One interesting thing about Peter Yarrow (RIP) was his early use (and popularizing) of a 12-fret, as opposed to the much more common (by then) 14-fret, Martin dreadnought guitar in performance with PP&M through the early 60s. This was the original (1931-1933) Martin dreadnought size and shape but had since gone out of fashion; the 14-fret design was brighter (good for bluegrass and much folk) but lost some of the richness (and spectacular volume) of the 12-fret design. Martin made a small number as a special order for Wurlitzer (designated D-28SW) but Yarrow's was reportedly specially ordered for him through Izzy Young's Folklore Centre in 1962 (I think) along with one other which was ordered for his contemporary the guitarist Dick Rosmini; these were designated D-28S (S for "special"). Later, Yarrow's was stolen at a Folk Festival (I forget which) while a fan was asking for his autograph. I think when Rosmini died, Yarrow was able to purchase that one (sister instrument to his instrument so to speak, i.e., consecutive serial numbers) from Rosmini's widow. (The D-28S did eventually become a regular, but minor component of the Martin line once again, later in the 60s).

Curiously, a musical instrument exhibition (details at Musical Instrument Museum - MIM was displaying "Peter Yarrow's Martin D-28S guitar" in 2024. I am guessing that this was his second one ex Dick Rosmini, and that the first was never recovered (otherwise we would surely have heard about that). There was a Larrivee (different make) belonging to Peter that was "lost" on an airline and later recovered (various news stories), but that is quite different.

There is a post on the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum about Rosmini's guitar, with some pictures of it undergoing restoration... but mainly for the guitar nerds among us! - however I can provide the link if anyone is interested.

- Tony