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Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

246.0. "Date and value for Martin D-28?" by RETORT::BANKS (Lex Rex) Tue May 19 1987 21:27

    A friend of mine{_ requested that I ask you folks:
    
    
    What was the approximate date of manufacture and "book value" or
    worth of an old Martin D-28 with the serial number
    							150774
    
    Lucky guy has a beautiful old instrument!
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
246.1Drool, droolRHETT::MCABEEzzzzzzzzzz...Wed May 20 1987 21:438
    I don't have my list with me, but it's definitely old enough to
    be Brazilian rosewood.  I'd guess middle fifties.  The value depends
    on condition and how good it sounds (and how badly someone wants
    it).  If it sounds good, it'll probably bring at least $1200 on
    the open market.  A dealer won't give that much, though.
    
    Bob
    
246.2Martin ValueMMO01::ERNSTSat May 23 1987 17:156
    Send a picture and your return address, along with $10 to the address
    below. One of the best in the world.
    
    Gruhn Guitars, Inc.
    410 Broadway
    Nashville, TN  37203
246.3.1 hit it on the head.STAR::BECKPaul BeckMon May 25 1987 02:021
    1956.
246.4I'd love to play itRHETT::MCABEEzzzzzzzzzz...Tue May 26 1987 19:007
    George Gruhn can give you a good starting point from looking at a
    photo, but the real saleability of it will depend mainly on the
    sound.  A '56 D-28 has *some* collectible value just because it's 
    made from pre-embargo Brazilian rosewood, but it's not (yet) an antique.
    
    Bob
    
246.5Late NoteDV780::MALKOSKIThu Jun 04 1987 14:0411
    re: .0 & .3
    
    Paul Beck is right - mid 1956.  The value always depends on the
    condition, but Brazilian rosewood Martins from the 50s have begun
    to appreciate, especially the D-28 models.  If the condition is
    very good to excellent, I'd say as much as $1600 in places like
    L.A., Boston, NYC.  Less in areas where the "vintage" market is
    weaker.  At any rate, I've played very few 50s D-28s that I would
    not own.
    
    Paul
246.61970 Martin D-28POWDML::SELIGThu Mar 13 1997 13:0313
    Can anybody provide a price range for:
    
    Martin D-28
    Ser #259903
    Manf. Date-1970
    
    
    Excellent condition....all original except for an oversize tortoise
    shell pickguard and CF Martin signature inside sounhole.
    
    My understanding is that 1970 was the transition year regarding use of 
    Brazilian rosewood. How can an "untrained eye" discern the difference 
    between rosewoods.
246.7Probably Indian...GLDX02::ALLBERYJimThu Mar 13 1997 13:4212
    The aproximate switch-over was around 250000.  I thought the date was
    1969.  It wasn't an instant switch, but I'd guess D28s would be the
    first instruments to go to Indian.  If any brazilian rosewood Martins were 
    made in 1970, I'd guess that they were D-35s (the three-piece back was 
    created to allow Martin to use smaller pieces of Brazilian rosewood).
    
    So it is very unlikely that the guitar in questing is Brazilian
    rosewood.  Elderly instruments currently has a 1970 D28 at $1300 and a
    '73 at $1275.  A new D28 can be found from big Martin dealers (like
    Elderly) for about $1400.  ($2,330 list less 40%).
    
    Jim
246.8Martin D-28USDEV::CLEMENTSmells like NirvanaThu Mar 13 1997 14:401
    1970-1985  $1250 to $550 depending on condition.