1948 Martin D-28
$29,393.00 CAD
(USD $20,995.00)
For more details contact us at info@folkwaymusic.com or 855-772-0424.
This 1948 Martin D-28 is a remarkably good sounding post-war taper-braced Dreadnought that remains in excellent condition. About 2 years back the guitar received a reset, new reproduction bridge, and new frets in our shop; it’s otherwise a factory original example.
A guitar with a long and important provenance in the history of Canadian country music, this instrument was purchased new in 1948 and extensively used by Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Earl Heywood.
Heywood was a country singer/songwriter on RCA records alongside fellow Canadians, Wilf Carter and Hank Snow, who pioneered Canadian country music. Earl became established as Canada’s Number One Singing Cowboy in the 1950s, appeared at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, and enjoyed radio and television features in the United States and Canada. We’ve been told that, as a friend of Gene Autry’s, Heywood was offered roles in a few Hollywood cowboy films, too. And, like other popular Singing Cowboys of his era, Earl had his own fan club with memberships from places as far away as Australia. He hosted television and radio shows on CKNX in Wingham, Ontario, and recorded and toured with his family, under ‘The Heywood Family’ moniker. He was a featured performer on Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance, which broadcast weekly on local radio, and released numerous 78s and EPs. In 1989 Earl Heywood was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of fame. This guitar has been in the possession of Earl’s family since his passing in 2006. Have at look at this entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia for more about Earl Heywood.
Heywood’s D-28 is a powerhouse of a guitar and has developed that dry ‘shudder’ in the bass which is, for us, one of the hallmarks of a great bluegrass Dread. It’s strong across the strings and up the neck, offering a solid and focussed fundamental presence. Played lightly or slowly the guitar’s dark overtone colours move to the front, and pretty-up the tone beautifully. This guitar does everything well.
The guitar’s body is in excellent condition, with original finish throughout and very few repairs. There are just a few old, repaired cracks to mention: a 3.5” long top crack that stems up from the binding near the endblock, and a 5” long side crack on the treble side above the waist. We’ve ignored the B-string pickguard crack and left the original pickguard alone as the cupping was minimal, and despite the back edge lifting somewhat. The original bridgeplate is intact, and the replacement bridge that was made here is a convincing replica and fit with the original pins. Each of the guitar’s braces are perfect and unrepaired.
The neck is also in great shape and is still fitted with the original first-year ‘Patent Applied For’ Kluson Deluxe tuners and original ivory nut. The fretboard is full thickness, the frets are almost new and play perfectly, and the neck has a comfortably deep soft V carve with a 1st fret depth of .860”. We have the guitar set up with 12s and an action of 5-7 64ths at the 12th fret with a full height saddle. It can handle 13s if that’s your preference on a D-28, but this one certainly doesn’t need them for tone.
With original hardshell case.
A guitar with a long and important provenance in the history of Canadian country music, this instrument was purchased new in 1948 and extensively used by Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, Earl Heywood.
Heywood was a country singer/songwriter on RCA records alongside fellow Canadians, Wilf Carter and Hank Snow, who pioneered Canadian country music. Earl became established as Canada’s Number One Singing Cowboy in the 1950s, appeared at Nashville’s Grand Ole Opry, and enjoyed radio and television features in the United States and Canada. We’ve been told that, as a friend of Gene Autry’s, Heywood was offered roles in a few Hollywood cowboy films, too. And, like other popular Singing Cowboys of his era, Earl had his own fan club with memberships from places as far away as Australia. He hosted television and radio shows on CKNX in Wingham, Ontario, and recorded and toured with his family, under ‘The Heywood Family’ moniker. He was a featured performer on Canada’s Largest Travelling Barn Dance, which broadcast weekly on local radio, and released numerous 78s and EPs. In 1989 Earl Heywood was inducted into the Canadian Country Music Hall of fame. This guitar has been in the possession of Earl’s family since his passing in 2006. Have at look at this entry in the Canadian Encyclopedia for more about Earl Heywood.
Heywood’s D-28 is a powerhouse of a guitar and has developed that dry ‘shudder’ in the bass which is, for us, one of the hallmarks of a great bluegrass Dread. It’s strong across the strings and up the neck, offering a solid and focussed fundamental presence. Played lightly or slowly the guitar’s dark overtone colours move to the front, and pretty-up the tone beautifully. This guitar does everything well.
The guitar’s body is in excellent condition, with original finish throughout and very few repairs. There are just a few old, repaired cracks to mention: a 3.5” long top crack that stems up from the binding near the endblock, and a 5” long side crack on the treble side above the waist. We’ve ignored the B-string pickguard crack and left the original pickguard alone as the cupping was minimal, and despite the back edge lifting somewhat. The original bridgeplate is intact, and the replacement bridge that was made here is a convincing replica and fit with the original pins. Each of the guitar’s braces are perfect and unrepaired.
The neck is also in great shape and is still fitted with the original first-year ‘Patent Applied For’ Kluson Deluxe tuners and original ivory nut. The fretboard is full thickness, the frets are almost new and play perfectly, and the neck has a comfortably deep soft V carve with a 1st fret depth of .860”. We have the guitar set up with 12s and an action of 5-7 64ths at the 12th fret with a full height saddle. It can handle 13s if that’s your preference on a D-28, but this one certainly doesn’t need them for tone.
With original hardshell case.