1940 C.F. Martin & Co. D-28
A 1940 herringbone D-28 — the golden era's twilight. Scalloped bracing, hide glue, and the finest materials before wartime disrupted American guitar making. Exceptional instruments.
Current Market Value
Excellent
$110,000–$220,000
Very Good
$68,000–$110,000
Good
$42,000–$68,000
Fair
$21,000–$42,000
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Spruce (top), Brazilian Rosewood (back and sides — herringbone trim, scalloped bracing) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Scale Length | 25.400" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | None (acoustic) |
| Bridge | Ebony belly bridge |
| Tuners | Grover Sta-Tite |
| Finish Options | Natural |
| Est. Production | 240 |
Pickups & Electronics
Pure acoustic.
What Changed in 1940
Late pre-war herringbone D-28 — WWII would begin for the US in December 1941. These are among the last instruments made with no wartime compromises. Scalloped bracing, Adirondack spruce, Brazilian rosewood at their peak.
Collector's Notes
1940 D-28s are fully pre-war in specification. Slightly more available than mid-1930s examples. The coming war would change everything — these represent the last uncompromised golden-era production.