1942 MARTIN PRE-WAR D-28 D28 VINTAGE ACOUSTIC GUITAR! SCALLPED BRACING, SNOWFLAKE INLAYS, HERRINGBONE BINDING Start Price USD 0.01 Current Price USD 0.01 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, August 25, 2008 End Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 Location LA, CA See more about '1942 MARTIN PRE-WAR D-28 D28 VINTAGE ACOUSTIC GUITAR!' Description 1942 MARTIN PRE-WAR D-28! 100% ORIGINAL!SCALLOPED BRACING!SNOWFLAKE SPLIT DIAMOND INLAYS!HERRINGBONE BINDING!ITEM:For your consideration is this beautiful example of an early 1942 Martin D-28 serial number 81517 in all original excellent condition. This lovely example represents the best vintage guitar investment at this moment in the market bar none. Martin guitars have continued a steady clime value wise and have not been subjected to the roller coaster ups and downs of the more volatile electric guitar market. If you had the foresight and the means to buy a Stradivarius violin knowing that it would always be worth more than you paid, you might have done so. This is the same principle and opportunity, there are only so many of these and everybody wants them for all the right reasons. Make money and be sonically superior at the same time. If you want to invest in an instrument that is guaranteed to become $100,000 soon, this is the instrument for you. What you have in your possession in the meantime is what has become known as the finest sounding large body acoustic vintage guitar ever made. Ask any Bluegrass enthusiast, anyone whose ever put a microphone in front of a guitar in the studio or anyone who just likes to sit and play, a pre war Martin D-28 is the benchmark for all large body steel string guitars to follow. This is an investment grade instrument in wonderful original condition, the only issues are poor re fret, removed bridge and minor drying cracks. We have opted to not repair this instrument as we know that many serious Martin users and investors would prefer to use their own luthier to complete the minor restoration this guitar requires. All of the mass of the original bridge and saddle are there, they have not been sanded or modified for better action as is usually the case. We have strung the guitar and pinned the bridge to the guitar via the original bridge pins for photos. We tried to get a feeling for whether it will need a neck reset or not, surprisingly the neck angle looks good considering the neck has not been re set. We know that “good action” is subjective. Martins are notorious for high action even from the factory, almost all of these after years need a neck re set, it is very rare when they don’t. We will not guaranty that this instrument doesn’t need a neck re set, but if you look at the photographs you will see why we say it may not. The re fret is poorly done but it doesn’t appear that the fingerboard is sanded or changed mass wise, in fact some original minor fingerboard divots from playing are still present, they have not been sanded out. There are some minor drying cracks ascending from the bottom of the face, no other cracks, no back cracks, no side cracks, no guard cracks. The minor cracks are well represented in the explicit photos. They do don’t appear to go all the way through and nothing moves. They have not been addressed, treated or repaired in any way, again a good thing. More importantly they are not the result of damage or abuse, there is no source damage that has created these cracks. The finish is all original with no refinishing or touchup present. The overall finish appearance is glossy as normal, the neck exhibits some normal usage wear, the face as well, the back and sides almost none. The face displays modest signs of pick wear by the guard, not deep or very scalloped, just honest pick wear. The face is flat, the braces are solid and un cracked, no interior repairs or problems. We have looked and felt inside, bridge plate and all braces are original un cracked, in tack and solid. The right side of the back retains the original saw blade marks under the finish that are somewhat common in early rosewood Martins, this is a good thing, probably the first thing to be sanded out when refinishing a Martin would be these very shallow saw blade marks.     I am the most recent owner of this guitar, I bought it from the original owner whose recollection is that is was purchased new by him from Pedrini’s Music, Alhambra CA in 1942.  Being from this part of California, I’ve known of this store and have had a relationship with them since the seventies and until there closing about 8 years ago.  They have always been Martin dealers. The original owner now lives in Upland CA and I have a purchase receipt from him which will be included with the guitar if wanted by the buyer. I have “stashed” some Martins for myself even though I’m primarily an electric guitar dealer, I have never regretted for a second owning pre war large body Martins, in fact every year I feel a little better.  SHIPPING:We pack and ship all of our items through a professional packing company. Pickup is available from our store location but pickup arrangements must be made in advance. Please call our store 323-876-9862 between the hours of 11AM-7PM. In the unlikely event of a return which will only be allowed with the permission of the seller, the buyer pays shipping both ways. Otherwise, all items are sold as is, no refunds or rebates. Seller makes no guarantees or promises and is not responsible for actual shipping time or damage en route, but will insure items for their full sale price. Australian and Spanish buyers will have to pay additional shipping charge of 25% more than quoted flat-rate international shipping charges. Place a Bid!