1959 Martin D-28 – All Original
 
The Company
C.F. Martin & Co. is one of the oldest guitar makers in the world. Christian Frederick Martin, a German luthier, emigrated to New York in 1833 and moved the business to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in 1838. The company is still based there today. Martin shaped the modern acoustic guitar. It developed X-bracing in the 19th century, introduced the 14-fret "Orchestra Model" in 1929, and created the body shape that every acoustic maker has copied since: the Dreadnought.
 
The Model
Martin first built the Dreadnought body around 1916 for the Ditson company. It was named after HMS Dreadnought, the British battleship that made every other warship look small. In 1931 Martin put the shape under its own name, and the D-28 became the rosewood flagship of the range.
 
Early D-28s had herringbone purfling and scalloped braces. During the war, in 1944, Martin switched to straight bracing so the tops would last longer, and it dropped the herringbone trim in 1947. That gave the D-28 of the 1950s its own character: strong, even and powerful, with a deep bass and a clear, punchy midrange.
 
The late 1950s are a sweet spot for this model. The workmanship is excellent, and the back and sides are still made from Brazilian rosewood. Martin stopped using that wood in 1969, so these guitars are among the most sought-after flat-tops of the post-war years.
 
This Guitar
This 1959 example has the classic features of the period:
Solid Sitka spruce top with straight X-bracing
Solid Brazilian rosewood back and sides
Mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard and dot inlays
Ebony bridge
Multi-ply binding with a black-and-white rosette and back stripe
Tortoise-style pickguard
Original Grover tuners
 
The guitar is original and has aged beautifully over almost seven decades. The spruce has turned a warm amber colour, and the Brazilian rosewood shows the rich grain that collectors look for. 
 
The sound lives up to the battleship name: this D-28 is a real cannon. Strum it hard and it fires out a huge, booming bass with a wall of volume behind it. Play it softly and it rings with the sweet, glassy overtones that only aged Brazilian rosewood can give. It holds up in a bluegrass jam, it's ideal for flatpicking, and it carries a singer-songwriter's voice beautifully.
 
This exact guitar has been displayed on the famous Vintage Vertigo magazine (picture by François Charle)
 
In Good Hands
The D-28 is one of the most played acoustic guitars in history. Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Neil Young and countless bluegrass and folk players have carried one on stage and into the studio. More than any other guitar, it's the sound of American acoustic music.
 
 
An original 1959 D-28 combines the Brazilian rosewood of the golden era with the powerful build of the post-war years. This example is a true cannon: loud, deep and full of character. It's a piece of history that's ready for many more decades of music.
 
Comes with a recent, protective hardshell case.