Details
C. F. Martin continues to tweak their Authentic Series, and this example has a number of the more recent upgrades. Of course it’s missing the Brazilian rosewood you would find in a 1937 D-28, but the Guatemalan Rosewood found on this example is about as close as you could hope to find both visually and tonally. And, like dialing a time machine back to the old North Street Factory in Nazareth in the months prior to all the trouble that followed the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this D-28 has the steel T-bar neck reinforcement, hot animal hide glue assembly, ‘tucked-in” bridge plate, and a new final hand-applied finishing regime Martin recently re-introduced that leaves a brand new guitar with a pleasant patina. (It’s not a distessed finish, but instead has a warm glow without that high-gloss glare.)
Last, but certainly not least, is what Martin calls the VTS (Vintage Tone System) treatment given the Adirondack spruce top, their fine-tuning of the torrefied process that’s been around for a few years. Of course all the other Authentic Series vintage reissue goodies are there as well, such as ivoroid binding and accurate early ‘40s neck inlays, a complete list of all the vintage features combined in this model is enough to make your head swim.
But a better way to make your head swim is to play the guitar. Does it sound like a genuine 1941 D-28? My answer to that would be “which one?” There’s a wide range of “tonal personalities” from those original Martins, and there’s an equally wide range in these Authentic Series reissues. This is a great sounding D-28.
Specs
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Back sides
Guatemalan Rosewood
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Binding
Grained ivoroid
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Bracing
Authentic 1937 Forward-Shifted X-Brace, Adirondack Spruce with VTS, 5/16".
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Bridge
Ebony
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Fingerboard
Ebony
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Finish
Vintage Gloss
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Frets to body
14
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Inlay
Diamond and squares - long pattern 1937, Abalone
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Neck material
Mahogany
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Neck shape
Authentic 1937, Standard Taper
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Nut width
1 3/4"
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Rosette
Style 28
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Saddle spacing
2 5/16"
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Scale length
25.4"
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Top material
Adirondack Spruce w/VTS
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Total frets
20
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Tuners
Waverly nickel with butterbean knobs
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Case type
Original Hardshell
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Serial number
2852431
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SKU
MARD28AUTHGUATE-2852431
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UPC
170587