1949 C.F. Martin 000-28H conversion Serial #112_ _ 4
Cites A 10 Certificate #418497/01
The only one. This amazing guitar is the only post-war herringbone guitar made by Martin until 1976 and it is the only slothead 000-28H that they made at this time and possiblly ever. It has been built with all pre-war specs and possibly with parts from the 30s production era left over. Some very important aspects of this guitar that make it such an amazing instrument, it has Brazilian rosewood rims and back, Adirondack top, 25.4" long scale and 12 fret configuration, all pre-1934 features. It doesn't get any better and is actually a guitar that is emulated today by many modern makers. If we allow ourselves to wander a bit mentally, one would ask why Martin would re-create a late 30's Hawaiian "bone" 12 fret 000-28 in 1949? After all, the 1930's saw the long scale and the 12 fret neck and herringbone. Its not listed as a custom guitar so this would lend to the theory that this guitar was a shop leftover from the late 30's that was ignored during the war years. Noone can prove this, but I love logic and this certainly works with logical rationalization. It is certainly more plausible than thinking it is a custom built guitar made for a style of playing long dead. Hawaiian !!! I mean, yes, they did build this guitar long after Hawaiian was passe, but would they build one from scratch and who would want it. The odds win for the left over.
And it comes with a real story, not a romantic one. This guitar was found in an attic in Arkansas where for 40 years it was left strung up, which ruined the top.(which comes with the guitar) The old top has at least 12 long cracks in it. It was re-topped at Jet City in Washington State by the luthier Ed Claxton who did the work and managed to use the original herringbone bindings. It's noted in Martin's technical notes as being a "one off". Gosh, if they had only made 1000.
Today, it's difficult to know that the top was done. Almost 20 years since installation and we don't know how old the spruce was when it was installed. It's completely set in. The finish on the body of the guitar is original and the top blends with it beautifully. Very thin and supple, the top is a beautiful piece of Adirondack spruce and resonates as a period one would. The sound of this guitar is pre-war. To me, very little if anything has been lost to the top and it probably would actually have improved it, as the original top is thicker to accomodate the Hawaiian set up. The origiinal top accompanies the guitar and validates the bracing size and pattern.
Dream Guitars had a '34 000-28H ( that one and this one are probably the only examples made of this model, although they have slightly different specs) a time ago and Heumiller said about that guitar that it was the best guitar they had thru the shop. It wasn't slothead but it was long scale. They called it "the Holy Grail"......if that was the holy grail which I don't doubt, than this is the Lord's guitar.
The sound of this guitar is difficult to describe but your imagination should bring you some way to understanding what a slothead Brazilian '49 herringbone Martin 000-28 would sound like in the old 12 fret body style. Every thing ever done to create the perfect acoustic guitar is in this instrument. Play it............fall in love.
