A 1970 Martin D-28 with its original case — the first year of the East Indian rosewood era, and one of the most discussed transitional instruments in acoustic guitar history. This is the guitar that serious Martin players either chase or overlook based on forum reputation, and the honest answer is that a good one sounds every bit as authoritative as the guitars that came before it.

The fact is:  there are good and bad 1970s guitars from every manufacturer, but the good ones are good!  Fifty-plus years of open aging, a solid Sitka spruce top that has been resonating since the Nixon administration, and that unmistakable Martin dreadnought voice — balanced, projecting, with low-end authority and a clear singing top end. Original case is present, which is increasingly rare on guitars of this age.

Condition

This Martin is in excellent condition. The frets show little play wear, as is the case for the rest of the guitar.  There is a little strum-wear through the finish where the fretboard hits the body and a bit on the edge of the soundhole as well.  There are other small signs of use and dings here and there, but the guitar was clearly very well cared for over the years. The pickguard was replaced - you can see that it is a bit oversized.  This is very typical as the pickguards of this era often curled up like a hard taco shell.  

There are no cracks anywhere on the guitar.  There are no changes aside from the pickguard.  The Patent Pending Grover tuners work flawlessly.  The saddle is a little low, but so is the action, and the neck angle looks great.  Someone clearly de-tuned the guitar when they weren't playing it.  

This is just about as perfect an example of a 1970 D-28 as you could hope to find.

The case is a great bonus - an original, arched top, wood case - the last of the traditional cases before they moved to the molded plastic one that always falls apart.  

Mahar's Vintage Guitars is a brick-and-mortar and web-based retailer. We are happy to talk with you before you make a purchase.   Please reach out if you feel so inclined! We cross market our items here and on our own site, so items are subject to sale elsewhere at any time (however we will never cancel a sale if it happens here first). See our profile here, our Google reviews as well as our 100% positive Reverb feedback. Also, Reverb limits us to only 25 pictures of our items. There is a good chance we have more. Contact us if you’d like to see them.

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A Bit of History

C.F. Martin & Co. introduced the dreadnought body shape in 1916 in collaboration with the Oliver Ditson Company, and the D-28 arrived in its current form in 1931 — a square-shoulder dreadnought with rosewood back and sides, spruce top, ebony fingerboard and bridge, and the herringbone top purfling that remained a defining feature until 1946. By the late 1940s and through the 1950s, demand for D-28s was so strong that Martin had a two-year waitlist. The instrument had become the quintessential American acoustic guitar — the choice of Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, and Tony Rice, whose legendary pre-war D-28 (originally belonging to Clarence White) became one of the most storied guitars in bluegrass history. 

Excerpts from real online user forums and reviews

• "I think the 70s Martins have a bad reputation because of the repair issues like the pickguard cracks, plus the use of large rosewood bridge plates. And this has been blown out of proportion through rumor and hearsay. They do not 'suck' when it comes to tone. Case in point, Michael Hedges' D-28, which has been identified as a 1970 or 1971. I have never played a 70s Martin that sounded bad, period." — Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum
• "Everyone should know the joy of an old D-28. Vintage is an acquired taste that develops as you go. The more examples you play, the more refined your palate becomes." — Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum
• "It's prized for its excellent projection, which was particularly useful at a time when acoustic guitars didn't come with electronics. Whether it was country, rockabilly, or bluegrass, right through to modern styles, its tonal versatility knew no bounds, and the D-28 found a place across the spectrum of music." — Guitar World
• "The D-28 is by far the most imitated acoustic guitar in history. It remains the benchmark that other guitars are compared to, especially when it comes to the 14-fret dreadnought, which has outsold all other designs for the past half a century." — Maury's Music

A genuine 1970 D-28 with its original case — the first year of the East Indian rosewood era, over fifty years aged, and a legitimate piece of American acoustic guitar history. Ships fully insured with the care this instrument deserves.

SPECS:

• Color: Natural
• Weight: 4lbs 13.5oz
• Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
• Body: East Indian Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fretboard: Ebony
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Frets: Original
• Fret Count: 20
• Nut: Original
• Nut width: 1-11/16"
• Radius: 16"
• Scale: 25.4"
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .831"
• Neck thickness at 10th Fret: 1.01
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Overall length: 41"
• Body length: 20"
• Lower bout: 15-5/8"
• Waist: 10-7/8"
• Upper bout: 11-1/2"
• Body depth/thickness: 4-7/8"
• String gauge: 12-53
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Original Grover
• Case: OHSC
• Notes: 

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