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  • Kohno Classical Guitar. 1976 This instrument is being sold for a customer in Houston with a large collection of guitars. This guitar was originally purchased from VintageAmericanGuitar some five years ago– and its tone has aged and improved. The original Kohno design was specifically different from the high-end Spanish "concert" guitars of the day which had high action and beefy necks (and often long 664 or longer scale lengths). The Kohno necks were moderately thin in profile and shaped for very fluid playability. They’re a joy to play, physically. The 660 scale length– not overly long to begin with– actually “feels” shorter because of the neck design. (And the string spacing at the 2-inch nut: 1 11/16 inches, is also a great feature that adds to the great left hand feel.) We’ve seen/played many Kohnos– this one is unique in the combination of woods, and tone. Cedar top (not spruce), and Indian Rosewood back and sides. The combination, and this guitar’s age and unique voicing produce a dark, bass-rich tone and super clear and strong mids rarely found in a Kohno. It’s louder, darker and deeper than other Kohnos, yet is has great string separation– and the high E string is bell-like and loud.
    • Solid Cedar top
    • Solid Indian rosewood back and sides.
    • Mahogany neck with 2 ebony strips
    • Ebony fretboard
    • 19 frets
    • Rosewood bridge
    • Gold engraved Fostero tuners. Fustero tuners are individually made by hand in Spain from the best materials…for decades they have adorned high end instruments built by Fleta, Ramirez, Kohno, Contreras, Bernabe and others.
    • 660mm scale length
    • 2" nut width
    • String spacing at the nut: 1 11/16 inch
    • Condition: One, repaired cracks:4 1/2 inches long, about 2 inches to the north (bass side) of the fretboard extension over the body.
    Priced about 50% below the market price for a Model 15. Price: $1950. With Hardshell Case.
  • In the 1920’s and early 30's, the Hawaiian craze was in full bloom, and ukulele production was crucial to Martin’s success in this period. This is a wonderful, extremely well-preserved example of one of the most ornate of the Martin ukuleles, still in its original Geib case. Although Martin ukes built after 1916 carried no serial number, it’s possible to generally date them by stylistic elements. This Martin Style 3 is from the best era, the golden era, from about 1925 to 1930. Martin style 3 was first made in 1918. Martin Style 3, soprano (standard) specs:
    • Mahogany body
    • 7 layer top binding
    • 3 layer back binding
    • Ebony fretboard
    • 5 layer soundhole ring
    • Celluloid ornament on top, behind bridge (known as the "parend", or “shield”)
    • Bar frets
    • Small pearl paired-diamond inlays at fret 5, 7, and 9
    • Three lines inlaid down center of fingerboard
    • Nickel plated pegs (introduced in 1923)
    • CF Martin & Co, stamped on back of peghead, and inside-back (Martin logo was not put on front of peghead until 1932)
    This Martin Style 3 ukulele is in unbelievable original condition. It is 100% original. Aside from one naturally occurring dryness crack on the back (repaired), and some very light pick marks by the sound hole that you can only see in the right angle of light, this ukulele shows almost no signs of use. It even has its original ivory saddle, at full height like it left the factory. The tone is all that you would expect from one of the best, high-end Martin instruments of the golden era.
  • A steel-string braced 00-18, with finely scalloped braces, and light as a feather. No wonder the tone is exquisite. This 12-fret gem, from the best era for Martin12-frets, resonates in your hands (say what you want about the 30’s, but the more lightly-built Martins of the 20’s become an extension of your body). The set up is low (4 to 5 64ths), so it plays like a dream. Original finish throughout. Mahogany back and sides. Adirondack spruce top. Ebony fingerboard. Original tuners/gear wheel below worm gear, ivoroid buttons. The instrument was acquired from one of North America’s top Martin restoration shops, Folkway Music, who reported: “This 00-18 went back to Martin in the late 80's for a neck reset, refret, re-bridge, and a new bridge plate. The back has one repaired crack, and there are two well repaired side cracks. Martin's repairs are well done, the new bar frets are nice and tall, and the bridge plate (maple) is only slightly oversized. The somewhat oversized pyramid bridge didn't look great when the guitar came in, so we re-profiled it here in shop and fitted a new bone saddle and vintage-correct bridge-pins.” This instrument will not disappoint. It has been correctly and meticulously restored by Martin, and by one of the world’s top Martin experts. It’s ready for decades of enjoyment.
