C. F. Martin 000-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1972), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 297266, natural lacquer finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case. This 000-28 was made in early 1972, one of only 151 000-28's shipped that year, compared to nearly 4975 D-28s. At this point in Martin history, the Dreadnought models had eclipsed all other types making these higher end 000 models quite rare by comparison. As is typical for the early 1970s this 000-28 features a Sitka spruce top over Indian rosewood back and sides, with the traditional mahogany neck topped with an Indian rosewood peghead plate and Grover Rotomatic tuners. The guitar is ornamented with six-ply black and white celluloid binding, a multi-ply black and white soundhole rosette, three ply binding on the back and a chain pattern center strip. The ebony fingerboard is inlaid with graduated pearl dots, the bridge is ebony with a drop-in saddle. The bridge plate is rosewood, though it is still the 'small' size of the earlier maple examples from the mid-1960's, not the much larger piece used in contemporary Dreadnoughts. The interior is still comparatively lightly braced in a similar manner to earlier Martins of the 1960's. While perhaps not as lively as rosewood 000 examples from earlier decades this is still a big smooth sounding guitar, with a powerful punch when pushed but responsive enough to make a good fingerpicking machine as well.Overall length is 39 7/8 in. (101.3 cm.), 15 in. (38.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). This just 50-year-old guitar remains clean overall showing some typical wear and minor repair but no alterations. The original black acetate pickguard has been cleanly replaced; this is very common as that material proved problematic and they have often curled up badly by now. There is a neatly repaired tight "B" string crack next to it, the result of the original guard shrinking. There is also a repaired spruce grain crack on the top at the front edge of the upper bass bout, solidly done but not overfinished so clearly visible. The finish shows some light checking overall, mostly on the top. There is not too much play wear, just some pickwear through the finish on the treble rim of the soundhole and some random strum marks mostly above the soundhole. There is a deep scratch (or possible an unusually long case lid bite) above the repaired top crack on the upper bass bout. The original bridge appears to have been lowered just a hair ahead of the pins, and the saddle compensated. The neck appears to have been neatly reset some time back, the original frets show very little wear. This nicely aged in rosewood 000 is a fine player with a big, warm sound, really a much better guitar than many '70s Martins by reputation are supposed to. Overall Excellent - Condition.