This 1973 Martin D-35S is a guitar with an exceptional heritage, born out of the American brand C.F. Martin & Co.'s desire to return to the first 12-fret Dreadnought model that appeared in 1934.

First introduced in 1966, the D-35S is a slotted headstock version (characteristic of 12-fret necks) of the D-35 introduced in 1965.

It is designed to appeal to purists of the fingerpicking style as well as lovers of more classic vintage-style guitars.

This “S” (“Slotted”) version retains the aesthetic and tonal characteristics of the D-35, while offering a more comfortable nut width and increased string spacing, promoting expressiveness with deeper bass tones.

The D-35 itself was launched to use Brazilian rosewood parts that did not allow for a two-piece back. With a three-piece back, this practical and aesthetic choice quickly won over professional guitarists of the time. After 1969, Indian rosewood replaced Brazilian rosewood, but the D-35 retained its characteristics.

The illustration below, taken from the 1970 Martin catalog, shows the model in its original design, with a slotted headstock and elegant triple binding.

Among the legendary musicians who adopted the D-35S or its sister model, the D-35, were of course legendary artists such as Johnny Cash, Neil Young, and David Crosby, who played Martin D-35S guitars or similar variants, attracted by their rich sound and playing comfort.

On November 20, 1976, George Harrison borrowed the D-35S for a duet with Paul Simon on NBC's Saturday Night Live.

Paul Simon (also seen in the illustration above) also made this guitar a faithful companion, taking advantage of its tonal richness and warm projection to enhance his acoustic compositions.

In short, this 1973 Martin D-35S, of which only 1,832 were produced, is a direct descendant of a model launched in 1934, responding to the demand of musicians seeking a deep, expressive, and balanced sound with a refined aesthetic.

Technical specifications:

• Top: Spruce
• Back: 3-piece rosewood
• Sides: Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Nut width: 48 mm
• Radius: Flat
• Frets: 20 frets
• Scale length: 25.4" (645 mm)
• Profile: C
• Pickguard: Black
• Country of manufacture: United States
• Year: 1973 (No. 324992)
• Finish: Natural
• Decorations: White mother-of-pearl dot fret markers / Binding on the top, back, rosette, and fingerboard
• Details: Excellent condition / Comes in its original hard case (blue)

Like all our instruments, this guitar has been carefully adjusted.

This makes it extremely comfortable to play.

This 1973 Martin D-35S delivers a warm, dense, deep, and enveloping sound, with generous bass, rich mids, and crystal-clear highs of remarkable finesse.

Each note resonates with striking clarity and impressive natural projection, offering a sound palette that is full, nuanced, and incredibly expressive.