2020 - Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 Aged - VTS Adirondack Spruce & Madagascar Rosewood

The 2020 Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 Aged stands as a stunning homage to one of the most celebrated instruments in acoustic history. Built in Martin’s Authentic workshop with reverence for tradition and an unrelenting pursuit of tone, this rare and discontinued model captures the spirit of a pre-war legend in both sound and soul. Every detail has been rendered with an artisan’s devotion to history, yet shaped by the modern precision of Martin’s finest craftspeople. This is not merely a recreation—it is a time capsule, alive with the voice and feel of 1937.

Its Adirondack spruce top, treated with Martin’s Vintage Tone System (VTS), bears the character of decades of natural aging. Beneath the aged Vintage Gloss finish lies the shimmer of a Modified Vintage Toner, glowing softly against the bold herringbone purfling and faux tortoise guard. The top is braced with an Authentic 1937 Forward-Shifted X pattern, scalloped and shaped from Adirondack spruce also treated with VTS. This combination yields the clarity, power, and dynamic range that defined the original D-28—an expansive, open tone that blooms beneath even the lightest touch.

The back and sides are hewn from Madagascar rosewood, chosen for its complex harmonic depth and striking visual character. Each piece carries a rich, dark luster enhanced by the aged gloss finish and the subtle zig-zag purfling that traces the body’s elegant curves. The dovetail neck joint and hide glue construction honor Martin’s historic methods, joining a genuine mahogany neck to the body in a way that feels both resonant and enduring.

The neck itself is carved in the Authentic 1937 profile, a shape that balances substantial presence with natural comfort. Paired with a standard taper and a 1 3/4-inch nut width, it invites both flatpickers and fingerstylists into its fold. The ebony fingerboard is adorned with the long-pattern Diamonds and Squares inlay, delicately cut from abalone and glowing beneath the grained ivoroid side dots. Every touch reveals the careful handwork that went into its creation, from the aged Waverly tuners with butterbean knobs to the bone nut and saddle set into the authentic belly-style ebony bridge.

At just 4 pounds 5 ounces, this D-28 sings with exceptional resonance and balance. The tone is wide and open, with a commanding low end, articulate mids, and crystalline trebles that seem to hang in the air long after the note has faded. It is the voice of the golden era reborn.

Since its release, the Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 Aged has become one of the most coveted models in the Authentic series. With its limited production and subsequent discontinuation, it has taken on a new life as a collector’s piece and a musician’s dream—an instrument that embodies the past while aging beautifully into the future. Each one stands as a rare moment in Martin’s continuing story, a living testament to what can happen when history and craftsmanship meet in perfect harmony.

Other specifications of the D-28 Authentic 1937 Aged include:

• Body Size: D-14 Fret
• Finish Top: Vintage Gloss - Aged
• Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint - Hide Glue Construction
• Back & Side Finish: Vintage Gloss - Aged
• Bracing Pattern: Authentic 1937 Forward Shifted X Brace
• Scale Length: 25.4"
• Brace Shape: Scalloped
• Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1 3/4''
• Top Material: Adirondack Spruce with VTS
• Neck Shape: Authentic 1937
• Back Material: Madagascar Rosewood
• Neck Taper: Standard Taper
• Side Material: Madagascar Rosewood
• Top Color: Modified Vintage Toner
• Bridge Style: Authentic Belly - Glue in Long Saddle - Aged
• Binding: Antique White
• Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/16''
• Top Inlay Material: Bold Herringbone
• Bridge Material: Ebony
• Top Detail: Aged
• Bridge Pin Material: Faux Ivory - Aged
• Pickguard: Faux Tortoise- Aged
• Bridge Pin Dots: Black Plastic
• Pickguard Inlay: None
• Saddle: Bone
• Rosette: Multi-Stripe
• Saddle Radius: 16"
• Brace Material: Adirondack Spruce with VTS
• Back & Sides Color: None
• Brace Size: 5/16"
• Back Detail: Aged
• Back Purfling/Strip: Zig-Zag Authentic
• Back Inlay Material: Multi-Stripe
• Heelcap: Antique White
• Side Detail: Aged
• Endpiece: Antique White
• Side Inlay Material: None
• Endpiece Inlay: Multi-Stripe
• Neck Material: Genuine Mahogany
• Fingerboard Material: Ebony
• Finish Neck: Vintage Gloss - Aged
• Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/4''
• Neck Color: Dark Mahogany
• Fingerboard Inlay Style: 1937 Diamonds and Squares Long Pattern
• Number of Frets Total: 20
• Fingerboard Inlay Material: Abalone
• Neck Joins Body At: 14th Fret
• Fingerboard Binding Material: None
• Side Dots: Grained Ivoroid
• Headstock Shape: Solid with 1937 Taper and Diamond
• Tuning Machines: Aged Waverly Nickel Open Back
• Headplate Material: Madagascar Rosewood
• Knob: Butterbean
• Headplate Logo Style: Script Golden Era Overlay
• Nut Material: Bone
• Headplate Binding Material: None
• Case: Ply Hardshell
• Label:None
• Pleked: No
• 4 lbs 5 oz
• #2437723

For more information about the Martin D28 Authentic 1937 Aged , please contact us.

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