  • Pre-war Kluson tuners from the 1930's. Amber buttons. These are rare tuners that came on some of the nice Gibsons of the era, such as a few Gibson J35's. Good working condition. Price: $295. – on Hold
  • Stuart Mossman was one the country’s top luthiers in the 1970s and 80s– working in the tradition of the great American Dreadnought. According to an article in Vintage Guitar magazine: Stuart Mossman “…. began making guitars in 1965 and through his early efforts concentrated on experimenting with bracing of the tops. He spent four years building 40 or 50 prototypes in his garage at home. By the end of the decade, sensing a niche in the market for high quality handmade acoustics, he had incorporated S. L. Mossman Guitars in Winfield, Kansas and moved into facilities at Strother's Field outside of town. Mossman had noticed what was happening with major acoustic guitar manufacturers at the time. The folk music boom had pushed demand for acoustic instruments to an all-time high and while Gibson, Martin and Guild were increasing production, imports from the Pacific rim countries were beginning to exploit the lower end of the market. Mossman was concerned with what he saw as an erosion in materials, design, and craftsmanship in the construction of the traditional flattop acoustic guitar, particularly among the larger manufacturers as they rushed to meet the strong demand. Using only top-quality woods, a proprietary bracing structure, and old-world building techniques, Mossman guitars entered series production in 1970. ‘We were the first of the small manufacturers to make it as a larger company', Stuart Mossman recalls…” The original 70’s Mossman dreadnoughts are very well built, with attention to detail, and craftsmanship unsurpassed in this period. One of the hallmarks of the Mossman guitar is that each instruments has a paper label inside, with the serial number (that included the year date) and model. And the label was always signed or initialed by the craftsmen building that guitar (this one includes Stu Mossman’s initials: SLM). The Flint Hills model featured East Indian Rosewood back and sides, spruce top, ebony fretboard and bridge, and a unique inlay around the soundhole. This example is all original, and is in fine condition, with no cracks. Original West German Schaler tuners. It has an under-saddle pickup installed, and an input jack in the end pin. Tone is fine, and loud, reminiscent of a 60’s Martin– but with a little more punch in the mids and trebles– a perfect bluegrass instrument.
  • Out of stock
    1855-1860 Martin “transitional”1-21. A very rare and exquisite large size Martin from the pre-1867 era. “Large size” Martin from the 1850’s, because the Size 1, and 0, were the only “large” size Martins in those years. And there is currently not a single other size 1 or 0 size pre-1867 Martin guitar on the market. This is considered by the top U.S. experts who vetted this instrument as an early, rare "transitional" 1-21, based on the fact that it does not have all the later, standardized, 1860’s and on “21” attributes– specifically, backstrip and endwedge on this instrument are not typical of “price-list” era 21’s (after the publishing of the first Martin price lists, establishing features of the different models, in the 1860’s) This 1-21 has:
    • Diamond marquetry backstrip (not found on later, 1860’s 1-21s)
    • Marquetry endwedge (not found on later, 1860’s 1-21s) (Wood end wedge and herringbone backstrip were the standard features of the 1860’s and after 1-21’s)
    • X-braced. All braces are 100% original. No internal repairs to braces.
    • Slot head
    • Ebonized neck (maple neck, ebonized, i.e. painted black). This is another transitional feature: black neck was replaced by cedar on Style 21 by the time the Martin price list was first printed.
    • Single "tone bar" brace behind the bridge plate
    • Ice cream cone-shaped heel (1860’s 1-21’s had cedar neck, with Spanish style heel not ice cream cone heel)
    • Three "CF Martin New-York" stamps: one inside center strip; the second on neck block (this stamp is upside down, as it should be); the third on back of guitar (near heel), the third stamp transversing the backstrip on the back of the guitar near the heel.
