Value of 1980 D-28?

AustrianJohn · October 2022

A friend who knows nothing about guitars has inherited a D-28 with a serial number from 1980 and has asked my advice on how to sell it and likely valuation. I'm visiting next week so I can check the guitar out and take it to dealers in the Brighton area if it seems worthwhile.

The value of good condition D-28 around 1980 seems to be around a few thousand pounds, but with wide variation. Other than the general condition of the guitar - what are the other factors that influence the price of a 1980 D-28?

Thanks

idiotwindow · October 2022

Much will depend upon whether the guitar needs any work – in particular whether it will need a neck reset, either now or imminently. Either way, I wouldn't expect "dealers in the Brighton area" to make any generous offers. If the guitar is sound you might want to offer it up for sale here.

DavidR · October 2022

Not sure this is of help. Dealer won't give you these prices of course but it should be an eminently sellable guitar if it's in good nick. As you probably already know. Check for cracks, dings and the action. D28 probably one of if not the biggest seller for Martin so there's a lot of them out there. But it should still be extremely attractive to a dealer, in that it should rapidly shift. You'll do well if you get £2K for it would be my view. Think more £1K - £1.5K?? Might be wrong. Brighton has an unusually large number of guitar shops btw so you could certainly have a jolly morning trying to find it a new home. Or sell here as has been said? I've never sold anything on FB but you'll get good advice from those who have. :-)

1979 C.F. Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 4xxxx2 (guitar-auctions.co.uk)

1973 Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 3xxxx8 (guitar-auctions.co.uk)

1979 C.F. Martin D-28S left-handed conversion acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 4xxxx3 (guitar-auctions.co.uk)

AustrianJohn · October 2022

idiotwindow said:

Much will depend upon whether the guitar needs any work – in particular whether it will need a neck reset, either now or imminently. Either way, I wouldn't expect "dealers in the Brighton area" to make any generous offers. If the guitar is sound you might want to offer it up for sale here.

I'll check the neck when I see the guitar next week.

DavidR said:

Not sure this is of help. Dealer won't give you these prices of course but it should be an eminently sellable guitar if it's in good nick. As you probably already know. Check for cracks, dings and the action. D28 probably one of if not the biggest seller for Martin so there's a lot of them out there. But it should still be extremely attractive to a dealer, in that it should rapidly shift. You'll do well if you get £2K for it would be my view. Might be wrong. Brighton has an unusually large number of guitar shops btw so you could certainly have a jolly morning trying to find it a new home. :-)

1979 C.F. Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 4xxxx2 (guitar-auctions.co.uk)

1973 Martin D-35 acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 3xxxx8 (guitar-auctions.co.uk)

1979 C.F. Martin D-28S left-handed conversion acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 4xxxx3 (guitar-auctions.co.uk)

These prices match what I've seen on Reverb and eBay. I appreciate that it would sell for way less through a dealer, but the owner is not guitar savvy and I live in Austria so it's more difficult for me to help by trying to sell it here.

Thanks for your answers.

Howdy, Stranger!

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Value of 1980 D-28?

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