Used Vintage 1926 Martin 00-28 12-Fret

Pre-Depression Era Joy

Wildwoodians, have you ever wondered why so many great guitars came out of the twenties? Whatever the case may be, this '26 Martin 00-28 12-fret sounds glorious! It's all there: old-world craftsmanship, legendary tonewoods, and the kind of sonic seasoning that can only come from almost a hundred years of musical service. Oftentimes, we say that vintage guitars have been "broken in" like a pair of blue jeans, but this Martin goes beyond that. Nearly a century of play has opened up its voice and given it a truly amazing vintage woody characteristic, although to be honest, it would still probably sound cool if it was brand-new--such is the power of Brazilian rosewood back and sides combined with an Adirondack spruce top!

The Adirondack spruce produces a powerful fundamental, boosts the guitar's headroom and projecting power, and enhances articulation, while Brazilian rosewood...well, look up "richness" or "piano-like" in the dictionary and you'll get a rough idea of this legendary tonewood's power! Beyond that, the 12-fret construction boosts responsiveness and adds a natural reverberance and fullness to the tone.

This serial is a marvelous example of the tone of both woods! It boasts a powerful, broad bass response and open, sonorous midrange. The highs are glassy and sweet, with plenty of sparkle as you dig in. It's one of those small-bodied guitars that punches far above its weight class. It's astonishing how beefy each note sounds, yet when you strum full chords it remains clear and balanced. Overall, it sounds how you expect a guitar three times its size would, but with the responsiveness of a and clarity of a small body.

All in all, this 1926 00-28 12-fret is one of the mightiest acoustic stallions we've ever had the privilege of showcasing, and we have no doubt it will inspire some lucky acoustic aficionado to embark on all sorts of exciting fretboard adventures!

Condition Report

This monster Martin is in awesome shape, especially considering it's 'pert-near a century old! It shows the typical wear we expect for a guitar of its vintage, and it looks awesome--mojo for days! A previous owner installed an oversized bridge and a new nut and saddle, and there are several recently- and not-so-recently-repaired cracks, all of which are as stable and solid as the Rock of Gibraltar. It comes with a non-original Martin hardshell case for safekeeping.

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