The guitar is certainly one of the most pristine 1940 D-28 guitars extant. This guitar is still in the family of the original owner. The serial number of the guitar is 76288. It was stamped on October 23, 1940 and cleared final inspection on March 25, 1941. The tuners are Grover G-111 machines. The owner […]
The popularity of 12-fret 00-28 guitars began to waver in 1929 as the first Martin 14-fret six-string guitars appeared on the market. The 00-28 models had been a very popular up-market guitar for some time and were what Martin considered one of their best sounding guitars they made, being in their opinion better balanced than […]
Serial number 57851 was stamped on October 3, 1934 and cleared final inspection on May 7, 1935 (quite a long time in production for the period). At least four of the twenty-five guitars from this batch had dark tops. It was shipped to Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in St. Louis MO on April 29, 1935. Clearly, […]
Serial number 62166 was stamped on January 28, 1936 and cleared final inspection on July 9 that year. The tuners are Grover G-98 pointed plate machines with seamed metal butterbean buttons. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Herringbone Binding: Ivoroid Back Stripe: Zig-zag purfling pattern Other […]
This particular guitar has a very interesting story as it has been in the same family since 1934. The guitar is a remarkable survivor and, based on the photographs supplied by the owner, is in original condition excepting some minor wear. Serial number 57801 comes from the first batch of D-28 guitars with a steel […]
Serial number 75042 was stamped on May 10, 1940 and cleared final inspection on September 6 that year. The tuners are Grover G-111 machines with un-seamed butterbean buttons. The guitar comes with what appears to be a style C case. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Adirondack spruce Purfling: Herringbone Binding: Ivoroid […]
Serial number 12915 was stamped during October/November 1917 and was shipped to William Lewis & Son in Chicago on December 26, 1917. Although the tuners are reported as newer, they do appear to be period-correct Dinsmore & Jager #26 machines. The ebony pyramid bridge is a replacement. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood […]
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 […]
Serial number 44061 was stamped on September 19, 1930 and cleared final inspection October 27 that year. The original tuners would have been Grover #89 Deluxe banjo pegs. The tuners currently on the guitar are Waverly 5038 “Yoda head” machines that were used between 1940 and 1948. The decal was probably applied to the head […]
A total of six D-2 guitars were made in 1931 and 1932, of which this guitar was the last regular D-2 built. A seventh D-2 was made in 1934 with a carved top, being basically a C-2 up-sized to a Dreadnought 12-fret body. Clearly the D-2 a very rare guitar but adding to the story […]