I had the chance to acquire an old Martin. It was a 1929 000-28 OM. The braces were scalloped unlike any other Martin or any other guitar I've seen since. When I played it the back of the guitar trembled. I could feel the vibration of the strings pulsing through the rosewood back. It seemed to make my meager ability sound better or maybe it simply made me aware of just how good I could sound on the right guitar. Was I getting more from this instrument than I got from my lesser, funkier, cheaper guitars? I think so. Perhaps it was because this much better guitar had more to give, better design, construction and better materials. The result being a better ability to produce and reflect the sounds created with it. Being able to hear and feel the sound and tone of the guitar made it easier for me to play and enjoy. Isn't that the purpose of better instruments, to increase our enjoyment of playing by providing a better quality of sound, and to amplify our ability to the greatest possible degree via the best possible materials, design and construction techniques?

I foolishly let go of that 000-28. That's something that I will probably regret for the rest of my life. It was a once in a lifetime find for me. To this day, I have yet to play it's equal. I have not found anything close among the new reproductions being offered by Martin or other makers nor have I found anything as responsive among the older Martins and other brands I have tried. I suspect this may have been my one true Excalibur and I allowed it to slip through my fingers to another. Drat and double drat!