1972 Martin D-28 DILEMMA

[gregokid1]

Help please

my d28 needs $1700 worth of work according to a local martin-
authorized luthier. Should i sell it or use all that money for
a new guitar?

[HHP]

Get a second opinion. What does he say it needs done?

[charles Tauber]

It'll cost you $1700 to have it fixed, according to the estimate.

What is the guitar worth if you sell it? Probably not much if it requires $1700 to "fix" it. For discussion sake, let's say you can get $800 for it as-is.

So, that's what you have to work with: $1700 cost to have a 1972 D-28 versus $800 to put towards a new guitar.

How much more, if any, will you need to add to the proceeds from selling the D-28, to get an instrument you will like as much as the D-28, assuming you like it? If you need to add $900 or less - assuming you can get $800 for the D-28 as-is - financially, you are the same or better to buy a new one.

So, it boils down to the following:

1. how much you like the current D-28
2. how much you can get to sell it, as-is
3. how much a satisfactory replacement will cost
4. how much you will need to add, if any, to purchase that replacement
5. whether or not the D-28 you have has any particular sentimental value to you.

Based on that, it should be relatively straight-forward to make a fix/sell decision. It's a 40-year-old guitar that probably doesn't owe anybody anything, but, if someone wants to throw enough money at it - $1700, in this case - it can probably last a few more decades at least. There is no right or wrong answer: just personal preferences.

Get a second opinion. I got a D-18 in a trade last year that had no severe damage but needed everything - refret, bridge moved for intonation, and neck set. In addition to those repairs I had the braces scalloped, the bridge plate replaced, and installed Waverly tuners for about $1,000.

And just being "authorized" guarantee they're the right person for the job.

[Earwitness]

I spent $500+ to reset and build a new bridge for my 1964 Guild (plus having a little other work done). Arguably, with what I paid plus that, not A+ economics (could have bought one not needing reset for less than the total). Probably, I could have just not done it and played it as is. Truth is, I'm not that worried about a few hundred dollars, and I love that guitar.

However, even as it stands economically, there is no guitar on the planet that looks or sounds anywhere near that Guild for $500--my marginal cost-- (how's that for a bold opinion...). Anyway, I wonder whether, if you spend $1700 on that D-28, you could say to yourself that no guitar on the market could come close to it for $1700. I'm kind of doubting it. I think you could buy a 1972 D-28 in good shape for that, if that's still what you wanted (and have the other one, too).

So, based on the very little you have told us, I would look at how much $1700 buys on AGF Classified (or, that, plus what the one you have will bring).

[Ned Milburn]

Originally Posted by gregokid1

Help please

my d28 needs $1700 worth of work according to a local martin-
authorized luthier. Should i sell it or use all that money for
a new guitar?

Plain and simple, you haven't given enough information.

WHAT work specifically has been suggested should be done?? And WHY??

Photos would help us give you a better idea of whether the estimate is fair or if it is gouging.

[viento]

What Ned wrote is substantially.For any help we need more detailed information.
A couple of years ago I bought a used D 28 of 1973 for about 1100$.
I had to have a neck reset done for an additional 450$. But for me it was worth the price.I play it even more than my D18VS. I would never sell such a keeper I guess time can make old guitars sound better...

[Kitchen Guitars]

Put it on craigslist and mark it as "Dead Mint" except a few marks a former owner made.

[pitner]

If you are the original owner most repairs are free, if not it can get expensive. I just got a 73 D28 back from Martin and they just about rebuilt the guitar the only cost was the fret work. Love the guitar and keep in mind that Martin is 40 plus years old. Old Martins can really sound and play great.