2021 Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 VTS Acoustic Guitar Used

The Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 was built in Nazareth, PA in 2021. It’s in excellent structural condition with just a few very minor signs of having been played. The frets are in great shape and show just a hint of wear. The only change to its originality is the addition of a strap button on the heel. The original hardshell case is in equally clean condition.

Of course this D-28 Authentic is missing the Brazilian rosewood you would find in a D-28 that was actually made in 1937, but the Madagascar Rosewood found on this example is about as close as you could hope to find both visually and tonally. 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 the 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 ‘30s neck inlays, a complete list of all the vintage features combined in this model is enough to make your head swim.

But a better way to make your head swim is to play the guitar. Does it sound like a genuine 1937 D-28? Our answer to that would be “which one?” There’s a wide range of “tonal personalities” from those original Martins, and there’s an equally wide range in these Authentic Series reissues. This is a great sounding D-28.