1973 Martin D-35

[catdaddy]

Had the opportunity yesterday to play a 1973 Martin D-35. It was a really great sounding guitar in the classic Martin dread kinda way. Bass that vibrated my entire chest cavity, sparkling trebles, incredible volume and projection when strummed hard and even when lightly fingerpicked. The setup was great too with low action (not your typical higher bluegrass action) that obviously didn't affect the volume. Its appearance was typical of a guitar of its vintage, quite a few small dings and scratches that indicated it had been played a lot over the years but not abused with one exception...the fretboard.

 

When I checked the guitar for neck warp what I found was that the neck appeared to be relatively straight but the fingerboard looked like the rolling hills of South Dakota. I was astonished. I've never seen anything like it before. A closer look at the neck binding revealed that it had been cut in at least 3 places along its length (I assume for some kind of repair work) After that I checked the intonation at various points along the neck and it seemed to my ear to be perfect. I have a hard time explaining how something that obviously funky could still sound as good as it did. Any one out there ever have a similar experience with fretboard issues?

 

I really liked this guitar and the asking price seemed very reasonable for a guitar with that kind of sound and playability. Is this a structural problem that will eventually make for big trouble or just an unusual anomaly on a perfectly good guitar? Opinions?

[JasmineTea]

Maybe the fretboard was resurfaced by a luthier at one time?(edit: i'm doing a bit of an hrhodes3 impersonation)

[knockwood]

that was good

[catdaddy]

Originally posted by JasmineTea Maybe the fretboard was resurfaced by a luthier at one time? (edit: i'm doing a bit of an hrhodes3 impersonation)

 

yeah thats what I assumed but what are the long term ramifications? (hrhodes3? who dat?? )

[hrhodes3]

They need resurfacing. Maybe some assfault

[Sweb]

My brother and I bought '73 D-35s the same day. Mine went unplayable within a year. His went about 6 months after that. We bought them new from the same store. The truss rods were not adjustable on Martins back then. Martin made noise back then that their guitar didn't need truss rods. Mine went back to the factory for warranty work 3 times. After getting it back after the 3rd time I immediately traded it. My brother held onto his but never had it repaired. Martin used some pretty green wood in the necks back then - quality obviously semi-abandoned - but both of those D-35s were as you described them soundwise. That's why I went the distance with the warranty returns. The guitars were $735.00 each w/hsc out the door back then.

 

Martins quality control has since taken a turn for the better and when people start emoting about the D-28 I immediately think they really need to listen to the D-35 as well. Great sounding guitar.

 

Edit: meant to say that Martin didn't put adjustable truss rods in their guitars - there were truss rods in the D-35s but not adjustable. Pity - would have possibly solved my problem.

[hrhodes3]

I believe this post is real. I have seen the same thing. All guitars have improved and the so called golden age of guitars is an illusion!

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by catdaddy yeah thats what I assumed but what are the long term ramifications? (hrhodes3? who dat?? )

Well, I can only speculate, but adding Sweb's 2% in there; Maybe it's all done warping and shifting after 30-some years.

 

Can you get some history on it? What work has been done to it? When was it done? Who did it?

 

I think adding an adjustable truss cost about the same as a re-set, or more.

[DonK]

Almost sounds like a scalloped fretboard. Sounds like your hunch about repairs is probably right.

 

After 33 years, though, you'd think it would be pretty well settled.

[M-1 Fan]

There was something about those '70's Martins. The neck pocket, or the neck angle was iffy. Most of them required a neck reset after two or three years. The sound of the D-35 during that era was loud and awesome.