1939 Martin D-28 Very Good, Hard, $68,000.00

Early 1939 is an iconic time for the Martin D-28, even among these pre-war Herringbone D-28s. This guitar was formerly owned by John Cohen of the New Lost City Ramblers, that most important group who brought old-timey music to the forefront from the late-1950s through the 1970s, both recording and touring all over America and around the world. John Cohen, the lead singer and guitar player in the band, acquired this guitar in the early 1960s and used it for many years. It is an outstanding example of its kind, has all the volume and tone, enormous clear booming bass and mids and trebles that anyone could ever dream of, and more. From earlier in 1939, it has the slightly wider neck and string spacing at the bridge. The finish is original and shows signs of playing wear, as it should. About fifty years ago, it had what some call a California reset, which does not involve removing the neck at all, just shifting the back-to-neck block joint a wee bit and it was quite effective in giving the guitar a perfect action, and is nearly undetectable. At the same time a new Martin factory bridge was put on, and the bridge pin holes match up perfectly with those in the bridge plate, which is original and beautifully clean; the frets, nut, tuners, and bridge and end pins are original too. Two ancient out of the way top cracks and two tiny back cracks, one benign side crack, probably repaired in the 1940s by parties unknown and still 100% solid. Charming, unique fingerboard inlay by the original owner, who scratched into the endplate his initials, "MHJ"', and “Kokomo Ind”, and also put inside the guitar the printed warranty statement from an early Martin catalog. There is also, in the case, a small National Recovery Act sticker with “We Do Our Part” and a blue eagle on it from the 1930s that I seem to recall was on the peghead at one time. All this is part of “the story” which is so important on such a most wonderful guitar, formerly owned by an influential musician of our times. Comes with John’s leather guitar strap made by Allan Block, of the famed Allan Block Sandal Shop on W.4th St. here in Greenwich Village, which was a gathering place for folk musicians of all kinds during the 1950s and ’60s; talented pickers and singers like Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Doc Watson and Maria Muldaur were always hanging out there, and it was a destination for aspiring and professional musicians alike such as John Sebastian and Bob Dylan, and of course the New Lost City Ramblers. The guitar is still 100% rock solid through and through, ready to be played and enjoyed into the next century. And it sounds HUGE. $68,000 w/hsc