Vintage MARTIN GUITARS - Everything I love about them - 1951 MARTIN D28 Brazilian Rosewood

I have a 1966 d28 and its a one of a kind! What type of strings are on this by chance?

I fully agree with you. I owned a 1969 Martin D-35 which aged beautifully. I’m fortunate enough to now own a 1943 Martin 000-42, which is the best sounding and playing acoustic that I’ve ever owned. It’s inspiring to play. Although the 1954 Gibson L5, which was stolen, was pretty cool as well.

My favorite vintage guitar so far? This one, in your hands.

Ohh lord I love the sound of that guitar and the playing is exquisite

The closest thing I have to vintage is a 1959 Gibson LG 2 that I've had for nearly 30 years. It has seen some rough times but has a beautiful voice. I do get to play a friend's 1962 D 28 occasionally, what a wonderful tone. Love the video.

That is a sweet guitar, and I am a mahogany fan.

Yes!!! This is what I’m talking about. Is that D28 yours?

The older I get and the more I play different guitars (literally thousands) the less I care about brand and vintage. It’s become 100% about the music and not the tool for me. Obviously not counting absolutely terrible instruments, but beyond a certain level of playability/tone it’s sort of a wash.

Fantastic!

This Martin sounds exquisite! Warm and Rich,,,, good guitars are like good food!

Really enjoyed this video, Michael. And what a great sounding Matin this is with enormous sustain. I don't have a vintage Martin but an OM CPA1 that sounds quite good. But my love goes for my luthier made guitars from Finnland and Germany.

John and Paul wrote and recorded so many great songs on D28s and 1951 was a great year for the world :-) - Sting, Phil Collins and I were born. Had I the same financial resources as the other two, I would track that lovely instrument down.

I used to have a 1946 Gibson. Sold it for a second classical. Not for very much money, either. Still regret it. That guitar had a tone....

It seems like you finally changed to new strings…

Hah, a great video. I’ve played some Martin’s but never warmed to them. 20 ish years ago I bought a SCGC ‘FS’ with a cedar top and Indian rosewood b&s. I still love it and it’s my mainstay. I’ve tried heaps of guitars since. But recently I bought another FS, this time with sinker redwood. Both guitars are built lightweight and responsive, like the Martin. So I’ve been on a long trip to eventually end up back where I started. The cedar FS is strung with 14-59 and tuned DtoD. The new one has 13-55 and tuned std. But it sounds fabulous in DADGAD!

Handmaking a guitar really makes all the difference. When I play a luthier-made guitar, I can almost hear all the thought and care put into making it a beautiful piece of art. I play an OM made in 2019 by Bob Gramann with somewhat uncommon American tone woods, and it inspires me every time I play it. The sound envelops the room and resonates for what can feel like 20 minutes. In my mind it's an absolute mystery why Bob Gramann's guitars aren't more well-known. I absolutely love seeing guitars, especially old ones like this martin, that were made with such precision and care. Thank you for showcasing these wonderful instruments. Your playing always highlights the unique voice of each guitar. Can we also take a moment to acknowledge the consistent wonderful audio quality? It sounds so raw with the friction of the frets, taps against the wood, and rubbing fabric, but that's the charm of it, being able to hear the guitar and how it interacts with the environment around it.

Damn! You’re handling that 1 11/16” nut like it’s home base! Major props - my playing falls apart under such distressing circumstances….

I love hearing you playing a Martin!

The new guitars are not the same quality, nor is the customer service.
I have owned 15 Martins since 1961. The first was a 1939 00-17, last of the 1 3/4 nut width.
I currently have 2 Martins. Both bought used and mint.

Another interesting and informative video. More please......

Michael, love your channel and your guitar reviews. I am fortunate enough to have a 1953 000-28 and to just have purchased a 1953 000-18. Both wonderful guitars with very different voices. All the best and keep up the great work.

Just curious to hear your thoughts on why you prefer luthier made guitars!

Nice video Michael. My favorite is still my D28 GE. Does 20+ years old already count as vintage?

I love how the old rosewood Martin's pick up a more dry quality to the sound over the years

Michael, I'm sure you could conjure and charm some sweet sounds out of a stringed biscuit tin :D

That old girl sure still has it though - sustain for days and that molasses tone that feels like your favourite armchair! No one trick pony though, she can still lift her skirts and show some pace to the young pretenders.

Great content as ever - how about dropping a video or two occasionally of you playing some instruments that are within the reach of your average Joe? There must be some 'middle of the road' makers or guitars whose honesty and bang-for-buck you admire?

Warmest regards and a great weekend to you all folks :)

its interesting to hear you play normal guitars.

Yes, that elusive "airy woodiness" that only time creates...but the price of that 1951 D28 must be astronomical.
Fortunately, there are new and more affordable Martin's that are surprisingly good.

Yep those old ones have it....I almost threw out a 100.00 used Bedell with a cracked top...repaired it and raised the saddle to average to get more volume and tone....it had opened up over years sitting in the closet. That 100.00 guitar became an airy monster. It blows my mind when I hear that martin.....it sounds the same. Gentle and sweet...a touch of boom, depth....Open and windy. I think it's the thin top on mine....it dried out in 15 years. The crack said it all. I took a fishman pre amp out of top side and it threw out a blast of bottom end bass. I leave it out now. Took out the under saddle piezio (I put in years before) which helped develope more tone. Added a zero fret nut - zero glide. Added 25% sustain. I've always heard to get a solid top on a cheap guitar....this is the first one that proved it.....Bedell uses good hard wood in the core of the mahogony laminate from what I've read....seems to be true. It had the nuts to become a giant when I bought it. You could hear it boiling under the chords...wanting to explode out.

Cool video!

Would you mind telling us about what the height is of your high and low E strings at the 12th fret? It would help us know the degree to which you have to fight your guitars when playing. Thanks.

make that 57 in 57 then Dick Clark put me on Swan Records and Bandstand I am Don Wayne !!!!!!!!!!!!

I had a 58 D28 in 1957 it was less than 300 bucks in Hollywood Florida.

Cool people like them soon you get cool cred by having one.