Brand: Martin
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
Introduced in 1965 and still in production, the Martin D-35 Dreadnought design addressed a practical issue – tighter wood supplies. Demand for the very popular D-28 model was high but the larger sections of Rosewood – Brazilian, at the time – were in short supply. To allow use of smaller sections, a three-piece back was designed. This required some minor changes to the base D-28 build such as bracing weight, but the two models are otherwise fairly similar.
Here we’re looking at a very nice Martin D-35, dating to early 1968 and built at Nazareth, PA. As a 1968 model, the Rosewoods used on this guitar were sourced from Central South America; in 1969, Martin stopped buying Brazilian Rosewood, and their stocks on hand completely ran out as late as 1973. Indian Rosewood was used in its place. The top is Sitka Spruce, with Honduran Mahogany for the body blocks and neck. The bridge and bound fingerboard are Ebony. When this guitar was built, Martin was still using fixed neck stiffener channels; adjustable truss rods appeared in 1985. The tuners are the original Grover Roto-Matics.
This guitar has been well used over the years. The top finish has an amount of marking from vigorous strumming, and the finish overall has a lovely patina. It’s been played enough to have developed its full, even and warm voice, and enough to have been professionally re-fretted. It appears to have had the neck reset that most steel string guitars of a certain age will require. It plays well, and is very pleasant to hear.
This Martin D-35 has been fitted with an L R Baggs Lyric pickup system, mounted to the bridge plate. The controls are tucked under the bass side of the sound hole, and the battery bag is fixed to the back near the bass side of the neck block. An endpin jack has been installed for output.
The original hard shell case is included.
- Model: D-35
- Year: 1968
- Finish Natural
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 231303, built during early 1968 in Nazareth PA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 13/01/2023
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 5.16lbs 2.28kg
- Scale Length: 25.4in 645mm
- Nut Width: 1.710in 43.42mm
