1969 was the last year for Martin to use Brazilian Rosewood on stock models, yet this D-35 doesn’t suffer for a bottom of the barrel set. The three-piece back has a mixture of lovely figure and straight grain, and pairs up with Sitka Spruce on top and a wide open voice. Our repair staff has gone over this one tuners to tail, including a fresh neck reset, and it’s playing like a well-oiled dream.
Looking for a crisp and clear, powerful D-35 in Brazilian Rosewood? Vintage voice and a brand new setup? Step right up, you’ve arrived.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, c.f. martin, martin guitars, 35 style, dreadnaught, dread, 247300

And then there was a 45 from ’38. Just handling this piece of prewar history is an honor, let alone to play it—and we’re honored to offer it to you. Before discontinuing the series in 1942, Martin only built 265 45-series flattops, making only 19 000s in 1938. The venerable T.J. Thompson has handled this beauty before and vouches for its originality, as do we and our repair staff after having gone over it tuner to tail. Inside, this one has some interesting features that further set it apart. 1938 was the transition year from forward X-braced tops to rear X; look inside and you’ll see notches in the kerf lining for a forward X (with serial 69896 putting it early in ’38), but the X is actually rear shifted. Thompson confirms that it is an original Martin top with period correct pearl, and offers that the build could have started early in the year and was shelved for some reason until after the factory transitioned to rear X tops. Alternatively, the original top could have failed within the year and was replaced in 1938 or 1939 with a rear X. Regardless, this 000-45 plays like a sweet dream, and rings, rings, rings. It’s in a category of its own, and has been played in just enough for that wide awake sound, without a lot of wear and tear. Holy grail, indeed.

Other keywords: c.f. martin, abalone, 45style, ooo-45, calton, adriondack, brazilain, brazilian, adirondack, pre-war, fingerstyle, om

We landed a treasure trove of vintage pieces which our repair folks have lovingly restored to peak playing condition—this Martin 0-17 was built in 1937 and is still ready for action! The 0 size is petite, but by no means quiet (the intervening decades having done some work on opening up the all-Mahogany body), and the setup is that of a brand new guitar.
Coming to you at a trim 3lbs 11oz, this 0-17 is a featherweight player that’s easy on the hands, and the finish on the neck is worn through on the cheeks for that old-pair-of-jeans feel. It also has a Barcus Berry bridge plate pickup that sounds great plugged straight in to an acoustic amp.

Other keywords: c.f. martin, martin guitar, 24.9, vintage, pre-war, prewar, all mahogany, #66703

This is a beautifully preserved 1937 000-18 that’s very, very ready for more action. Our repair folks have gone over it from tuner to tail to confirm that, and given this Martin a clean bill of health. Adirondack Spruce over Mahogany, lightweight at 3lbs 13oz, with a few repairs over the years to keep it in tip top shape. We’ve got both the original tuners and the original case, and can ship this beauty either the originals or with the Waverly Relic’d tuners (currently installed) and an aftermarket case. The voice is crisp and woody with even decay across the strings. It fingerpicks very well, and takes to a flatpick pretty naturally to boot. We love the cleanness and clarity; the balance across the registers really makes for well-defined chords. This prewar beauty is a classic 000-18 all the way.

Other keywords: c.f. martin, 000 18, 18 style, mahogany, adriondack, martin guitar, om, ooo, 24.9, vintage, pre-war

A lovely piece of history that’s alive and well! We’ve landed a beautiful Martin D-28 that comes to us from all the way back in 1938. Brazilian Rosewood to make a builder cry today, Adirondack Spruce top that’s yellowed to perfection, and honest play wear to prove this D-28 hasn’t been wasting away the decades under the bed. Lightweight and agile, the neck is smooth to the touch like an old, Mahogany banister, and it plays as easily.
Luthier Danny Bishop has recently gone over this vintage gem and given it a clean bill of health after replacing an oversized bridge with a vintage Martin bridge of the proper, original dimensions that Danny has kept in his shop for over 30 years. Danny confirmed the bridgeplate is original to the guitar, and after resetting the neck he installed new frets with period correct wire and dialed the setup in.
The heelblock is stamped #71802, making it one of the last built in 1938, of only 121 for that year. From October 1938 to June 1939, these were made with a 1 3/4 inch nut and no popsicle brace, making this particular period quite desirable.
This is the real vintage deal for a ’38 D-28 that’s seen miles of action, and is ready for a whole lot more.


Other keywords: vintage guitar, dreadnaught, dreadnought, brazilain, adriondack, flat picking, flatpick, flatpicking, bluegrass, american guitar, cf martin, C.F. Martin

Opened up and broken in: check out our latest vintage D-28. This gem comes to us all the way from 1961, and it’s still in fine working order today. The Brazilian back and sides are nicely quartersawn with black inking and rich clay color, paired with an amber-hued Sitka Spruce top. The soft V neck is slim; coupled with a slick setup this Martin is a breeze to play, and will really belt it out when you dig in.

Our repair team has gone over the guitar and given it a fresh setup and a clean bill of health. There have been a few repairs over the years, but everything’s in great shape and the voice is crisp with a hearty middle register and well-balanced basses and trebles. This D-28 is a powerful tone machine from 1961 that won’t murder the billfold. Ready to be played!

common misspelllings: martn, marten, marton, d28, d 28