Legendary Acoustic from Martin Lives On
Sharing a love of music and motorcycles, Merle Travis and Paul Bigsby — the latter a foreman with then-famous Crocker Motorcycles — first crossed paths and spent time together pursuing activities other than guitar design. Sometime in the mid-1940s that all changed when Travis, already having made a name for his "Travis Picking" style of play and with several radio hits to his credit, approached Bigsby with a drawing of a solidbody electric guitar and asked him a simple question: "Can you make this?" Bigsby's response was equally streamlined: "I can make anything." And so the Bigsby-Travis guitar was born.
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A star is born
Bigsby not only came up with a beautifully designed solidbody electric guitar for Travis, but he also put a scrolling headstock at its top that, according to legend, was inspired by the headscroll of old European violins. It was a bold, curvaceous design that grabbed onlookers' attention and set the guitar world abuzz. A longtime Martin D-28 player by the time his career really took off, Travis later had Bigsby make the same neck for his acoustic, and the D-28 Bigsby was born.
Crafted for sound
Martin has partnered with Gretsch to continue bringing this wonderfully unique instrument to players today. Featuring a solid Sitka spruce top, solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, and a maple high-performance taper neck with the original Bigsby headstock, the D-28 Bigsby is crafted for sound. A gorgeous ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlays offers stellar response, ideal for working on your "Travis Picking!" The D-28 Bigsby also features a forward-shifted X-braced pattern that increases volume and tone quality — a feature guitarists here at Sweetwater have come to appreciate over years of playing other bracing designs. Finally, nickel-enclosed, 6-in-line tuners look great and keep you in tune. This fine instrument is a wonderful connection to the past and offers a lifetime of playing enjoyment.
Martin D-28 Bigsby Acoustic Guitar Features:
- A lifetime acoustic inspired by a legendary guitarist
- Tonally rich and aesthetically captivating East Indian rosewood body complemented by a solid Sitka spruce top
- Maple high-performance taper neck offers incredible response and feel for all styles of playing
- Forward-shifted X-braced pattern increases volume and tone quality
- Nickel-enclosed, 6-in-line tuners look great and keep you in tune
- Compensated bone saddle and bone nut provide additional tonal support
- Original Bigsby headstock looks great and creates a great opportunity to tell the origin story of this guitar
