Here is an interesting early 12-fret D-28 that was once owned by Norman Blake.

Serial number 54950 was ordered by Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in Milwaukee WI on December 9, 1933. It stamped on December 15, 1933 and cleared final inspection on December 21 that year, manufactured and shipped in only 6 days! Three more 12-fret D-28 guitars were ordered on December 29, 1933 but these wouldn't have been finished until early 1934.

A total of seventeen 12-fret D-28s were made between 1931 and 1933. As can be seen from the photos this guitar has a dark top. Unlike the 12-fret D-18 guitars, which were mostly made with dark tops, this may be the only 12-fret D-28 with a dark top (Martin didn't always record this piece of information so one or two more may exist).

The tuners are clipped plate Grover G-97 machines with seamed butterbean buttons.

Style 28 features:

Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood

Top: Red spruce (Adirondack)

Purfling: Herringbone

Binding: White ivoroid

Back stripe: Zig-zag pattern

Other period features:

Scalloped X-bracing

Ebony fingerboard

Ebony belly bridge

Ebony neck reinforcement

German silver bar frets

1-7/8" neck width at nut

Tortoiseshell celluloid pick guard

Slotted square and diamond fingerboard inlays

Decal on front of headstock

No C. F. Martin stamp on back of headstock

Style stamp

Photos courtesy of Gary Burnette