~1880 Martin 0-28

1880s Martin 0-28 w/coffin case excellent original condition

19th century guitars aren't exactly rare...when Martin began serializing their guitars in 1898 they estimated that they had built about 8000 guitars. What is rare is to find one that is in as cosmetically clean original condition as this example. This 0-28 guitar dates from the 1880s and is entirely original including the coffin case. There is no date inside the top as is rather common during this era of Martin, but the case lid label is an 1880s era type. The back and sides are ultra-straight grained solid Brazilian rosewood, the top very tight and even grained red spruce that is dressed in fine herringbone top trim. The neck is cedar with and ebony fret board, the bridge is ebony and pyramid style. The original bridge pins have abalone dots as does the original matching end button, the nut and saddle also appear to be original. The original binding is clean and shows no cracks or separations. The bar frets are in great shape, level and well dressed, the fret board is in good condition with no divots or wear. The tuners are original Seidels with original buttons. The D and G tuner shafts are slightly bent but not enough to impede proper function in any way. The top is very lightly X braced, though during this era Martin was building for gut strings exclusively. The back has 5 lateral braces. The bridge plate is original. The interior of the guitar is very clean. The original finish is in excellent condition all over the body and neck, showing only the slightest wear from handling and play. The back of the neck shaft has one small area of missing finish behind the first and second fret along the spline of the shaft. The top has had a crack below the low E string (from the bridge to the bottom edge) repaired with a perfectly executed splint repair years ago...I've owned this guitar for 25 years and the repair was old when I bought the guitar. There is one short back crack repair, hairline, tight/level/stable on the lower portion of the back. The sides have several hairline cracks in the lower bout of either side, all professionally repaired long ago, all tight/level/stable. The neck was reset on the guitar when I purchased it and the angle is proper for a gut/nylon string guitar. The action is currently set at 8/64" at the low E (12th fret) and 7/64" at the high E with just a hair under 1/8" of saddle showing and the neck showing very little relief under tension. Plenty of saddle showing to lower the action if desired, but considering the short scale and low tension the guitar plays comfortably as it is. The guitar has very rich and pleasant tone, particularly good when strung with Aquila NylGut strings, which bring out more sweetness and crispness in the trebles than standard nylon strings. Intonation is very good all over the neck. The case is the original coffin style and while it has protected this beauty for all the years I've owned it, the case has not survived in as fine condition as the guitar. The case lid is held closed by just one latch, though the hinges and handle are present. The original lining and padding are tattered though the original case label is intact and very readable. There are to pieces of the lid rim missing and the lid to the accessory box, while present, has come loose from the box. So the case could use some restoration but it has served to protect the guitar for around the house use for the 25 years that I've owned the instrument. $6700