Martin Custom Shop Expert D-28 1937 ‘Ambertone’ Stage 1 Aged Left-Handed Preowned 2023

The Martin Custom Shop Expert D-28 1937 takes the spirit of Martin’s most celebrated pre-war dreadnought and builds it with modern reliability. It carries the sonic character of the Authentic Series, with a thin-sanded Adirondack spruce top, forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing, and a hide glue dovetail neck joint, along with an adjustable truss rod for long-term stability. Solid East Indian rosewood back and sides give the big, open, powerful voice this guitar is known for, with deep bass, a complex midrange, and the dynamic headroom that has made the D-28 the benchmark dreadnought for generations. This left-handed example is ideal for players who have long waited for a true vintage-spec D-28 in a left-hand configuration.

The finish is Martin’s proprietary Vintage Low Gloss process in 1933-style Ambertone, with Stage 1 aging that bears the marks of time but not the scars of the road. Very light lacquer crazing, an aged toner, soft-edge rounded fret ends, and relic nickel hardware give it a warm, lived-in look without the heavy wear of a full relic. Style 28 appointments include a multi-stripe rosette, bold herringbone top inlay, ebony fingerboard with long diamond and square abalone inlays, and a 1930s-style ebony belly bridge with a glued-in long bone saddle. Plek-finished and supplied in a Martin ply hardshell case.

This 2023-built guitar was made to order, and as far as we know is the only left-handed version of this guitar in existence! It's an absolute cannon, and represents a true heirloom guitar in every sense. The factory aging is subtle yet convincing, and it plays wonderfully with a perfect medium action. We don't often see left-handed guitars of this calibre on the used market, and this is stunning in every respect. Includes original hardshell case. 

Features

• Thin-sanded Adirondack spruce top with Authentic 1937 forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing delivers the powerful, open, and highly responsive voice of a pre-war Martin dreadnought.
• Solid East Indian rosewood back and sides contribute deep bass, rich harmonic complexity, and the sustain that defines the D-28 sound.
• Hide glue dovetail neck joint and Authentic Series construction preserve vintage tone and feel, while an adjustable truss rod adds modern reliability.
• Stage 1 aged Ambertone finish in Vintage Low Gloss, with light lacquer crazing, aging toner, and soft-edge fret ends, delivers a lived-in look without heavy relic wear.
• Style 28 appointments including herringbone top inlay, multi-stripe rosette, ebony fingerboard with abalone diamond and square inlays, and a glued-in long bone saddle on a 1930s-style bridge.

Specs

• Model: Martin Custom Shop Expert D-28 1937
• Orientation: Left-handed
• Body: D-14 fret dreadnought
• Top: Adirondack spruce, thin-sanded
• Back & sides: East Indian rosewood
• Bracing: Authentic 1937 forward-shifted scalloped X, Adirondack spruce, 5/16"
• Construction: Dovetail neck joint, hide glue
• Truss rod: Adjustable
• Rosette: Style 28 multi-stripe
• Top inlay: Bold herringbone
• Neck: Authentic 1937 shape, standard taper, Vintage Gloss aged, Dark Mahogany with aging toner
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Fingerboard inlays: Abalone, diamond and square (long pattern)
• Side dots: Antique white
• Fret ends: Soft-edge, rounded
• Nut: Bone, 1-3/4"
• Width at 12th fret: 2-1/4"
• Scale length: 25.4"
• Bridge: Ebony, 1930s-style belly
• Bridge string spacing: 2-5/16"
• Saddle: Bone, glued-in long saddle (aged)
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear (relic-aged)
• Finish: Vintage Low Gloss, 1933 Ambertone, Stage 1 aging
• Electronics: None
• Strings: Martin Authentic Acoustic SP Medium 92/8 Phosphor Bronze (MA550T)
• Includes: Martin ply hardshell case
• Made in: USA (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)