We’ve unearthed some treasures from our “Heirloom” Vault. True NOS! Still with the swing tags attached and never been on display.
Martin’s D-28M Merle Travis Limited Edition dreadnought acoustic guitar pays tribute to a legendary country and western singer and songwriter. Based on Travis’ modified 1941 D-28, the unique D-28M Merle Travis Limited Edition features a distinctive “six-on-a-side” headstock, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, and a curly maple neck. The D-28M Merle Travis Limited Edition was limited to a run of 100 instruments. This is #66 of 100.
Martin D-28M Merle Travis Limited Edition Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Features:
Adirondack spruce top, Madagascar rosewood back and sides
Curly maple neck with “six-on-a-side” headstock, ebony fingerboard
MOP inlays with Bigsby inlay on headstock
Limited edtion of 100 with special labels
C.F. Martin introduces the D-28M Merle Travis Commemorative Edition guitar to honor Merle Travis' legacy. Merle Travis ranks among the most gifted guitarists ever. Travis was a ground-breaking player ”on both electric and acoustic ” whose picking style continues to influence guitarists. Travis was also a fine vocalist, superb songwriter, and pioneering guitar designer. One of his most distinctive guitar designs began with a 1941 Martin D-28 he acquired in 1946. Soon after its purchase, he took the Martin to friend and machinist Paul Bigsby ” who had previously collaborated with Travis to create both the Bigsby vibrato and one of the earliest solid body electric guitars ” to have the neck replaced with one similar to that on the electric guitar Bigsby made for him. Bigsby obliged, installing a maple neck with his distinctively shaped headstock, Bigsby headstock inlay, six-on-a-side tuners and unique fingerboard position markers. In addition, he replaced the pickguard with an oversized black one that approximated the shape of the new headstock. Merle Travis liked both the feel and the unique sound of his modified Martin; he played it on virtually every acoustic recording he made from 1946 until his death in 1983.
The D-28M Merle Travis Commemorative Edition is modelled after Travis' original modified D-28 Martin, right down to the premium, solid tonewoods. The acoustic guitar's back and sides are rare Madagascar rosewood, a wood prized for its similarity in appearance and tone to the original's now-endangered Brazilian rosewood. The Adirondack spruce top, the same topwood used in 1941, is used for its crisp, powerful tone. Delivered in a hardshell case, each Martin D-28M Merle Travis guitar bears an interior label personally signed by Thom Bresh, Bigsby Guitars President Fred Gretsch, and Martin Chairman C.F. Martin IV, and numbered in sequence. Produced in a limited edition of just 100 instruments, the D-28M Merle Travis acoustic is a great sounding tribute to a truly remarkable guitarist.
Specifications Model: D-28M Merle Travis Label: Paper Label Signed By CFM IV, Thom Bresh & Fred Gretsch, Numbered In Sequence With Total (66 of 100) . Construction: Standard; Mahogany Blocks, Dovetail Neck Joint Body Size: D-14 Fret Top: Adirondack Spruce Top Braces: Adirondack, Scalloped 5/16'', Golden Era Pattern: Domle #3A Bridge Plate: Maple Top Binding: 6/32'' Grained IvoroidTop Inlay: Fine Herringbone Rosette: Style 28, Black And White Fiber Additional Rosette Inlay: .041'' Grained Ivoroid Pickguard: Black, Self Adhesive, Unique Travis Shape Back: Solid Madagascar Rosewood (Sitka Golden Era Braces) Purfling: HD Zig-ZagBack Binding: 6/32'' Grained Ivoroid Back Inlay: .030'' Black And White Fiber Sides: Solid Madagascar Rosewood Endpiece: Grained Ivoroid Endpiece Inlay: .030'' Black And White Fiber Neck: Multi-Piece Curly Maple Replica Of Original Bigsby Neck Neck Shape: Low Profile Headstock: Unique Merle Travis Shape Truss Rod: 2-Way Adjustable Heelcap: Grained Ivoroid Nut: Bone Headplate: Figured Walnut Headplate Decal: Small Old Style (On Back Of Headstock) Headplate Pearl: Solid mother of pearl Bigsby Inlay To Match Original Tuning Machines: Grover Nickel 136N6 Vintage Deluxe 6-In-Line Kluson Style Fingerboard: Black Ebony Radius: 16''Scale Length: 25.4''Width At Nut: 1-11/16''Width At 12th Fret: 2-1/8'' Frets Clear: 14Total Frets: 20 Pearl Inlay: Unique Solid mother of pearl Heart, Club, Diamond & Spade Design Side Dots: White Boltaron Finish Body Package: Gloss Finish Top: Gloss Finish Neck Package: Satin With Polished HP Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood Style: Standard Belly String Spacing: 2-1/8'' Saddle: 16'' Radius, Compensated, Bone Strings: MSP 4200 Medium Phosphor Bronze Bridge Pins: Bone With 3.0mm Tortoise Dots End Pin: Bone With 4.0mm Tortoise Dot Case: 545E Cabernet
