❌SOLD❌ C. F. Martin D-28 Brazilian Rosewood Guitar, 1966

The C.F. Martin D-28 is one the oldest of Martin’s designs, with the ’28’ style dating to 1870, and the ‘D’ body coming into general production in 1931. From 1917 to 1930, Martin made some D body guitars for the Ditson company of Boston. The guitars from 1931 had 12-fret necks, shifting to 14 frets in 1934.

As the banjo declined in popularity and the guitar rose to prominence, the Rosewood-bodied Martin D-28 became very popular and has continued to be, with the Mahogany-bodied D-18, one of the most sought after guitars.

Here we’re visited by an all-original Martin D-28 built during 1966 at the Martin plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

In 1966, Brazilian Rosewood was the standard material used for these guitars, used for the back, sides, and headplate. However, it was increasingly subject to import restrictions and by 1969 its use officially ended. Some very few examples were built into the early 1970’s, with some D-35 backs having Brazilian center panels to use up remaining undersize stock. The top is Sitka Spruce, with rear shifted X bracing. The body blocks and neck are Mahogany, with Ebony used for the fingerboard and bridge. The tuners are closed-body Grover Roto-Matics with ‘Pat Pend USA’ stamped on the gear covers. Long ago, a strap pin was added to the heel cap.

This C.F. Martin D-28 guitar is in very nice shape, great action, and has a wonderful sound. Its neck set is at an ideal angle, so it may have had a neck reset; if so, it was professionally and properly done. The finish has some expected, natural lacquer checking.

Typical of Martins of this era, a crack between the soundhole and bridge developed due to the pickguard being glued directly to the top. The pickguard material and the top expand and contract at different rates, with predictable results. That crack has been glued and cleated. (For this reason, Martin now glues the pickguard to the finish, not directly to the top).

The original hard shell case is included.