This 2013 Martin OM-28 has had quite a rollercoaster ride in its short 11-year life. Purchased by its current owner in 2017, the guitar was in rough shape when first acquired. In an effort to hone his skills as a luthier, the previous owner made some drastic modifications to this OM-28. The modifications were as follows:
Scuffing of the original gloss nitro finish to a satin appearance Black plastic binding around the edges in place of the original herringbone Black plastic pickguard in place of the original tortoiseshell Chiseling of the X-bracing, resulting in a belly bulge Stewmac “bridge doctor” installed to fix belly bulge from weak bracing Removal of finish from the back of the neck A neck reset, which resulted in higher action
After purchasing the guitar, the Martin underwent an extensive 9 month restoration at Brad’s Guitar Garage in Sydney. The guitar was taken apart piece by piece and put back together as a comprehensive restoration. This included:
Removing the top and replacing the damaged bracing Replacing the black plastic binding with Martin herringbone binding Replacing the pickguard with a vintage 1930s-spec tortoiseshell Restoring the original finish with a light nitro overspray and a polish to gloss Refinishing the back of the neck with tinted nitro Performing a neck reset and a full refret Removing of “bridge doctor” used to mitigate belly bulge Installing a new saddle Fitting an LR Baggs Anthem SL pickup with a tortoiseshell control panel (as opposed to the standard white)
After many hours of work and thousands of dollars invested, this OM-28 now stands before you as one of the finest-sounding and playing examples of the OM range we’ve encountered. The spruce top has aged nicely and has a well rounded frequency response with plenty of low end from a smaller bodied guitar. The rosewood back and sides aid in providing top end and are rounded out by a nice mahogany neck and ebony fretboard. The visually discreet LR Baggs Anthem SL offers a balanced and natural tone, with warmth and clarity. With a nut width of 44.8mm, the neck has a wide and shallow profile, with a front-to-back thickness of 20.6mm at the first fret. At 2mm at the 12th fret the action is low and fast.
This guitar has been brought back from the brink and plays better than ever. An exceptional Martin with a fascinating story.
