Up for sale, a 1974 Martin D-28S vintage slotted headstock 12 fret dreadnought acoustic guitar in crack-free, collector-grade condition, complete with the original hardshell case. A rare Martin produced in exceedingly small quantities comparative to the D-28, the D-28S is unique among Martin's vintage dreadnought offerings, featuring 12 frets clear of the body with a slotted headstock and full 1 7/8“ nut width. Featuring a solid X-braced Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, a mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard, this D-28S offers Martin’s signature string-to-string balance and piano-like clarity. Exceedingly responsive to user inputs, the 12 fret design delivers on its reputation of a bridge placement that allows the top to resonate maximally. The plain strings are sweet and singing, with great midrange warmth and a round, punchy quality, and the wound strings have a brassy kick and low-end oomph. And while this guitar was engineered with fingerstyle playing in mind, it's also an absolute cannon when strummed with a flatpick, filling a space with rich, layered sonics. This D-28S weighs 4lbs 10oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-54 bronze strings, easy-playing action, and accurate intonation. The mahogany neck has a substantial, round C-shaped profile carve with good shoulders, filling the palm comfortably in every register, measuring .885” deep at the 1st fret, .995” at the 7th, and 1.040” at the 9th. On the ebony fingerboard, the slender fretwire only exhibits light wear on the crowns of frets 1-2, with wear extending faintly beneath the plain strings until fret 8. This vintage Martin plays cleanly up the 25.4” scale, and the neck is straight. The modern carved bone nut measures 1 7/8“ in width, and the slotted headstock has an Indian rosewood veneer and pristine Martin logo. The original set of Grover “Pat. Pend” rectangular tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch with clean plating. The ebony bridge sits flush with the top on all edges, and the modern compensated bone saddle has ample room (3/32") for future adjustment. A replacement black pickguard sits flush with the top, and the original curled-up pickguard is also included in the case, along with the stock nut and saddle. An active pickup has been installed, complete with 1/4" endpin jack and 9v battery mounted to the serialized heel block. The nitro lacquer gloss finish is stunningly well-kept, with just a touch of checking on the top. Crack-free, cosmetic wear is limited to a very small, faint area of buckle rash central to the back and just a couple microscopic nicks on the body as a whole. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is immaculate. The original Martin molded hardshell case is included.