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1983 Martin OM-28 Authentic
This OM-28 is one of these first ‘Authentics’ if we can borrow that moniker. It’s in mint-condition, and has the signatures of both CF Martin III and CF Martin IV on its label, along with the 150th Anniversary text and its serial number. Built in 1983, exactly 50 years after Martin dropped the OM from production, this guitar represents the rebirth of the OM-28 and is among the first OMs built in the modern era. It is a wonderful sounding OM-28, with clarity, power, balance, and a strong and present fundamental through its range. With nearly 40 years under its belt to open-up, this guitar has developed into a particularly good sounding rosewood OM.
A stunning guitar, the back and sides appear as if they were earmarked for a style 45 guitar in 1942 and never used. The Adirondack spruce top has a very even and tight grain, and it, too, looks as if it was stashed away around 1944 when the big switch to Sitka was made. No doubt Martin stockpiled their best wood for special projects, and this was among the most special of such projects in many years.
The guitar features scalloped bracing and a small maple bridgeplate, herringbone purflings, zig-zag back strip, vintage style tuning machines, small OM-sized tortoise celluloid pickguard under-the-finish, and wide 2-5/16” spacing at the bridge. The neck has a rounded-but-somewhat-V shape to its carve and a nut width of 1-3/4. The headstock is without a logo, as they were until 1932 (at the time of the original OM-28), and features ‘CF Martin & Co’ on the backside above the tuners. Non-adjustable steel neck rod, T-frets, and a drop-in saddle aren’t original OM features, but hey, it was 1983. We can’t speak with certainty about what kind of glue was used in assembly, but the squeeze-out does certainly have a hide-glue like quality that is markedly different than Titebond.
Without repairs or damage and 100% original, there’s little to find fault with in this OM-28. The finish is in gorgeous condition, the frets are for the most part unworn, and the playability and set-up are excellent. The action is sitting at 5-6 64ths with light strings and a low saddle in a full-height bridge. The neck has never been reset.
With original hardshell case
