1936 CF Martin & CO 000-28

$12,500.00

  • Year: 1936
  • Manufacturer: CF Martin & CO
  • Model: 000-28
  • Case: Hard
  • Color: burst
  • Condition: Very Good
  • Description: This fine old 000-28 is in excellent restored condition. It has had its top replaced at some time in the past, I do not know who did the work but it was very nicely done and appears to have retained the original binding and herringbone. The replacement top is red spruce and is braced in the pre-war forward shifted locations, scalloped, and with the tone bars, finger braces and bridge plate notched into the X bracing. The carving of the bracing is in the manner of pre-war Martin work. It appears from the very small amount of glue squeeze-out visible in one or two places inside the guitar that the job was done with hot hide glue. The refinish is factory quality, though the burst has color and a pattern more like a Gibson burst than a Martin burst. The inside of the top bears no marking to indicate who replaced the top nor when it was done. However, the work was done before I purchased the guitar in 2003, and the lacquer finish has been on the guitar long enough for some crazing to develop over the back strip and in one or two other spots on the guitar. The original Brazilian rosewood back and sides are straight grained and have great brick red-orange color and no cracks. The original neck is in excellent condition, has a nice full profile (not particularly "V" shaped) and a 1 3/4" nut width. The original tuners are present and in good working order. The bridge appears to be a replacement though a well crafted replica of the original in shape and size. The frets are in good shape with only a small amount of wear in the first position, nothing that requires any attention immediately. The guitar plays with action measuring 7/64 at the low E at the 12th fret and 6/64" at the high E, there is about 3/32" of saddle showing to lower the action if desired. A reset may be desirable for some players, but others may find the action perfectly acceptable and not feel the need to reset the neck. Though the top has been replaced the guitar retains the tonal character that you'd expect from a pre-war 000-28. The guitar has a rich, woody bottom end and fat trebles. The guitar projects well whether played with a flat pick or fingers and has good tonal definition across the range of the fretboard. Though the tone is very good when played with a flat pick the guitar has its best voice as a fingerstyle instrument. Comes with a non-original (probably 1950s) hard case that is a little worn but functionally fine. I can take any photos you'd like of the guitar, so if you have something you want to see in more detail just email me and please be specific as to what you'd like to see. I have more general shots available, so email if you'd like to see them. This is a very cool and very good old guitar in spite of the alterations. $12,500