    • Solid Brazilian Rosewood back and sides
    • All original finish, everywhere; no touch-ups, overspray, etc, of any kind ever done
    • Brazilian rosewood back shows beautiful sawmarks
    • Bridge, more than a century old, is probably a replacement bridge… but on the original bridge footprint
    • Original ivory nut
    • Original bridge plate (mahogany)
    • No back cracks, or side cracks; one top crack, repaired
    • Tuners are modern replacements, vintage style, in original slot holes
    • Original frets
    This instrument plays beautifully, with a richness of bass especially that is remarkable for a 19th century Martin. Action is perfect. Ready to play and enjoy, as one of the few examples of a large pre-1867 Martin– and with rare features that make it highly collectible.
  • The 5-21 Martins, with their Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and Adirondack spruce tops, are known for putting out an astounding amount of sound. This tenor guitar, style 5-21T, does that in spades. Measuring 11-3/8" across, with its X braced top and light build, the instrument has an amazing amount of tone. Though Martin offered size 5 models ranging from style 15 through the elaborately ornamented style 45, the only ones made in any significant quantity prior to World War II were the style 17, 18, and 21 in six-string guitars and styles 17, 18, and 21 tenors, as well as some style 15 post-war size 5 tenors. Features of this instrument:
    • Recent neck set, and leveling of original bar frets, action is very good
    • Original Grover tuning machines, working well
    • Nut width of 1 1/4"
    • Scale length: 22.5"
    • 1 3/8" string spacing at the saddle
    • Had an added tailpiece at once point (3 tiny screw holes near end pin
    • No top cracks
    • One repaired 11" crack on the bottom lower bout side
    • One 6" repaired crack on the upper bout back  under the herring bone center inlay,
    • One 4” repaired crack on the lower bout back towards the bottom
    • A small hole at the center of the rear headstock– probably at some point for a nail to hang the instrument on a wall
    • Neck has a comfortable V shape, leaning toward a U profile
  • Read the full description below. If you're interested in this guitar, please call 512.922.8596 or contact us here.
  • Very few modern luthiers have captured that Larson Brothers sustain and what I call “shimmer” with a new build. This guitar, built by the master luthier Hans Brentrup in late 2009, has it in spades. We’ve never played anything but a 30’s Larson Bros’ that has the sustain this guitar has. Hans’ unique tone bars do what only the Larson tone bar system did– get the body of the guitar to sustain and impart that wonderful shimmer to the trebles especially.
    • Brazilian Rosewood back and sides
    • Engelmann spruce top
    • 000 size
    • 25.34 scale length
    • Easily accommodates Medium or Heavy strings
    • Hybrid ladder laminated bracing with Carbon fiber “Tone tubes”
    • Mahogany neck
    • Slotted headstock
    • Golden Age tuners
    • Ebony fingerboard with MOP dots
    • Pyramid bridge
    • Tortoise body binding
    • Lacquer finish
    With the top grade Brazilian upcharge, this is a $8K guitar, from the maker. This instrument is in almost mint condition. No dings, no cracks or hint of cracks– just the very slightest signs of use (what you might find in a brand new guitar that’s been in a showroom a few weeks).
  • Mint condition. Period. Exceptional Larrivee 12-fret parlor guitar with a straight grained Sitka Spruce top and beautifully figured Brazilian Rosewood back & sides. Part of a very limited run of guitars built of high grade old stock Brazilian rosewood. Abalone rosette and tortoise shell pickguard. Ebony bridge w/ compensated saddle. Mahogany neck w/ microdot inlays, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard, 1-3/4" nut, 24-1/4" scale, 13-1/4" lower bout, Larrivee logo peghead inlay, chrome tuners w/ebony buttons.
