1952 Martin D-28

In many ways reminiscent of the last 1950s D-28 we had in, this warhorse has been playing good bluegrass music across Texas for years and years. Unfortunately, the previous (second?) owner passed away last year, so many of the stories this guitar would have had to tell are lost. Some of the repairs on the guitar such as the splices and plugged pickup jack hole in the side were already there when the last owner snapped this one up from a pawn shop or yard sale. It's just recently arrived back to me after a neck reset, reglued braces, repaired fingerboard crack, new saddle, and a spot of loose binding reglued. There are repaired cracks on either side of the fingerboard extension and a repaired/stable B string crack. The finish exhibits severe checking, indicating significant overspray or perhaps a complete refinish. The presence of brown touch-up paint on the neck heel covered a thin hairline crack at the base of the neck heel that has recently been reglued. Perhaps most frustrating, a past owner did some (very) amateur scalloping on one half of the x-brace, and a large chunk of wood is now gone.

Significant issues aside, however, this is a vintage Martin with beautiful quartersawn Brazilian back and sides and an aged Sitka top with great tone. It is loud and full with the slight warmth that a sitka top adds. I've got too much into this one considering its condition, so I've decided to keep it and enjoy it!