Serial number 90987 was stamped on March 28, 1945 and cleared final inspection on June 25 that year.

This guitar is one of the earlier war-time Martin guitars that got the re-issued steel T-bar neck reinforcement.

Martin, due to war-time restrictions, had been forced to eliminate the steel T-bar neck reinforcement in early 1942 and replace it with an ebony bar neck reinforcement. Hoever, Martin received a supply of steel T-bars in January 1945 that last to the end of that year. Supply of the steel T-bars was spotty in 1946 and again caused some guitars to be made with the ebony neck reinforcement. Regular supply of the steel T-bar didn't become available until early 1947.

The tuners are late war Kluson 502N machines with white celluloid buttons (this is still a tentative identification). It should also be noted the bushings are missing on the front of the headstock.

Style 28 features:

Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood

Top: Sitka spruce (probably)

Purfling: Herringbone

Binding: White celluloid

Backstripe: Zig-zag pattern

Other period features:

Non-scalloped X-bracing

Ebony fingerboard

Dot inlays

Ebony belly bridge

Photos courtesy of Steve Swan Guitars