I am the very happy owner of a Martin D-28, circa 1957. It has served me well for 34 years (I bought it used). It has served me well all of these years.

It has had the tuners replaced due to an accident. At that time the action was lowered. It has a few non-moving cracks on the front and the back. The bridge and some bracing has been reglued as the face was starting to arch. The action was raised just a tad at that time (an occasional buzz on the bass E was eliminated),

The guitar, I regret to say, has not been well cared for. I have put it back in the case religiously, but it has ridden in many a car trunk for many an hour, sat there over night in the winter, been subjected to forced air heat without benefit of a humidifier, and has been taken almost anywhere (beach, woods, mountains, etc.). It has held up very well. I take better care of it now then I did 10 years ago.

I have been blessed with a Martin that achieves all that Martin hoped to achieve (I got a good'un). My guitar is loud even with light guage strings. It responds well when I beat on the strings and when I finger pick. I find it fits well with a wide range of musical styles.

It has also spoiled me. I haven't heard a guitar I'd want to take in trade. In the last year, I have spent many an hour in music stores playing their guitars. The guitars that might match my Martin are in the same price range or higher, but they still don't match the mellow of a 40 year old guitar.

Some of them are truly a mite prettier than my old D-28. The brass colored Grovers are the flashiest part of this guitar. A few fret dots, some plain binding, a tortise shell pick guard, and the Martin logo are about it.

I do have another love (in the guitar arena), but that would be for a later thread.

Roger in Baltimore