Martin D-28 1941 Authentic (2013)

Description

While the Martin D-28 has been a classic since its debut in 1931, the looks, sound and feel of a truly vintage D-28 are of another caliber altogether. Finding a real WWII-era Martin in playable condition is a Herculean task that comes with an understandably hefty price tag, so in 2013, Martin introduced their Authentic series, aimed at getting guitars with vintage specs, aesthetics and sound into the hands of players at a more reasonable price point. This Martin D-28 1941 Authentic (c. 2013) is, as the name suggests, modeled after the specifications of a 1941 D-28 with a couple small changes.

Compared to Martin's Standard Series D-28, the largest differences that make the 1941 Authentic unique are the VTS Adirondack spruce top and Madagascar rosewood back and sides (as compared to Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood on the Standard). The Authentic also features scalloped, rear-set Adirondack X-bracing for more top-end chime and clarity in the trebles, as opposed to the Standard's forward-shifted, non-scalloped bracing pattern. The neck profile is quite different, sporting a vintage-style, Barrel & Heel V shape as compared to the Standard's rounded oval, more familiar to modern players. The saddle and nut are made from fossilized ivory, rather than the now-typical bone common on most high-end guitars, and the tuners are Waverly nickel with a more tempered look rather than the chrome polish on the Standard series. Cosmetically, the Authentic features a herringbone trim and the Golden Era mother-of-pearl diamonds and squares inlay on the fingerboard. Finally, the Authentic uses hide glue construction, which dries harder than synthetic adhesives and is typically associated with greater sustain and volume, and an overall livelier guitar. Unique to this particular instrument is an aftermarket L.R. Baggs Lyric pickup installed for amplified playing.

There is a minor amount of wear around the body binding on the waist of the treble side, likely as a result of the binding undergoing some mild shrinking. There are also some small to medium sized scuffs on the treble side of the headstock near the 2nd string tuner, and on the neck around the 12th fret, more prominently on the bass side. There are also a series of small marks on the back of the headstock, presumably from an electronic tuner. Overall, there is a certain amount of minimal scratching consistent with an eight-year-old guitar. All these imperfections fall under what is considered normal playing wear and the guitar is still considered to be in very good condition. Included in our price is the original hard-shell case.