  • This rare 1926 example of Bacon & Day’s Super, Plectrum banjo is in wonderful condition– collectors quality, but it plays wonderfully. And this is the rare “Super” model A, gold plated. (All original, and with matching serial number on rim and dowel stick.) Original soft pedal stamped "Pat. Pend. B.&D. Soft Pedal." The original gold plating is in great condition, showing extremely little tarnishing, and no thin spots. In fact the banjo shows very little playwear at all. Original plectrum neck, original armrest– in fact all parts are original. Produced in the golden age of Bacon & Day (B&D) production, this banjo was made in Groton, CT. Although the earliest Bacon banjos were produced by various makers for Bacon from 1906-1920, the company’s best era began in 1922 when David Day left the Vega company to partner with Fred Bacon who had begun crafting his instruments in-house in 1920. The B&D banjos produced in this era are of considerably higher quality and are the sought after models by both players and collectors. The photos tell the story. 26 inch scale length. 22 fret plectrum 11″ rim In a recent hard shell case. ... no longer available ...
  • This week, to honor the just-announced winners of the 2018 Wayne Henderson Guitar Festival, we call out not an individual guitar, but rather one of the greatest American luthiers working today– and especially that luthier’s (and great player’s) work for youth in his area. We’re speaking of course of Wayne Henderson, and his legendary Festival. Every June Wayne Henderson hosts on of the most culturally important music festivals in the U.S., at the amphitheater in Grayson Highlands State Park near Henderson’s home and shop in Rugby, Virginia. The guitar- and generally music-loving attendees hear great music while supporting scholarships for young musicians in the area. And at the heart of the festival is the guitar competition. Click here to see the just-announced winners. And here’s a look at Fretboard Journal’s visit to the festival– and to Wayne Henderson’s luthier’s shop– a few years back. Click here for the article. .
  • If there is a better-preserved Martin guitar from 1937, we have not seen it. This instrument is as an almost time-capsule condition 0-17H, still in its original case. And of course with its original Hawaiian set up. Many people convert these pre-war Martin Hawaiian set up guitars, to “Spanish” style, i.e. regular steel-string flat top set up. And that is certainly an option for whoever acquires this instrument. But this example, is just too nice, and too original for us to want to convert it. And the tone is exquisite (On request, we’ll send you a link to a video/audio clip of one of this country’s best, most famous dobro/pedal steel players playing slide on this great Martin 0-17H, right here in our shop.) All mahogany of course: mahogany back, sides, and top. Brazilian rosewood bridge, and fretboard. The guitar has no play wear. We won’t call it pristine– even under-the bed-guitars that have not really been played, have a few nicks from just being in the case and moved around a couple of times in 70+ years. But it’s as close to perfect as you’ll find in any 1930’s Martin. The neck is straight as an arrow, showing no bowing at all. No cracks of any kind. All original parts, period– down to the nut, bridge pins, and ivory saddle. The guitar is 12 fret to the body, unlike the regular 0-17’s from this period that were 14-fret.
  • Take Martin’s best era for 12-fret guitars, add more scale length, and you get the best of both worlds–that’s what players say about the 000 sized 12-frets, if they can find one, from the mid to late 20’s. This was the biggest, loudest Martin made for steel strings in this era, with a 25.4 inch scale length, the same scale length as a 30’s D-45! (The 14-fret 000’s of the 30s and later have a shorter, 24.5 inch scale). In no other instrument will you get the resonance (from thin tops and back), combined with the long scale length. It’s a big pre-war Martin 12-fret. That’s why this instrument is a highly sought-after prewar Martin. This crack-free 000-18 has great provenance: acquired from and set up by one of the world’s top Martin experts (in Tuebingen, Germany). 1 7/8” nut. Mahogany back and sides. Adirondack spruce top. Ebony fingerboard. It has original tuners (gear wheel below worm gear, ivoroid buttons), parts, and all original finish. Restoration by TJ Thompson and Dana Bourgeois: correct replacement bridge (ebony pyramid) and bridge plate (maple), and frets replaced (bar frets). Center seam repaired and cleated and touched up (shellack). Neck has been reset. Neck is dead straight, bridge saddle is medium height (allows set up for both higher and lower action if needed in future). Low action, and set up for light or medium gauge strings. The tone could not be better: all the clear separation of the mids that is the hallmark of the 20’s style 18 twelve-fret, but with fuller, louder, rounder bass. One of the most sought-after Martin 12-frets, original finish, crack-free. Restored correctly, cared for, and set up by the world’s best luthiers and vintage Martin experts, and ready to enjoy.
