Yard Sale Treasures (1938 Martin 000-28)

With spring having sprung, yard sale signs are starting to sprout on the weekends and you never know what treasures will lurk among the usual junk.  My current favorite tennis racket, for example, is a $10 yard sale find from several years ago.

According to the press release for this week's Heritage Auctions' Vintage Guitars Auction at the Dallas Guitar Show, the top vintage acoustic guitar for auction this year is a $75 garage sale find from many years ago, now appraised at $40,000+!  It's a 1938 Martin 000-28.  Unsurprisingly for a garage sale find, it is in only fair condition with several top cracks, a small break in the side waist, and moisture damage to the finish.  The listing notes severe wear to the original frets and severe playwear to the body.  One of the original tuners was replaced with a non-matching one and there is a hardware store bracket screwed right into the top back of the headstock, presumably for a strap (or to hang the guitar up in the garage?!).

And yet, this is a highly desirable vintage guitar made by Martin pre-war with beautiful Brazilian Rosewood back and sides.  Brazilian Rosewood is a prized hardwood for its outstanding resonance, colorful shades and figures, and floral fragrance reminiscent of roses.  It is only found in Brazil from the eastern forests of Bahia to Rio de Janeiro, and it is now banned for harvest and trade as an endangered species as much of its habitat has been converted to farmland.

Opening bids start at $20,000 plus the 25% buyer's premium (another $5,000). You have one more day to place an online bid.  The auction goes live this Friday!  Or you could just keep an eye on your local yard sales...

If you want a cleaner vintage small-bodied Martin and money is not an obstacle, check out this 1928 Martin 00-44 listed for $100,000.  Back here in Boston, though, I'm perfectly content strumming my unassuming 2002 Martin 000-1 bought last week for less than $500 off of Craigslist.  It's bringing me and my son lots of playing pleasure and none of the headaches and costs of restoring and caring for a museum piece.  Carpe Diem!