Martin D-28 Herringbone 1946 Brazilian — Crack Free, Orig

There are a handful of acoustic guitars that have achieved the status among players and collectors as the Herringbone D-18, and the immediate post-war Martin D-28 Herringbone is near the top of that list. 1946 is a specific and significant year in the D-28's evolution — Brazilian rosewood back and sides, herringbone top purfling in its final year before discontinuation, tapered bracing correct for the period, and the original Nazareth craftsmanship that produced instruments of a tonal quality that builders have spent eighty years attempting to replicate.

The scalloped bracing associated with the pre-war D-28s gave way to tapered bracing in 1944-45 — braces that taper more gradually and over a longer distance than the straight bracing Martin would adopt around 1950. Tapered bracing frees up the perimeter of the lower bout more than straight bracing does, producing a guitar that is punchy, articulate, and dynamically responsive in ways that are distinct from both the scalloped pre-war examples and the later straight-braced instruments. Players and collectors who have spent serious time with 1945-1949 Martins often describe them as underrated precisely because they are neither pre-war nor the familiar post-war straight-braced instruments — they occupy their own tonal territory. The herringbone trim — a German-made product no longer available after World War II — was discontinued in 1947. The dot fingerboard inlays correctly identify this as 1946 production, the year Martin transitioned from slotted diamond inlays.

This example is in what I call "no excuses" condition.  The finish is original with no overspray anywhere.  There are no cracks and no extra holes from things that plague other guitars: strap buttons, tuner changes, added pickups, etc.  It is extremely difficult to find any guitar from this era that has been spared most of the usual issues - this one has survived without any funny business whatsoever.

The bridge is original. The bridgeplate is original. The pickguard is original. The Waverly open-back arrowhead tuners are original and functioning correctly. The neck is a deep C profile measuring .929" thick at the first fret and 1.08" at the tenth, substantial and authoritative in the way that players familiar with original Martins from this period recognize immediately.

The guitar has just received a complete professional setup: fresh neck reset, refret, new nut, and new saddle. The original nut and saddle are included. A neck reset on a guitar of this age is normal, expected maintenance on a vintage flat-top that has been strung and played for decades — when performed correctly it returns the instrument to factory specification and its best possible playing condition. That is the case here. Action is set at 3/32" on both strings at the twelfth fret and the guitar is playing at the top of its capability right now. The original hardshell case is included; it has a broken hinge and has been painted over the original black and is now brown.

The buyer for this guitar understands exactly what a crack-free 1946 D-28 Herringbone in original finish with original bridge, bridgeplate, and Waverly tuners represents, freshly reset and ready to play.  It is a guitar that will always be more desirable than one with any of the typical changes seen on most examples.  Through the years, it will stand out as original guitars become more and more impossible to find.  

The tone and resonance of this guitar are remarkable.  Our jaws are on the floor.  It is pure magic.

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