  • Full size, Charles Fetique violin (French, early 20th century – circa 1930), with original label inside. This is a rich, sonorous instrument. A deep, round tone, that – like all good violins – does not make you work overly hard to attain. It has a darker, lush, round tone that professional players love – and great projection. We recently A-B'd this instrument against $5k+ violins in the area, and there was no comparison, this instrument was louder, more full, more round and full in the bass notes, and all around a stellar performer. This violin would be a great student violin upgrade – for that aspiring violinist who is ready to graduate to, and enjoy, a better instrument than what's typically available in the $4-5K range, at a very attractive price. And, the buyer will have the confidence of both a Letter of Expertise, and a professional appraisal: • Certificate: Jean-Jacques Rampal, Paris, 2014. (This is the letter of expertise, on this violin, from one of the top experts on French Violins, in Paris, France). And: • Written, professional appraisal of the violin, done from personal inspection, from one of the top violin shops/experts in Texas (Jay R. Rury Violins, Dallas), with a valuation of $3,500.00 Both the above documents will be included with the sale. The violin is in excellent condition. There are no sound post, or bass bar cracks. It was professionally set up to play, by Blackerby Violin in Austin. In a modern Tonerelli case. Price: $3250.
  • Joseph Redman, based in Abingdon, VA, makes some nice, hand made, yet affordable classical and flamenco guitars. Their low price tags don’t reflect the quality of materials in each instrument. This was a custom order, featuring European Maple back and sides, and all hand French polished by Redman. Nice, rumbling bass response. The Maple tone here, doesn’t show up in the trebles as much as it does in the bass– adding a Maple crispness to the bass strings.
    • Finish: hand-rubbed French Polish
    • 650mm Scale length
    • European Maple back and sides
    • Canadian Spruce top
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Neck: Spanish Cedar
    • Bindings:
  • A wonderfully preserved, crack free 12 fret 000-28 Martin, with gorgeous Brazilian rosewood back and sides. The tone of this instrument is wonderful. It stands up to many high end Spanish made classical guitars of the period for Brazilian rosewood warmth. While intentionally not built for concert hall volume, the bass tone and clarity of the trebles on large-bodied Martin nylon strings guitars with Brazilian back and sides is unsurpassed. This instrument is very well set up to play on stage, plugged in, and to record, if desired. It has great high end Gilbert tuners, with black housing, abalone dot and snakewood buttons. (Original tuners, in perfect condition, are in the case, so you can easily replace the originals if desired.) This instrument has an excellent custom engineered stereo pickup system, installed without altering the guitar: The pickup is the undersaddle type, supplied by EMG. The separate mic element is assembled in a foam mounting block with cable, endpin jack, custom made for this guitar. It is unobtrusive in its mounting. Jack is mounted in the endpin hole, so there are no extra holes in the guitar. The output jack is stereo, TRS (Tip wired to pickup, Ring wired to mic, and Sleeve is ground.) The addition of the internal mic adds a realism and depth that no pickup by itself can capture. The EMG pickup is excellent compared to most others in terms of exhibiting less of that harsh piezo sound. The result is a guitar that plays beautifully amplified, or on its own. The Martin “C” has the old elongated Martin 12 fret body. It was offered in the 00-16C, 00-18C and 000-28C in 1962. 1966 saw the last 000-28C. There were not many nylon string, 000-sized 28 models made, and fewer still with the quality of Brazilian rosewood this one has. And the condition on this instrument is stunning. No cracks anywhere, and very little wear at all.
