The Martin D-35
In 1965, as the Brazilian rosewood trees in the rain forests were becoming depleted, Martin's supply of veneers wide enough for the two piece backs of Dreadnaught guitars was disappearing. Martin solved the problem by introducing the D-35, a guitar with three piece backs made of narrower pieces of wood.
To make the guitar more attractive, and to wean folks from the venerable D-28, which was still offered - and still outsold the D-35 until 1974 - Martin added more plies of binding, as well as a bound fingerboard.
Martin broke with tradition with the D-35 by eliminating the decorative vestigial volute which had appeared on Styles 28 and above. Martin had manned their new larger Sycamore Street factory with a largely untrained workforce, and production was more than doubling from the previous year to 1968 with the advent of the folk music boom, which they were certainly anticipating as the orders were already in and guitars were back ordered several years ahead. So it makes sense that Martin would seek to eliminate any unnecessary extra work.
The first sample guitar was stamped as an X-35, serial #201792 on April 27, 1965.
A twelve string X-12-35, serial #201943 was stamped the following day.
Due to the stiffer three piece back, Martin was concerned about the effect on tone, so they produced six more samples with different combinations of top and back braces, stamped on May 13.
A). #202219 & #202220 Dreadnaught top braces - 000 back braces
B). #202221 & #202222 00 top braces - Dreadnaught back braces
C). #202223 & #202224 00 top braces - 000 back braces
Martin decided to go with the C, the lightest option. For this reason the guitar has a different sound than the D-28. While the D-28 is a favorite with Bluegrass players, the D-35 became known as the singer-songwriter's guitar.
1965 D-35
Serial #206858
S.O. #731
December 23, 1965
In 1966, Martin produced three 12 fret D-35SW for the E. U. Wurlitzer Store in Boston, followed by three more in 1968.
6/6/66
3 D-35SW
#211292-94
S. O. # 297
12/1/68
3 D-35SW
#230283-85
S. O. # 511
Martin produced a single 12 fret D-35S later that year.
12/27/66
D-35S
#217012
S.O. #630
After several more individual and small orders in 1967, Martin introduced the 12 fret Dreadnaughts into their product line, stamping 25 D-18S and 25 D-28S in December of 1967, followed by 25 D-35S at the end of January, 1968.
On December 2, 1969, Martin transitioned to East Indian rosewood on the D-35.
While they could, they still made the one center piece of the back with Brazilian rosewood.
vintagemartin.com
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
For Information on Photography for
Exhibition, Publication, CD's, Promotion, Web Pages, Tour Books,
to Purchase Photographic Prints, or
If You Have Questions or Suggestions About This Web Site or Vintage Martin Guitars:
e-mail: Robert Corwinentire site copyright ©1926 through 2026 Robert Corwin/Photo-Arts. All rights reserved.