1917 Martin 1-28 Excellent, Hard, $12,000.00

You're not going to see another one like this, plain and simple. From the vast collection of the great G.E. Smith (though he tells me that he got it from me, years ago), a 1-28 Martin is a thing to behold and not often seen, anywhere. Size 1 was called "Standard" in the 19th century; it is the size from which all other Martins are derived: 2, 3, and 4 are smaller; 0, 00, and 000 are larger. The size 1, as it was finalized in the late 1850s, is the culmination of CF Martin's first quarter-century of guitar design and the cornerstone of everything they do, to this day. With the ever-increasing demand for "bigger, bigger!" (this is America, after all), it is rare to find a size-1 Martin from the 20th century at all, but here one is, and it's a robust delight; no flyweight this. 100% original in every way: finish, bridge, nut, saddle, tuners, frets, even the bridge and end pins. No repairs of any kind ever done nor needed, no cracks, not a thing, and it plays just beautifully, with the tone and volume for all the ages of all Martin guitars everywhere, now and forever. I cannot state it too strongly: you are not going to see another like this again. For nylon strings only, of course. $12,000 w/hsc