  • Another instrument from Enos Hernandez of Mexico, one of the best luthiers to ever live in work in Mexico, circa 1970’s. This one is a flamenco Blanca, with the classic cypress back and sides. Like the other Enos Hernandez we have, this one also has a cedar top. The instrument is super light weight, as a Flamenco Blanca should be, and it’s bright and percussive and raspy as a good Blanca should be. There is a scratch (not a crack) on back of guitar (see photo). There are dot position markers – original to the guitar, i.e. not added later – on top edge of fretboard (frets 3,5,7,9 – see photo). Scale length: 660mm Available January 2018 Price: $2950
  • This extraordinary guitar, completed by C.T. Beitel in June of 1894, is signed and dated by him on the underside of the top. The guitar is in remarkably original condition. And it plays wonderfully. C.T. Beitel (Clemence T. Beitel, 1869-1916) was closely associated with C.F. Martin & Co. in the 1890’s. The Beitels are well known to have been closely associated with the Martin family in these years, both personally (including through marriage) and in the Martin guitar business. According to some correspondence and background research from family members obtained with this guitar, C.T. Beitel was the first American-born person to serve an apprenticeship at Martin Guitars. C.T. Beitel was a cousin to C.A. Zoebisch– who was of course the famous Martin guitar distributor and sometimes-partner of C.F. Martin & Co. in this period.   Although this guitar is strikingly faithful to Martin specs, this is most likely one of C.T. Beitel’s guitars made by him to market separately from Martin. It is documented that at least one of the Beitel family had an ongoing guitar making and marketing business in the late 1890’s. Is this Beitel guitar one of the first made under the “Beitel” name? Certainly. Are there others remaining today? There are none known of by us–making this a rare and highly collectible guitar. Similar to a Martin 2-27… but not exactly. More like a cross between a 2-27, a “28” style–because of the wonderful Herringbone purfling/binding on the top– and a 30’s or higher style with its very fancy Jerome tuners.
    • No “Martin” stamps anywhere
    • “C.T. Beitel” paper label on neck block (Martin stamp beneath the label? Uncertain)
    • Signed and dated on underside of top: “C.T. Beitel, 6/94, Easton” (i.e. Easton, PA)
    • X-braced top
    • All original finish; no touch-ups etc
    • Pearl inlay around sound hole
    • Herringbone purfling around top
    • Real Ivory binding, top, and back
    • Bound Ivory neck
    • Ebony bridge
    • Ebony fretboard (bound in Ivory)
    • Original Maple bridge plate
    • Size: a just bit bigger at lower bout than a Martin “2” size: 12 1/4 inches
    • Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
    • Body length: 18 3/8 inches
    • String spacing at bridge: 2 3/8 inches - Nut width: 1 7/8 inches
    • Body depth at bottom of guitar: 4 inches
    • Top: Adirondack Spruce
    • Back and sides: solid Brazilian Rosewood
    • Neck: Cedar
    • Headstock: Brazilian Rosewood veneer
    • Tuners: original, German-made Jerome tuners, with fancy flower engraving, and oval shaped Ivory tuner buttons. These tuners are typically found only on the highest model Martin guitars of those years
    • Tuner buttons: Ivory, oval-shaped
    This guitar has very very similar construction, design, and look/feel of a 1890’s Martin, including shape, X-bracing, headstock, pearl inlay, binding, Herringbone, internal braces, bridge, purfling, etc. We do not believe any neck set has ever been done to the guitar. Bridge has never been off. Neck is straight, and action is low/medium. Original bridge plate. All original finish. It plays amazingly well, with robust tone, and some of the best treble Brazilian rosewood ringing tone we have ever heard. (Amazingly accurate intonation: The original saddle is gone. Some previous owner had a great, ingeniously compensated saddle made and installed, so that the intonation of this guitar is excellent– while retaining its original bridge including the original saddle slot on the bridge.) There are three cracks on the top of the guitar. One is close to the center seam, and runs from bridge to the lower edge. The other top cracks are smaller, on the treble side of the top. There are two hairline, finish cracks on back (not visible on inside). Minor pick wear, beneath the sound hole. Tone and playability: superb. Wonderful tone, more full tone than a typical Martin 2-27. The trebles especially are bell-like and clear.
