1970 MARTIN D-28

Martin D-28 from 1970, in excellent original and preserved condition.

This dreadnought  was built right in the middle of a major transition period for Martin after a decade of meteoric growth. Since 1959, the company had considerably increased its production capacities, moving into a huge new factory in July of 1964 in order to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for guitars. Regardless, the Martins of the time were still very much handmade instruments when compared to modern practices, and at the time the instruments leaving the Nazareth factory were undoubtedly the finest flat-top guitars available anywhere.

The rosewood models from the late 60s/early 70s are also marked by the transition from Brazilian rosewood, historically used on the back and sides since Martin’s beginnings, to Indian rosewood – according to the factory records, the transition was made around serial numbers 254XXX to 255XXX, i.e. 15,000 numbers before the guitar presented here. However, the Indian rosewood of this guitar has nothing to envy of the Brazilian of its predecessors and presents a stunningly figured pattern on the back of the guitar. The tight-grain spruce top also features attractive bearclaw patterns, subtle but noticeable when holding the guitar to the light.

The guitar also presents all the typical characteristics of the period: the top has a nicely amber natural finish with a 6-ply celluloid binding around its edge, an ebony bridge with a short nut, a pickguard in black celluloid material and multi-layered rosette rings. The mahogany neck is topped with an ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlays. The headstock features rounded corners, typical of this era when Martin’s templates were well worn, and carries the original set of Grover Rotomatic tuners.

This D-28 remains to this day in superb condition, free from defects or breaks with the sole exception of a very minor crack under the pickguard, glued back and stabilized with a small cleat. The varnish shows a slight crazing but also remains barely marked. After a complete set up in our workshop including planing and polishing of the frets as well as making a new bone saddle, this dreadnought is fully ready for many years to come.

Sold in its original Martin molded thermoplastic case.