A rare opportunity to acquire one of the true holy grails of vintage American acoustic guitars – a magnificent 1929 Martin 000-28 12-fret, dating from one of the most important periods in the history of the C. F. Martin company.
By 1929, Martin's transition from gut strings to steel strings had been well underway for several years, ushering in a golden era of acoustic guitar construction. The instruments from this period are now among the most sought-after Martins ever made, celebrated for their extraordinary tone, responsiveness and craftsmanship.
This superb example features the 000 body size, the largest standard guitar body offered by Martin at the time, together with a beautifully aged Adirondack spruce soundboard, delicately scalloped X-bracing and exceptionally fine-grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides.
The combination of the lightly built 12-fret body, long bridge placement and scalloped bracing gives these early Martins their legendary tonal character – a wonderfully open, resonant voice with rich, complex basses, sweet singing trebles and remarkable sensitivity to the lightest touch.
Condition and originality
This guitar survives in very good original condition, an increasingly rare find for an instrument approaching its centenary. It has benefited from a professional neck reset and expertly executed bar-fret work, ensuring excellent playability while preserving the character and integrity of this historic instrument.
Specifications:
Maker: C. F. Martin & Co., Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Model: 000-28
Year: 1929
Body: 12-fret 000
Soundboard: Adirondack spruce
Bracing: Scalloped X-bracing