  • (No serial number or FON, these years often do not have one.) This completely crack-free, Script logo LG-2 is a jewel. A lot of players say the script logo Gibsons from right after the war are better sounding and better-built guitars than the Banner Gibsons. All of the good things about Banners, but with better craftsmanship. All original finish, everywhere. Mahogany back and sides. Spruce top. Not a crack anywhere. 1-3/4" nut. The bridge is an excellent quality rosewood replacement. Original maple plate. Original tuners. Replaced nut and saddle. Rosewood fingerboard shows moderate wear on first couple of frets. Some of that wonderful Gibson 40’s crazing to the finish, but not at all out of hand. Various pick marks, and dings. Original tuners, bridge, plate. Piezo pickup was skillfully de-installed, and endpin jack removed and plugged. One of the finest Script logo LG-2s you’ll find.
  • This is a superb sounding 5 string banjo. Original nickel plating. • Bacon & Day Super, 5-string Banjo (Style A) Serial number: 25892 (early 1928) • Resonator, stamped on inside (in nickel-laminated maple): Bacon Banjo Co., Inc. Groton, CT. U.S.A. Dec. 20th, 1927 • Conversion, 5 string neck (original neck was probably a tenor or plectrum); Presumably, this neck is newer than the banjo– yet the advanced MOP fret markers are as found on the earliest versions of B&D Super banjos. We assume this neck was built by one of the best U.S. “conversion” builders – with a re-use of the original MOP inlay at the peghead plus the dowel stick. Maple neck, with steel reinforcing rod. Fretboard is beautiful jet-black ebony; multi-layer neck bindings. Fretboard is a very comfortable 1 3/8 inches wide at the nut, 1 7/8 wide where fretboard meets body. • Nickel plated • 22 frets • Scale length: 27 inches • Extended Maple resonator– nickel laminated on inside • Original flat Tulip-hole flange (not the “add-on” round-hole resonator of earlier years). • Original, top of the line Type III Silver Bell tone ring (No Hole tone ring) original to the instrument (this is the most sought-after, advanced Silver Bell tone ring, introduced early 1927). • Original 2 band Grover geared tuning pegs • Fults tailpiece, and included a variety of Fults tone pins. Bob Fults made the best tailpieces available. And his tone pins let you tweak the tone of your banjo. There are several interchangeable Fults pins included here– ivory, ebony, lead, sterling silver, brass, and copper. Plus a “tone lock”. (Bob Fults recently retired, and these highly sought after Fults tailpieces and pins are no longer available.) In its original hard shell Lifton case. $3750.
  • This is another great mid-fifties dread in unbelievable condition. It’s totally crack-free (also, not even a “pick guard” crack). Was acquired in 100% original condition: bridge, saddle, bridge pins, tuners, everything. Just had a neck set– resulting in great action, and tone/projection. With new condition Martin hard shell case.
  • Out of stock
    If there is a mid-60’s Brazilian Rosewood D-35 in better original condition out there than this one– it would have to be new. About as close to mint as you can get, this guitar shows little wear. And the Brazilian on back and sides– wonderful specimens, not the “figured” stuff you see on many later 60’s Martins. Not a crack, or hint of crack, anywhere (no, not even the typical “pickguard” crack). Original bridge, tuners, etc. Original frets show almost no wear. All original finish everywhere–and note that the finish does not have any of that “crazing” you often see on the original finishes of mid-60’s Martins. It has never had strap lugs attached. It has the more desirable original tortoise pickguard (Martin changed to black pickguards, later in 1967). Original small maple bridge plate, in original condition. The tone of this guitar, is wonderful. Ringing trebles like the very best brazilian Martin dread’s. And a bass response that shows why Martin brought out this model, in 1965, as an even higher-end model (and with lighter bracing) than the D-28. There are few tiny dings near the edge of the lower bout, on top (too small to photograph well). But a D-35 in better condition than this one would have to be off the factory floor. Action is perfect. Neck straight. Ready to play.