1937 C.F. Martin & Co. 000-28
Pre-war 000-28 — the fingerpicker's guitar of choice in the 1930s and now enormously valuable. Herringbone purfling, scalloped bracing, Brazilian rosewood, and the auditorium body size make these extraordinary instruments.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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Specifications
| Body Wood | Spruce (top), Brazilian Rosewood (back and sides — herringbone trim) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Scale Length | 24.900" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | None (acoustic) |
| Bridge | Ebony belly bridge |
| Tuners | Grover Sta-Tite |
| Finish Options | Natural |
| Est. Production | 82 |
Pickups & Electronics
Pure acoustic fingerpicking guitar.
What Changed in 1937
Pre-war 000-28 with herringbone trim and scalloped bracing. The 000 body (slightly smaller than dreadnought) with long scale neck creates the ideal fingerpicking platform. Eric Clapton's 'Unplugged' performance made this size/model famous.
Notable Examples
Eric Clapton's MTV Unplugged performance used a 1939 Martin 000-28E, making this size/model famous to a new generation.
Collector's Notes
Pre-war 000-28s are among the most valuable vintage Martins. Herringbone trim essential. Many have been played hard over the decades — find condition carefully. Neck resets are universal — quality of the reset matters enormously.
How to Authenticate a 1937 C.F. Martin & Co. 000-28
Martin serial numbers are the most reliable in the industry — verify the number stamped on the neck block (visible through the soundhole) against Martin's published tables. For 1937, the number should fall within the documented range. The back and sides should be Brazilian rosewood — this is the single most important factor in valuation. Brazilian rosewood has distinctive grain variation (chocolate to violet-brown) and a sweet smell. Indian rosewood (post-1969) is more uniform and darker. Scalloped bracing should be visible through the soundhole (use mirror or inspection camera) — this is critical for pre-1944 models. Auditorium size with 24.9-inch scale length (shorter than OM). Verify correct body dimensions. Check for neck resets, top cracks (especially near soundhole and bridge), and bridge plate condition. Tuners should be Grover Sta-Tite. Finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer with age-appropriate wear. Original case adds value.