C. F. Martin D-28 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1969), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 250141, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case. This Martin D-28 Dreadnought is relatively clean overall but has seen some repair (notable an old headstock crack); still it remains a fine playing and sounding guitar. It was built in 1969, a year of transition for Martin after a decade of tremendous growth. Since 1959 the company had ramped up production dramatically, moving into a huge new factory in 1964. Regardless of this Martins were still essentially hand-built instruments by modern standards, and at the time indisputably the finest flat-tops available.This D-28 squeaked in under the wire to be built with Brazilian rosewood for the back and sides; Martin began substituting Indian rosewood not long after, according to company records in the 254-255XXX serial number range. The rosewood on this guitar is quite straight grained but does have one interesting cross-grain mark across the center of the back which would have been considered a flaw at the time by the company's rigid standards. This wood would have been from the last of Martin's Brazilian stash before the switch to Indian rosewood soon after. The spruce top has some subtle but noticeable bearclaw figure to the grain as well.The guitar otherwise has typical period features including a nicely ambered natural lacquer finished spruce top with 6-ply celluloid binding around, a short-saddle ebony bridge, black pickguard and multi-ply soundhole rings. The mahogany neck has an ebony fretboard with mother of pearl dot markers graduating in size. The rounded-corner headstock (typical of this era, when Martin's templates were heavily worn) carries original PAT. PEND. Grover Rotomatic tuning machines.Having survived an accidental trauma long ago this remains a fine sounding and playing D-28 from the very tail end of the Brazilian rosewood era, an excellent gigging example of this always sought-after guitar.Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 5 in. (12.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Overall, this D-28 has been very well preserved over the years, with a few notable fairly common repairs. The most notable is to the headstock, which suffered a break from the volute to the A string tuner. Fortunately, this did not pass through the rosewood veneer on the face. This has been solidly sealed up and very professionally touched up, visible but not obvious and shows no sign of future distress.The original black acetate pickguard has shrunken 9less than many!) and been reglued, with a little peeling distortion around the bottom edge. The only crack on the top lies between the pickguard and the bridge, caught relatively early and neatly sealed without any cleating but a bit of glue visible underneath. The original ebony bridge was slightly lowered on the top, and has recently been reglued. Internally, all of the braces and the original rosewood bridgeplate are original and structurally sound. The original lacquer finish has been kept in remarkable shape with only light wear; there is one nick on the top between the pickguard and bridge, and the smallest amount of strum wear in the same area. Save for a small scuff in the finish on the back, along the lower bout of the treble side, the D-28 shows pretty minimal wear. There has been a neck set in the past, the fingerboard extension was separated and neatly reglued to the top. There is a older spot of glue between the top and the neck block that had dripped over the serial number. The fingerboard was also refretted at some point, with fretwire in the style of the era. There are a few light divots in the fingerboard around the first three frets that do not affect playability. The original "Pat. Pend." Grovers, are intact and fully functional. The Martin remains housed in the original blue-lined black tolex hardshell case. All in all, considering the old neck repair this is a fine survivor the late 60's, an excellent recording or gigging D-28 with all of the charm that one would expect from a Brazilian rosewood guitar of this era. Overall Very Good + Condition.