN D-21

A sublime 1957 Martin D-21, in incredible preserved and playable condition.

The D-21 is undoubtedly the most overlooked and rare dreadnought model produced in the 1950s. It combines the more discrete aesthetic of the D-18 with the Brazilian rosewood body of the D-28, Martin’s highest-end guitar at the time. The D-21 style was introduced in 1955, with half a dozen test examples shipped before retail began in proper in 1956. The 1950s saw a surge in production of dreadnought models, particularly popular with professional artists, and annual production totals exceeded or approached 1,000 for both the D-18 and D-28. However, production of the D-21 remained much more modest: for example, for 901 D-28s produced in 1957, only 325 D-21s left the Nazareth workshop (including the example presented here). The small price difference between the two models, merely $15, and the fact that the D-28 style had already been firmly established in the musical landscape for over two decades were most likely the cause of disregard among musicians for the new dreadnought, and in fact, it remained in the shadow of its sister model until its withdrawal from the catalog in the late 1960s. In total, fewer than 3,000 examples were built during the model’s 14-year existence.

Yet, this model has it all and offers a particularly appreciable combination of features, as seen on the instrument presented here: it sports a superb straight-grained Brazilian rosewood on the back and sides, the latter featuring particularly figured patterns; we also find a beautiful spruce top with even grain; the original varnish has aged superbly and has taken on a nice amber hue over the decades. The body binding is dark tortoise plastic like that of the D-18, with a chain-patterned stripe adorning the bottom joint. The neck, slim and comfortable, is topped with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, and the bridge is also made of this wood. All these elements make the D-21 an instrument with an unostentatious appearance, earning it (according to some sources) the position of C.F. Martin III’s favorite model – he preferred the classy elegance of the 21 style, while he considered the D-28 and its white binding too flashy!

This guitar is exceptionally well preserved to this day, with all its original main parts: the thin varnish, bridge and fingerboard, as well as the internal parts (bracing, bridge plate, etc.) are all present. Fully restored for playing in our workshop, the guitar received a neck reset, followed by a complete refret, and a new set of bone nut and saddle to restore impeccable playability. The action is low and the intonation is accurate, and all setup elements are perfectly adjusted.

Sold in its original Lifton-branded hardshell case.
A Pre-Convention CITES certificate for the Brazilian rosewood is provided along with the sale of the guitar. Non-EU buyers, please enquire for CITES export paperwork.