1971 Martin D-28 - Original Hardshell Case – Used Very Good
The D-28 is the guitar that defined the American dreadnought — the instrument that generations of players, from Depression-era country musicians to 1960s folk revivalists to contemporary bluegrass and singer-songwriters, have turned to when they needed a guitar that was serious, reliable, and built to last. By 1971 Martin was producing more guitars than at any point in their history, and while that era of rapid expansion has given some collectors pause, the best examples from this period are genuinely excellent instruments — well-built, tonally rich, and now fully broken in after fifty-plus years of play. This one is a strong example of that. The solid Sitka spruce top has had more than half a century to open up, and the solid East Indian rosewood back and sides — Indian rosewood having replaced Brazilian in 1969 — bring the focused clarity and defined low end that rosewood is known for. The forward-shifted non-scalloped X-bracing is the standard construction of the post-war D-28, and the nitrocellulose lacquer finish has aged gracefully. The mahogany neck with soft V profile and ebony fingerboard with dot inlays is comfortable and fast, and the non-adjustable truss rod is vintage Martin construction — stable and straightforward. This is a guitar that has had the privilege of decades to settle into itself, and it shows in how it plays and sounds.
The bridge has been thinned and the saddle sits low — the guitar plays well as it stands, with action at 5/64 on the high E and 6/64 on the low E at the 12th fret, and should continue to play comfortably for many years. A neck reset down the road would bring it fully back to spec and open up the full potential of the instrument — the body, back, sides, and top are all in genuinely good structural shape, making it an excellent candidate for that work when the time comes. A bridge plate overlay has been professionally applied to maintain the structural health of the bridge plate area — a proactive and appropriate repair that speaks well of how this guitar has been cared for. The replaced pickguard is in good shape. Finish presents really well throughout with only minor play wear as expected. Minimal fret wear, very straight neck. The original case has a bit of vintage smell — not overwhelming, but worth noting.
- Make: Martin
- Model: D-28
- Year: 1971
- Country of origin: USA (Nazareth, PA)
- Body shape: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid Sitka spruce, nitrocellulose lacquer finish
- Back and sides: Solid East Indian rosewood
- Bracing: Forward-shifted non-scalloped X-brace
- Neck: Mahogany, soft V profile, non-adjustable truss rod
- Fingerboard: Ebony, MOP dot inlays
- Bridge: Ebony, thinned
- Nut: Bone, 1-11/16"
- Saddle: Low — neck reset recommended for optimal long-term playability
- Scale length: 25.4"
- Frets: 20, minimal wear
- Pickguard: Replaced, good shape
- Tuners: Grover
- Action: 5/64 high E, 6.5/64 low E at 12th fret (first fret depressed)
- Repairs: Bridge thinned, bridge plate overlay professionally applied, pickguard replaced
- Modifications: None beyond documented repairs
- Condition: Used Very Good – minor play wear consistent with age, minimal fret wear, finish presents well, case has mild vintage smell
- Includes: Original Martin hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
