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About This Listing
Up for sale, a 1976 Martin D-76 Limited Edition Bicentennial model in near-mint condition, complete with the original hardshell case and polish cloth. A very rare model limited to 1976 pieces (commemorating the year of America's Bicentennial), this top tier Martin features an Adirondack spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, herringbone marquetry, and an ebony bridge and fingerboard. Additional Bicentennial-centric accents include pearl star fretboard inlay and an eagle headstock inlay.
The Adirondack spruce top is a rarely seen feature in this era of Martin production, and spruce from this region is considered the gold standard for acoustic soundboards. A consistent feature of Pre-War Martins, Adirondack spruce has incredible dynamic range and yields an articulate, balanced voice. Martin clearly reserved some of their nicest cuts of Indian rosewood for the back and sides of this model as well. This Martin delivers tons of muscle and ample projection, with an overarching punchy quality that cuts through extremely well in ensemble situations. The clear, round bass register has a high volume ceiling and excellent string-to-string definition, and the trebles are sweet and sparkling. Weighing 4lbs 13oz, this Martin D-76 has been professionally setup here at Mike and Mike’s Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and fresh bronze 12-54 strings.
The one-piece mahogany neck has a full-feeling soft V-shaped profile carve at the nut, with a gentle increase in additional shoulder and overall heft up the fretboard, measuring .870” deep at the 1st fret and .999“ at the 9th. The bound ebony fretboard has pearl star inlay and original slender fretwire that has its full factory height and well-rounded crowns, showing no wear. The scale length is 25.4", and the original nut is intact, measuring 1 11/16" in width. On the headstock, the rosewood veneer features a flawless Martin logo and unique eagle inlay, and the original Grover Rotomatic chrome tuning machines are intact, turning smoothly and holding pitch as they should.
The ebony bridge sits flush with the top, and the original saddle has good height. The original bridge plate is intact, and string spacing at the bridge is 2 1/8". The original pickguard is intact too, sitting very flat. On the heel block, this Martin has a unique etched plaque noting the limited edition model and serial number within the 1976 instrument sequence.
The guitar retains its original 100% original gloss nitro lacquer gloss finish, and the instrument is exceedingly well-kept. Save for the tiny (and professionally repaired) “B string” split between the pickguard edge and bridge, the guitar is crack-free, and cosmetic wear is limited to a few minor marks and faint finish scratches in the clear coat of the gloss. The satin finish on the neck profile is nigh flawless.
The original gray molded Martin hardshell case is included, equally as clean as the guitar, and a Martin polish cloth is also present.
This limited release dreadnought was produced by Martin in celebration of the American bicentennial in 1976. It is structurally similar to a D-35 but with added cosmetic flair like star inlay markers.
