Bob McNett (Hank Williams and the Drifting Cowboys) - 1938 C...

Estimate

No Estimate

Bob McNett (Hank Williams and the Drifting Cowboys) - 1938 C.F. Martin D-28 acoustic guitar, made in USA, ser. no. 69676; Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood, cleated hairline repairs, refinished; Top: replacement spruce top with herringbone banding; Neck: mahogany, reset and refinished; Fretboard: replacement ebony board; Frets: good; Hardware: good, replacement bridge. Case: 1980s Martin hard case; Overall condition: good

*Formerly owned by Bob McNett, guitarist of choice for Hank Williams' backing band 'The Drifting Cowboys'


Purchased by the vendor on the 16th February 1989 from Keith Sellers, founder of Hanks Guitars, Denmark Street London. Keith had previously purchased the guitar from  Curtis McPeake, one-time banjoist for Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys. An email exchange between the vendor and Curtis confirms that he remembers selling a guitar for Bob McNett and although he cannot remember the exact details, suggests that it must have been this one.

A 1989 Melody Maker advert shows a listing for a Martin D28 '1938 Ex Hank Williams' band', for the sum of £2250. This caught the vendor's eye and with the help of a loan looked affordable, especially considering a D28 of this vintage, in top condition would have cost around £8000 at the time, which would have been unobtainable. The vendor quickly headed to London by train to visit Keith Sellers at the back of a ladies fashion shop run by his daughter on Tottenham Court Road, where he was allowed plenty of time to sit and try out a rather beaten up but original D28. Major issues were obvious with repairs that were not to a professional standard, including a non-original bridge, many cracks to the top, heavy spruce plates glued underneath to support the top, along with cracks to the back and sides. Despite this, at the end of the viewing, the vendor thought that he was never ever again going to have the chance to buy a D28 of this era at this price, so he left a deposit on 11th February 1989, returning to pay the full balance on 16th February. Later that year, the vendor bought a 1970s Martin case from Andy's Guitars on Denmark Street, London, which the guitar now sits in. The original Melody Maker advert, along with the receipts for both the guitar and case, are included in the sale.

The guitar came with a handwritten letter from Bob McNett responding to a question as to whether Hank Williams ever played this guitar. The letter states that he could not remember seeing Hank play it 'however he could have, and it's entirely possible he did... on stage shows with Hank, I played a Gibson electric, and Hank had his own Martin, so if Hank played this guitar it would have been offstage'. This provenance resulted in the vendor carrying out extensive research relating to the history of this guitar, especially with its links to Bob McNett and Hank Williams. To his delight, he found Bob's nephew Tim on the internet, who is a member of the McNett family band and recalled that Bob had once owned a 1938 D28. Later, he found a photograph for sale of Bob holding the guitar with the McClintock Sisters, which showed the D28 with a split in the lower bass side of the top, in exactly the same position as this very guitar.

Conclusive proof that this guitar was Bob's came when the vendor contacted renowned historian Dick Boak of Martin Guitars with a query about a modern Custom Shop D28 that he owned. In passing, the vendor mentioned the old guitar which immediately interested Dick. Investigating the Martin company records he found a Martin repair document showing job number 8542, 17th October 1984, with serial number 69676 and the owner's name being Bob McNett. A scan of this ledger is included in the sale. Dick also informed the vendor that this guitar's serial number was stamped on the 8th March 1938 and cleared for final inspection on the 17th August the same year.

As time went on, the vendor found the playability of the guitar started to become an issue. He had to make a decision as to whether he would sell the guitar or get it repaired. On the basis that the guitar had already had many repairs, some not so good, he decided on the latter. Two first class luthiers carried out the extensive work that was needed. Well known UK guitar builder and official Martin repairer Dave King examined the guitar and concluded that a replacement top would be the best way to go. All the body cracks could be dealt with properly on removal of the old top. His workmanship on the new top is impeccable and tonally matches. The cracks in the back and ribs are neatly repaired using carefully shaped small rosewood cleats and the hide glue which had at some time been liberally pasted over the inside has also been removed, resulting in a much improved look. A friend of the vendor, expert luthier and professional guitarist Steven Hicks reset the neck, mindful of the vendors requirement for a low action and light gauge strings. He also refinished the guitar body and neck using nitrocellulose lacquer. The face of the head was left alone in order to leave the original Martin Company decal untouched. As much as possible of the guitar from the time the vendor purchased it has been refitted, including the original tuners, and the non factory pickguard. The bridge pins and saddle have also been reused. The binding to the body top is new as is the herringbone trim. The original binding to the back has been left in place as there was no need to remove it. The original damaged top of the guitar was sent to Dick Boak for the Martin Company to keep in their archives. Emails between Dick and the vendor, along with a receipt from Dave King Acoustics, are included in the sale.

Two insurance appraisals are included with the instrument. The first dated 29th November 2008 by Mandolin Brothers, along with another from George Gruhn dated 18th February 2020.

In summary, documentation sold with this guitar includes: the original cutting from Melody Maker magazine advertising this guitar for sale, along with receipts relating to the sale; a handwritten letter from Bob McNett; an email exchange between the vendor and Curtis McPeake, who sold the guitar to Keith Sellers on behalf of Bob McNett; an email between the vendor and Tim McNett (Bob's nephew), discussing the guitar, along with a photograph showing Bob with the D28; a Dave King Acoustics receipt for the replacement top and fretboard; correspondence between Dick Boak and the vendor discussing the guitar including a scan from the Martin repair ledgers listing the guitar and matching serial number against Bob's name; various photographs of the guitar as it came from Keith before any restoration took place including photographs of the original top that was later sent to Dick Boak for the Martin company archives; an insurance appraisal from Mandolin Brothers dated 29th November 2008; an insurance valuation from Gruhn Guitars dated 18th February 2020; a copy of 'Acoustic Guitarist' that features an article on Hank's at its Tottenham Court Road address; an autumn 2023 issue number 103 copy of British Bluegrass News where the guitar and its story features on page 18; a vinyl record of Hank Williams and The Drifting Cowboys, the album cover showing Bob McNett alongside Hank Williams - the latter holding his iconic 1941 Martin D28.

Pre-war Martin Dreadnoughts are some of the most sought-after and valuable acoustics on the vintage market, commanding six figure (US) sums when in good original condition.

Hank Williams was an American singer-songwriter. He is regarded as one of the most significant and influential American singers and songwriters of the 20th century. His iconic 1941 Martin D-28 now resides in the collection of Neil Young.