1998 Martin OM-28VR, Vintage Series, Sitka Spruce, East Indian Rosewood - USED

ON CONSIGNMENT, NO TRADE OFFERS PLEASE!

(USED) As the 1990s was coming to a close, the C.F. Martin Company was surely noticing that many boutique builders and one-man shops were building a reputation by interpreting their original designs.  Martin's response was to make available certain series of instruments that were built closer to the way they did it back in the day, with lighter builds, lighter bracing and specs that called to mind their peak quality in the '30s and '40s.  Series like the Golden Era and Authentic Series have proved to be extremely popular with Martin fans, and indeed they are some of the best "modern" Martins that we see coming through the shop.

This one is a little more of a well-kept secret, an OM-28 built as part of their Vintage Series in 1998.  This is a very impressive guitar, in both sound and feel, and the playability hasn't suffered a bit in 25 years.  In fact, it has easy action and a nice tall saddle with great break angle.  It has a Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, and all the "28" style appointments including herringbone top trim, 3-ring rosette, ivoroid body binding, zipper back strip and diamond volute on the back of the peghead.  What impresses us most is the voice, it is very lively and balanced, without the EQ scoop that makes some Martins tubby in the bass and muddy in the mids.  Nope, this one is sounding very fine, thank you very much!!

1 3/4" nut, generous 2 5/16" string spacing at the saddle, long 25.34" scale length.  The mahogany neck is a modified V in leading into a fairly hard V around the 9th fret, it puts us in mind of the necks on the original Eric Clapton signature models.  It has more meat than the modern Performance Taper necks, but is nut clubby or overly vintage in feel.  Martin-branded Gotoh open-gear tuners.  The bridge and the fingerboard are ebony.

Condition is excellent with one noticeable ding on the back, some very light finish scuffs, and a few shallow pick marks on the top behind the bridge and around the sound hole.  Includes hard case. 

Just a great Orchestra Model from the shop that invented 'em.  Somebody is going to have fun with this one for its next 25 years!

Serial #634017 (1998)
AMW Price: $3,000 (ON CONSIGNMENT)

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