You don’t see the “MADE IN USA” stamp on the back of the headstock very often, but Martin did use it for a while on guitars that were exported, so be the first on your block to own a ’51 D-28 with this rare headstock stamp. Here’s the story: Fantastic straight-grained quarter-sawn Brazilian rosewood on this one, and a tight-grained top to match. Original finish throughout, with original tuners and pickguard. The neck was reset and refretted some time ago, and we don’t know by whom, but the new bridge (in the original style) was recently done by Gryphon. Pickguard crack beneath the B string as shown, and a repaired crack that runs from the bridge to the tailblock. Tight 1 1/2 inch hairline crack on the upper shoulder, bass side, that’s impossible to photograph, other than that the back and sides are crack free. The neck suffered a cracked headstock, as shown, but the repair is tight and solid and has already delivered years of trouble-free results. There was a strap button in the heel cap, later removed, with a hole filled but still showing. Finish is very good overall, but the neck finish has some small blisters near the heel and is worn quite thin, with wood peeking through along the edge of the fretboard, especially in first position on the treble side. Very powerful sound, ideal for the flatpicker with a score to settle with a local banjo hotshot, but smart enough not to go to jail over the dispute. The owner of this guitar will rarely, if ever, be putting it back in the case only to hear “you played some great licks, but we couldn’t hear you.”