c.1973 Martin D-35 Guitar
Big ol' beauty. This is a customer's guitar that I did a fret dress, slight bridge shave, new bone saddle and setup on. The customer had taken the pickguard off and so I also sealed the area where the pickguard used to be, per her request.
It's an interesting guitar -- with a flat-profile ebony fretboard which feels totally dissimilar to other 1970s Martins I've played -- much more "vintage." Volume is great, tone is huge and wide-open, and (now) playability is spot on.
Top has a little bit of belly and the ebony bridge is pulling up slightly at the back -- though it's not ready to be reglued as yet. That can probably wait another 20+ years.
Both the treble and bass binding on the top at the waist had to be reglued back into place... was popping right out from the sides before... and of course I had to reglue it all in layers as each lamination of binding was separating.
Comments
Nice job on the D-35!
FYI on the pickguard:
Some may not realize that older Martins (maybe pre-80s?) had the 'guard attached directly to the raw soundboard, using solvent. As the guard aged, it would shrink, curling up at the edges & pulling the soundboard with it, to the point of inducing cracks in the top. That's common in older Martins. By sealing the top (as you did) & attaching w/ sticky tape, the 'guard is free to shrink without bring the soundboard along for the ride!
- Ed H.