Designed for huge tone, the D-35's have become increasingly popular, especially these fairly priced older ones - like this example here which dates to 1976. The model was introduced in 1965 as an interesting alternative to the ever popular D-28. The 35 model utilized scarce supplies of the increasingly limited Brazilian Rosewood soon replaced by Indian rosewood (like what is seen here). By building a three piece back, the company was able to use what smaller pieces they had of the wood. Sonically this is a very nice flat picker guitar - suitable for a singer songwriter or a bluegrass player alike.
This flat pickers cannon features what we love and expect from these guitars - warm and healthy tone, constructed with a loud thin top & exquisite back and sides. This one comes to us in very good condition with low play wear and no repairs.
The top is in very good condition, with typical surface wear (see photos). The back and sides are generally very clean, and have some nicely very straight grained Indian rosewood. The binding is well preserved with hardly any shrinkage. The top has a light pickguard crack present near the first string that is sealed, and did not go through the top. There is a very old, plugged hole where at one point this guitar was outfitted with a pickup. Original rosewood bridge plate present.
The neck is nice and comfortable with a medium C profile that measures .85" thick at the first position and about 1.1" at the twelfth fret before the curvature of the heel. It has a 1 23/32" nut width (original). The ebony fingerboard is clean as are the frets with only very very light wear at the first position that is non problematic. Nice and playable action, measuring about 6/64" in height at the twelfth fret on the sixth string, and about 5/64" on the first - the saddle looks untouched. Original Grover tuners present and function as they should. This model at this time did not have an adjustable truss rod, but it does have a T bar reinforcement under the fingerboard - that said the neck is as straight as it needs to be for typical playing setup standards, but it does have a hair of forward relief.
Comes with the original Martin (blue interior) hardshell case!