Guitar
Maker
C. F. Martin & Co.
Date1997
Place MadeNazareth, Pennsylvania, United States, North America
ModelHD-28VR / Vintage Series Dreadnought
Serial No.611047
SignedBranded on back graft: [lettering curved downward at each end] C.F.MARTIN & Co / ―∙― / NAZARETH, PA. / MADE IN U.S.A.Laser etched on neck block: [cursive lettering curved downward at each end] C. F. Martin & Co. / Est. 1833 / VINTAGE SERIES / HD-28VR / 611047
Gold and black decal on head: [cursive lettering curved downward at each end] CFMartin&Co. [sic] / EST. 1833
Stamped on machine tuner plates in cursive lettering: CF Martin&Co.
MarkingsBranded on back graft to right of signature: USE MEDIUM GAUGE OR / LIGHTER STRINGS ONLY
DescriptionThe Martin Model HD-28VR is a reproduction of the classic pre-War D-28 dreadnought with herringbone trim and scalloped top bracing.
Stringing: six steel strings
Soundboard: two-piece Adirondack spruce, fine grain broadening toward the flanks
Back: two-piece book-matched East Indian rosewood; back stripe comprised of alternating strips of light and dark hardwood forming zigzag, so-called “zipper” pattern, surrounded on each side with two strips of light hardwood and one strip of dark hardwood purfling, each portion of “zipper” pattern divided by light hardwood purfling strip
Ribs: two-piece East Indian rosewood divided by white ivoroid end graft strip (slightly wider toward top than bottom) surrounded by thin white and black celluloid purfling on each side (2 strips each)
Head: mahogany veneered with rosewood on front face
Neck: mahogany
Heel cap: white ivoroid
Binding: white ivoroid; light and dark hardwood herringbone trim divided by light hardwood purfling strip, surrounded on each side by dark hardwood purfling strip
Fingerboard: ebony; rounded edge on lower end; 21 nickel-silver frets; single abalone slotted diamonds behind 5th, 9th, and 15th frets; two abalone slotted diamonds behind 7th and 12th frets; single white plastic side dots behind 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 15th, and 17th frets; double white plastic dots behind 12th fret
Nut: white Corian
Bridge: ebony with curved lower edge; angled, white Micarta saddle; white plastic bridge pins with imitation-tortoise-shell plastic eyes
Pegs: six chrome-plated steel worm-gear machine tuners with convex head surfaces, reversely curved corners (known as “butterbeans”), and decoratively cut plate outlines
Endpin: white plastic with imitation-tortoise-shell plastic eye
Rosette: wide band of cream-white and black striped celluloid (9 strips), surrounded on each side with narrower bands of the same material (5 strips each), with natural wood in between
Pick guard: imitation tortoise shell plastic (printed with tortoise-shell pattern rather than marbleized)
Varnish: clear, with matte finish on neck
Linings: kerfed mahogany
Neck block: mahogany; chamfered corners
End block: mahogany; chamfered corners
Top braces: spruce X-brace, the joint of main cross brace reinforced with white felt; scalloped transverse braces and finger braces in lower bouts; maple bridge plate; hole drilled in upper face brace for access to neck rod
Back braces: minimally arched spruce back graft; four spruce back braces
DimensionsTotal guitar length: 1026 mm (40-13/32″)
Back length: 509 mm (20″)
Upper bout width: 292 mm (11-1/2″)
Waist width: 277 mm (10-7/8″)
Lower bout width: 399 mm (15-3/4″)
Rib height (including edging) at heel: 97 mm (3-13/16″)
Rib height, at waist: 112 mm (4-3/8″)
Rib height, at end block: 124 mm (4-29/32″)
Head length: 162 mm (6-3/8″)
Head width, top: 72 mm (2-11/16″)
Head width, bottom: 55 mm (2-5/32″)
Neck length (nut to ribs): 357 mm (14-1/16″)
Neck width, nut: 43 mm (1-11/16″)
Neck width, heel: 54 mm (2-1/8″)
Soundhole diameter: 101 mm (4″)
Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge): high E: 645 mm (25-3/8″); low E: 647 mm (25-1/2″)
Published ReferencesAndré P Larson, “Two Superb Martin Guitars – One Old, One Not So Old!” America’s Shrine to Music Museum Newsletter, Vol. 25, No. 4, (August 1998), p. 8.
Credit LineGift of C. F. Martin and Co., Inc., 1997
Object number06096
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