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1947 Martin D-28
With its beautifully aged finish, perfectly quartered rosewood, and elegant Lifton case, this 1947 Martin D-28 makes for one attractive package. That it plays easily, and sounds as incredible as it does, turns the appeal up exponentially. It's simply a great sounding and looking vintage Martin, and one that has all the power and throat a flatpicking guitar ought to have.
Brazilian rosewood back and sides, taper-braced sitka spruce top, ebony fingerboard and bridge. The guitar's only repaired crack is visible at the inside margin of the pickguard (surprise); the body is otherwise crack-free and in excellent condition. The bridge is an attractive reproduction Martin factory part that was installed by David Musslewhite, who also reset the guitar's neck a number of years back. The saddle slot was filled and recut by Folkway a few years ago, and new bone saddle installed.
There is minor and very localized overspray adjacent to the neck heel, and a small touch up by the heel cap. Neither of these finish repairs are particularly noticeable, and were thus hard to photograph. Two sections of the top's X brace have been well reglued, and the early 1950's Kluson tuning machines are lovely, but not original to the guitar. You'll discover the original Waffle-back Kluson footprints and filled screwholes peeking out from under the current tuners' baseplates. Frets appear to have been replaced, and are in fine condition. Original nut and red-eye bridge pins. Bridge plate is original and in good shape. Original finish throughout, with the aforementioned minor touch-ups.
It's a guitar with excellent headroom and power, throaty response through the mids, and an open and well-matured bass. It is wetter in overtones than the straight-braced 28's built a year later and beyond, and has added character, bass end, and expressiveness as a result. The taper-braced guitars offer a tone that is unique among Martin dreadnoughts.
Full feeling neck with a carve that's deeper and more rounded than the wartime versions, and quite specific to 1947 Martin production. 1-11/16" nut, 25.4" scale. Action currently set to 5-7 64ths under medium gauge string tension; there is between 1/16" and 3/32" of saddle height above the full-thickness bridge.
With original Lifton hardshell case
Shipping into the USA?
Sending this guitar to a US address is easy to do, and there are no import fees, taxes, or duties to pay when it arrives. We take care of everything involved in shipping – all you have to do unpackage the instrument when it arrives and play!
Questions? Email us anytime, or call us toll-free at 1-855-772-0424.
