1931 C. F. Martin 000-28 Natural

SN: 46108 ON HOLD. Made in Nazareth, PA during a Golden period in Martin’s history when they simultaneously produced amazing 12-fret guitars braced for steel strings, the earliest `14-fret designs (by shortening the upper bouts of the 12-frets) and an all-new 12-fret dreadnought model. In this short timeframe they produced some of their most desirable and iconic instruments. This 1931 12-fret 000-28 represents an evolutionary step from the old world to the new. For fans of fingerpicking and wide nuts, it’s almost the perfect design. One of only 57 made in 1931, this well-preserved example features fine grain Adirondack Spruce and straight grain Brazilian, forward scalloped X bracing and a factory belly bridge. The neck has the ebony reinforcement, bar frets, slotted headstock, volute and the 1-7/8” nut and 2-3/8” string spacing. It’s one of the finest playing examples I’ve had.

Condition is super solid. Some playwear, and why not? It sounds amazing. There’s a spot on the lower bout mostly worn through the finish, strum wear east of the strings and some scratches here and there. No cracks or damage just a guitar well played and played well.

A long-time fan of 12-fretters, I have followed this one for years and finally acquired it in 2023. I played it for a long time and sent it TJ Thompson where it received new bar frets, a PLEK and setup. There is a small shim under the fingerboard tongue from a prior neck reset. It’s otherwise original except the pins. The setup is dead solid perfect. It comes with the original purple lined, double diamond HSC in equally great condition.

SPECS:

Top: Adirondack Spruce
Band & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Bridge & Fretboard: Ebony
Appointments: Diamond/snowflake inlays (short pattern), herringbone trim, zigzag back strip.
Nut width: 1-7/8”
String spacing: 2-3/8”
Body width: 15”
Depth: 4-1/16”
Scale length: 25.4”
Case: OHSC