1969 Martin D-35 Dreadnaught Natural

Offered for sale:

Vintage 1969 Martin D-35 Dreadnaught serial number 254564.

This guitar is in good to very good condition.

Bill Imperial states:

I acquired this beauty about 30 years ago. When I got it, the endpin jack was there but the non-original pickup was removed. Also, the saddle slot had been widened, most likely for better intonation. About 15 years ago I had the neck reset.

Also, around that time I put in an LR Baggs Anthem pickup system. It utilizes a microphone crossed over with a piezo pickup. This crossover feature brings the best out of both transducers making it one of the most natural sounding pickups on the market.

The two side panels on the back are Brazilian Rosewood. The center panel and the sides of the guitar look like the Indian rosewood that Martin was using in the early ‘70s. 1969 was the last year of Brazilian Rosewood and occasionally Indian was used as well. The two different species together give the guitar a striking and unique look among D-35s.

There are a couple of splits in the neck binding from before I acquired the guitar and have always been stable.

There are a couple of discoloration marks on the lower binding as well as a blemish on the back of the neck behind the 9th fret. These are from a guitar stand reacting with the finish on the binding. Decades ago, the rubber being used on many guitar stands reacted with nitrocellulose lacquer finishes. This too is stable.

The pickguard is non-original and mounted over the finish

There are two 2 ½" cracks on the top near the bass side waist (see photo). They also have been there for years and haven’t moved. They have been glued but cleats were not necessary. There are no cracks in the body.

There is a crack in the ebony fret board, from the 6th fret to the end of the fretboard. It too has been there since before I acquired the guitar (more than 30 years). It is possible that it was filled, and it is stable. Much of it is visible in the neck photo.

There is some light finish checking on the top (not showing in the photos) and one ~6” check on the back (see 2 photos).

Original hardshell case included.

“We carefully inspect every instrument when we buy it and bring it up to our standards before we offer it for sale. We also do a full set up before we ship.

If you decide to purchase this guitar, please let us know what gauge strings you prefer.”

GUITAR SPECS:

Year: 1969

Serial number: 254564

Finish: Natural

Body: Spruce top, Brazilian (and probably Indian) rosewood back, probably Indian rosewood sides.

Neck: Mahogany

Fingerboard: Ebony

Scale Length: 25.4”

Number of Frets: 20

Pickguard: Non-original

Bridge: Ebony

Nut: Bone

Tuners: Original Grovers

Pickups: Non-original LR Baggs Anthem

Controls: Volume, Mic & Piezo blend

Width at Nut: 1 11/16”

Radius: 16”

Weight: 4.8lbs.

*Please note: we do our best giving descriptions of used pieces. We have found it impossible to describe every mark on an instrument or amp that is not in the "mint" category. Also, what's important to you may not be important to someone else. For example, you may say, "I don't care what it looks like as long as it plays or sounds well." Another person may say, "Body cosmetics are very important to me so tell me about every scratch, nick and blemish." So, please ask the questions that are most important to you. If you ask they will be answered. They are free and there's no limit. Additional photos can also be made available.

This is a specific item that is also being offered for sale in our brick & mortar location. It is possible that it has just been sold. Please ask if it is still available before purchasing.

*It is our policy to require a signature on delivery of all musical instruments. Please let us know if you prefer no signature required when ordering or we will automatically require a signature.

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