Sound Pure's Take
Recreating one of the most coveted golden-era acoustics in history, this Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 features hide-glue dovetail construction pairing a Vintage Gloss VTS Adirondack spruce top with solid Guatemalan rosewood back and sides. A genuine mahogany neck turned to an Authentic 1937 profile carries an ebony fingerboard with abalone 1937 diamonds and squares inlays and a 1 3/4" bone nut, ending at a tapered headstock with a Guatemalan rosewood headplate and open-back nickel Waverly tuners. Vintage-correct appointments abound, including bold herringbone top inlay, antique white binding, a zig-zag authentic backstrip, forward-shifted scalloped VTS Adirondack X-bracing, and an ebony belly bridge with a glued-in long bone saddle. Weighing a featherlight 4 lbs 2 oz, this pre-war replica includes a deluxe ply hardshell case.
From Martin and Co.
Few guitars are as celebrated as the D-28s built in 1937—a year that marked a high point in Martin’s pre-war craftsmanship. The D-28 Authentic 1937 stays true to that legacy, featuring an Adirondack spruce top, forward-shifted hand-scalloped X-bracing, and historically accurate detailing throughout. This updated version includes Guatemalan rosewood back and sides for a lush, complex tone, along with subtle refinements that bring it even closer to the originals. The body profile is modeled after Dreadnoughts from the 1930s and ’40s for enhanced historical accuracy, and the neck features the Authentic 1937 barrel and heel for the feel of a true vintage instrument. Martin’s Vintage Tone System® (VTS) is used to thermally age both the top and braces, delivering the rich, open sound of a well-loved pre-war guitar. Built entirely with hide glue and constructed by hand, the D-28 Authentic 1937 isn’t just a tribute to the Golden Era—it’s a direct line back to it.
Top Material: Adirondack Spruce with VTS
Finish Top: Vintage Gloss
Top Color: Clear
Top Inlay Material: Bold Herringbone
Top Detail: None
Binding: Antique White
Bridge Material: Ebony
Bridge Style: Authentic Belly - Glue in Long Saddle
Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/16''
Bridge Pin Material: Faux Ivory
Bridge Pin Dots: Black Plastic
Pickguard: Tortoise Pattern
Pickguard Inlay: None
Rosette: Multi-Stripe
Saddle: Bone
Saddle Radius: 16"
Body Size: Authentic D-14 Fret
Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint - Hide Glue Construction
Back Material: Guatemalan Rosewood
Side Material: Guatemalan Rosewood
Back and Side Finish: Vintage Gloss
Back and Sides Color: None
Back Detail: None
Side Detail: None
Back Purfling/Strip: Zig-Zag Authentic
Back Inlay Material: Multi-Stripe
Side Inlay Material: None
Bracing Pattern: Forward Shifted X Brace
Brace Shape: Scalloped
Brace Material: Adirondack Spruce with VTS
Brace Size: 5/16"
Endpiece: Antique White
Endpiece Inlay: Multi-Stripe
Neck Shape: Authentic 1937
Neck Taper: Standard Taper
Neck Material: Genuine Mahogany
Neck Color: Dark Mahogany
Finish Neck: Vintage Gloss
Scale Length: 25.4"
Number of Frets Total: 20
Neck Joins Body At: 14th Fret
Heelcap: Antique White
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/4''
Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1 3/4''
Fingerboard Inlay Style: 1937 Diamonds and Squares Long Pattern
Fingerboard Inlay Material: Abalone
Fingerboard Binding Material: None
Side Dots: Antique White
Headstock Shape: Solid with 1937 Taper and Diamond
Headplate Material: Guatemalan Rosewood
Headplate Logo Style: Script Golden Era Overlay
Headplate Binding Material: None
Headplate Detail: None
Tuning Machines: Waverly Nickel Open Back
Knob: Butterbean
Nut Material: Bone
Case: Ply Hardshell
Weight: 4lbs 2oz
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