While the sweeter sounding dreadnoughts of the 1930s may have been the start of Martin’s golden age, it is the 1940s that are responsible for their instruments of pure power, and this 1945 D-28 has a foot in each camp. By this year most dreads were rolling out with rear-shifted non-scalloped bracing. But at one point in this beautiful guitar's history, the top was removed and the braces scalloped, which could explain its combination of warmth and pure drive!

The current set-up is excellent, no doubt thanks to a recent neck reset along with a refret, replaced bridge, new nut and saddle. The tuners were at one point replaced, too, and it's had full overspray. A handful of cracks in the top, back and sides have all been repaired and are stable. Two holes in the heel were plugged and a strap button was added, albeit in an odd position next to rather than on the neck heel. Comes in a large hardshell case with hygrometer.