Production records for 1968 show that Martin only shipped 102 000-28s that year, a year that saw nearly 2000 D-28s leave Nazareth. Manufacturing numbers were similarly low for most of the '60s, making the late-era Brazilian rosewood 000-28 a fairly rare commodity. This example has weathered the years beautifully and has opened up into a real vintage prize. It sounds sweet and woody with that clear sparkling low end and plush trebles you only find on the best of the old Brazilian rosewood guitars. A recent neck reset has it playing great, perfectly dialed with action measuring 6/64" and 4/64" from the 12th fret to the bottom of the low and high string, respectively, with .006" relief in the neck and proper saddle exposure over the surface of the ebony bridge. The mahogany neck sports a comfortable rounded V profile with moderate shoulder.
Overall condition is generally very clean for its age. A hairline top crack has been repaired and touched-up where the arm crosses over the bass-side bout, and a blacklight shows that a bit of thumbwear may have been touched up at the first position on the bass side of the neck; a repair that was done very competently and is tough to spot with the naked eye. The bridge plate shows some residue of a removed K&K pickup but is otherwise looking excellent with the pin holes mostly unworn. This guitar has seen a recent re-fret and the frets are level and showing next to no signs of wear.
- 1968
- Top wood: Sitka spruce
- Back & sides: Brazilian rosewood
- Neck/fingerboard: Mahogany/ebony
- Inlays: pearloid dots
- Binding: white plastic
- Nut width: 1-21/32"
- Scale length: 24.9
- Bracing: Rear-shifted non-scalloped X
- Tuners: Grover Rotomatics
- Bridge: Ebony
- Pickguard: Replacement tortoise
