1990s “Employee Martin” D12-28 Dreadnought 12-String Guitar

Overview: The story, as I have it from the owner, is that this was a Martin D12-28 that was rejected by the factory for its sides being sanded a bit too thin, and then brought home by an employee. That would make sense, considering the gouged finish at the top of the headstock, the sanded middle of the backstrip support on the inside where the logo stamp usually would be, an un-serial-numbered neckblock, and the fact that the whole instrument is otherwise completely identical to a same-period D12-28 with the 14-fret neck joint. That period is likely mid-late '80s or early '90s, but by the mid-'90s, at least, the diamond volute had returned to the headstock rear.

Repairs included: I gave it a neck reset and Max leveled and dressed the frets. Ancel made and fit a custom bridge for it to replace the damaged original and I had him use a 6-pin (with dual slots in each pinhole, '20s Oscar Schmidt-style) setup at the bridge because I, personally, really like the way you get even back-angle on the saddle with each string with this arrangement and it has a cleaner look and more resistance to hairline cracking along the pins (which totaled the last bridge). Ancel also fit a new bone saddle, new pins, and cleaned it up and set it up. It's ready to go and playing like a champ.

• Weight: 5 lbs 3 oz
• Scale length: 25 3/8"
• Nut width: 1 7/8"
• Neck shape: medium-soft V
• Board radius: 14"
• Depth at first fret: 57/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 61/64"
• Body width: 15 5/8"
• Body depth: 4 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid rosewood
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: ebony (replacement)
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 44w-9 extra-lights D'Addario
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: It's relatively clean throughout. There are small scratches here and there throughout the body and a little weather-check at joint seams in the finish. The bridge and saddle are replacements but the rest is original. It had a pickup in it before it got here but it was damaged so we removed it. The endpin hole is thus filled and a strap button installed in its place.

It comes with: It has a good hard case.

Consignor tag: KYES