Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 VTS Acoustic Guitar New

C. F. Martin continues to tweak their Authentic Series, and this new D-28 Authentic 1937 has a number of the more recent upgrades. Of course it’s missing the Brazilian rosewood you would find in an original 1937 D-28, but this model is an updated version made with Guatemalan rosewood back and sides, and it includes some subtle spec refinements to make it even more faithful to the original.

And, like dialing a time machine back to the old North Street Factory in Nazareth in the months prior to all the trouble that followed the bombing of Pearl Harbor, this D-28 has the steel T-bar neck reinforcement, hot animal hide glue assembly, ‘tucked-in” bridge plate, and a new final hand-applied finishing regime Martin recently re-introduced that leaves a brand new guitar with a pleasant patina. (It’s not a distressed finish, but instead has a warm glow without that high-gloss glare.)

Last, but certainly not least, is what Martin calls the VTS (Vintage Tone System) treatment given the Adirondack spruce top, their fine-tuning of the torrefied process that’s been around for a few years. Of course all the other Authentic Series vintage reissue goodies are there as well, such as ivoroid binding and accurate early ‘40s neck inlays, a complete list of all the vintage features combined in this model is enough to make your head swim. This is a great sounding D-28 that sounds, feels and plays more like a vintage instrument than any new instrument has a right to.