Description
In the last few years I have grown quite fond of 1945 Martin D-28s with Adirondack spruce tops. This example, serial number 91965, is by far the cleanest of all that have passed through the shop. This guitar was one of only 183 D-28s made by Martin in the last year of WWII. The specifications of this instrument are nearly identical to late 1944 D-28s, with an Adirondack spruce top, ebony neck reinforcement, and Kluson flat plate tuners with no bushings and plastic buttons. The one change was in the top brace voicing, going from the traditional scalloped method to a new very similar tapered method, that shifted to tonal focus up a little higher in the midrange and provided more sustain. The archetype mid-1950s bluegrass sound of Jimmy Martin was played primarily on a guitar just like this. There are no cracks anywhere and the surfaces are bright and clean. There is a little fingernail wear at the edge of the sound hole and at the bottom of the pickgurd. Other pick marks are light and do no penetrate the top wood. There is some scratching of the finish on the lower bout bass side and at the endpin from the buckle of the Ace guitar strap that the original owner used for performing with his country band and with a pop-jazz combo. The color of the top is a luminous golden amber. Tonally this guitar is rich in the midrange and balanced in the bass, with enough volume for nearly every kind of music. The case is one that the original owner purchased in the mid-1960s. This Victoria hardshell case is in very fine condition and has a type of padding, grey lining, and a two layer handle that I am not used to seeing. In the case pocket is the Ace strap that he used and the original Martin hang tag. A particularly fine condition example of one of my very favorite configurations of this iconic Martin model. Alan recently reglued the bridge, installed a new ungrooved pin set, and performed a neck reset and refret. Having good saddle height and replacement of the original soft brass frets have really brought out much more strength and tonal complexity to the voice. This guitar is now performing at top level, with a warm and colorful voice.
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