1903 Martin 0-28 Vintage X-Braced Acoustic Guitar Brazilian Rosewood w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1903 Martin 0-28 in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. This turn-of-the-century Martin parlor dates to the Frank Henry Martin era of production, built at the very beginning of 1903 and emblematic of the elevated craftsmanship of that era. This 0-28 has been freshly serviced by Portland Fretworks, benefiting from a neck reset and fitted with a new compensated bone saddle and bone nut.

Tonewoods include bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides, an X-braced Adirondack spruce top, a Honduran mahogany neck, an ebony fingerboard and the original maple bridge plate. Martins of this era are famously among the lightest the company ever produced, and this 0-28 is beyond featherweight at just 2lbs 12oz. Despite its diminutive size, sound simply leaps from this Martin, with an overarching warmth and detail that stacks up well against later models braced for steel strings. It’s also a remarkably even-tempered tonal profile, with exceptional string-to-string balance; the trebles have a vocal-like sustain and sweetness, and the wound strings have great clarity and body. This 0-28 has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 silk and steel strings and easy-playing.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Honduran mahogany
-Shape: V, measuring .890” 1st fret, .980” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, notched diamond inlay
-Frets: Bar, leveled/crowned, no wear
-Scale Length: 24.9”
-Nut: 1 7/8”, bone (modern)
-Tuners: Open-gear strip
-Serialization: Stamp on neck block dates to 1903

Body Specs:

-Wood: Adirondack spruce, Brazilian rosewood (bookmatched)
-Bracing: X
-Bridge: Ebony, pyramid w/ compensated bone saddle (replacement), grained ivoroid pins, maple bridge plate
-Marquetry: Herringbone purfling, simple rosette, ivoroid binding, grained ivoroid heelcap
-Factory Markings: Inside of soundboard signed by F. H. Martin, dated 1903

The original varnish finish is present, with some light touch-up on the Brazilian sides and in areas where repairs were executed. The finish is extremely lightly applied, fractionally settling into the grain of the tonewoods. There is one longer split on top extending behind the bridge, and a few much more slight (and shorter) cracks on the lower bout on top, all professionally addressed and cleated if needed. There are a couple small repairs along the top binding, and a couple similar repairs along the zigzag backstrip on the lower bout, as well as two additional repaired cracks on the bass-side rosewood rim (also lower bout).

Cosmetic wear is otherwise limited to light pick wear on the treble-side of the soundhole, with a handful of dings on top and a few light finish scratches on the back falling well short of “buckle rash.” The neck profile is smooth to the palm, with a few shallow nicks along the spine of the carve that are not distracting to the palm while fretting.

A modern black tolex hardshell case is included.