C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1954), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 141329, natural lacquer finish, Brazillian rosewood body, spruce top, mahogany neck, black hard shell case.

This is a well-played but great sounding Martin D-28 dating to the mid-'50s, the "golden era" of postwar Country music when few of the stars of the day would be seen without one! After WWII the D-28 was the biggest, best and most expensive Martin guitar available. The elaborate pearl trimmed models were discontinued during the war and not revived, leaving this comparatively austere rosewood guitar as top of the line. Despite strong competition from Gibson's Jumbos, by the mid-'50s the D-28 was the absolute final word in a flat-top instrument to most professional players.

This example was built right at the end of 1954, one of the very last serial numbers stamped in 1954. It is technically one of 804 built that year, though likely shipped out in early '55. It shows the classic period appointments: multi-layer celluloid binding on the back and top, a long-saddle ebony bridge, "Big-dot" graduated pearl inlaid ebony fingerboard, tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard and the original "Waffleback" Kluson Sealfast tuners. It features Brazilian rosewood on the back with some more uneven figuring, somewhat unusual for a period D-28 as Martin usually preferred straighter grained wood. The sides are straighter grained but the rosewood is lighter in hue. The very straight-grained spruce top would also be considered premium wood today.

While this is a well-worn and slightly scruffy guitar to look at as with most old Martins the beauty comes out in the playing. The D-28 is one of the most respected of all Martin models, and this is a fine sounding example, with a huge full-range sound with a brighter top end than many while still maintaining a powerful bass response. This guitar is perfectly suited to period genres including purely acoustic Bluegrass, acoustic/electric Honky Tonk or to any more modern playing styles. This is a funky gem of a postwar D-28, a powerful guitar with a lot of attitude!

Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.).

Overall this is a heavily played guitar, worn in but with a great sound and vibe. There is fairly heavy play wear overall with checking, dings, dents and scrapes over the entire instrument and some noticeable spots of belt buckle wear to the back. The top shows the most wear with heavy pick marks on either side of the fingerboard and the edges of the pickguard that were touched long ago up with a topical overfinish; not an "overspray" but hand applied clear lacquer or varnish to protect the bare wood. This is confined to a small spot just above the fingerboard with a larger area below that extends to the front edge of the body and along the lower rim of the pickguard to the area below the bridge.

The bottom edge of the soundhole rim is worn well into the wood from picking, with similar wear off the back edge of the pickguard; there sere not overfinished. The finish on the back of the neck is worn to the wood over much of its length, with some small dings and dents but no heavy capo marks. Apart from the touched up areas of the top the rest of the finish is original.

There is one old grain split off the lower edge of the pickguard, sealed and cleated long ago. Somewhat amazingly considering the amount of use the guitar has seen there are no other cracks. The ebony bridge is a well done correct style repro; the small maple bridgeplate is original with some pinhole wear and an area of old hide glue applied a bit sloppily along the front edge. The guitar has had a neckset and correct style refret some time back so is ready to play with a big sound and plenty of volume. The description really doesn't do this one justice; in an era when artificial authenticity is a benchmark, this is a truly well played, working guitar that is simply as authentic a tone machine as it gets. It resides in a well-worn '70s hardshell case. Overall Very Good + Condition.