1967 Martin D-28 “The Great Train Robbery SPECIAL” | A one-of-a-kind Martin, the only one in the world

　In the 19th century, the construction of transcontinental railroads across the American continent began to drastically transform the era of the Western frontier.
Symbolizing that era were the steam locomotives, belching smoke with tremendous force as they raced along the tracks.
Only the privileged classes of the time could ride them.　
And in the mail car of this train, a massive hoard of gold coins was loaded,
and brave, rugged train robbers pursued them, seeking a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
The epic drama they unleashed was later recreated in numerous Hollywood films.

　And this "D-28 'Train'" captures that adventure and romance in a guitar.

　We acquired this instrument from a guitar collector on the U.S. West Coast, along with its history and the memories attached to it.
When we think of the American West Coast, we think of "Hollywood," known as the mecca of cinema, and the "City of Dreams" that has nurtured countless stories up to the present day. The landscape woven from blue skies and endless sunlight is far more than just an urban vista. It is also a familiar place to us, as San Francisco was recently selected as the host city for the next Olympics, and as seen in daily sports news, Ohtani is captivating audiences with his baseball prowess.

　The first thing to catch your eye is the fingerboard. A six-car steam locomotive races powerfully from the neck end to the tip of the headstock. Alongside it, scenes such as a robber brandishing a pistol and threatening passengers, a figure clutching a bag of gold coins, and gentlemen and ladies raising their hands are recreated through exquisite inlay work using Avalon Pearl and stone.

　One of the finest inlay artists in the musical instrument world, he began building acoustic guitars in 1972 and crafted solid-body guitars under Rick Turner at Alembic Guitars in 1975. He says that learning the basics of inlay from Turner—who taught him the technique to hide a flaw caused by a drilling error on the body—sparked his subsequent exploration of inlay art.

　Robinson subsequently honed his skills through countless inlay projects, and by the mid-1980s, he had become known as a master craftsman, with the consensus that “if you want stunning inlays on an instrument, he’s the man to call.”
He has worked with nearly every major American guitar maker—including Martin, Gibson, Fender, Santa Cruz Guitar Company, National Resonator, Kevin Ryan, James Olson, Lance McCallum, and Kathy Wingert—and has also taken commissions from hundreds of private clients.

　In 1994, he published the acclaimed book *The Art of Inlay*. In this book, he reveals some of the secrets of his craft. “When I was learning how to do inlays, other artists were very kind in offering me advice. So I saw this book as a way to pass on some of that advice to the next generation,” he says. The book features not only photographs of the pieces he has worked on but also details on tools and materials, and it has since become one of the bible books for luthiers.
　The book was revised in 1999 and 2005. (The photo shows the 2005 revised edition.)

　In early 2002, 30 years after building his first guitar, Robinson received a call at his workshop in Northern California from Dick Bork, Director of Special Projects at C.F. Martin & Company.“He said they were about to build their one-millionth guitar, and CF Martin IV, the great-great-grandson of the company’s founder, felt they should do something fitting to commemorate this milestone,” Robinson explains.“I had already crafted two exceptionally luxurious guitars for Martin—the D-45 China Dragon and the D-45 Peacock—but Dick told me they were looking for something with even more elaborate decoration and something that encapsulated the company’s 171-year history. I was deeply honored that they chose me for such an important project.”

And so, the so-called #1,000,000 was completed.
Since then, he has continued to spearhead Top of Acoustic milestones, including the #1,500,000 and #2,000,000 models.
Incidentally, the D-200 DELUXE, crafted to commemorate the #2,000,000 model, is currently trading for nearly 20 million yen.

His delicate yet bold approach breathes a vivid story into this guitar as well.

　The pickguard and binding also make this guitar truly special. They are crafted from sterling silver and feature intricate, delicate engraving.

Sterling silver is a high-quality silver material used in fine jewelry and accessories. With a purity of 92.5%, it possesses an elegant luster. This decoration, which extends not only around the body’s perimeter but also along the back stripe and both sides of the neck, is the epitome of luxury. Over time, it has developed a deeper luster alongside the guitar.

　This instrument was crafted by Greg Rich, who once headed the "Rich & Taylor" custom guitar workshop, and his craftsmanship shines through in every detail. He is also an indispensable figure in Gibson’s banjo history; his time at Gibson is so revered that it is referred to as the "Greg Rich Era," captivating enthusiasts worldwide.

　
Through a lifetime of work, Greg Rich is one of those individuals who has inherited the structural and decorative standards of respected past makers, capturing and distilling the vibrant spirit of the banjo’s past into modern works of banjo art.

Based in Newport Beach, California, Greg Rich was intrigued by the exciting instrument he heard in the movie “Bonnie and Clyde.”He learned about vintage banjos from a collector named Randy “Snotty” Greg, took classes in architecture, metalwork, woodcarving, and custom painting in San Diego, and taught himself the essentials of all these skills under Randy’s guidance.

　He subsequently moved into Snotty’s workshop and began crafting custom-built banjos and performing custom repairs. His reputation for custom repairs quickly spread throughout Southern California. His specialized skills and approach—aiming to make instruments look as authentic and aged as possible—caught the eye of renowned collector and musician Mac Yasuda, leading him to be entrusted with the repair and restoration of Tsumura’s legendary banjo collection.

　With the resurgence of bluegrass music in the mid-1980s, Gibson sought to restore its struggling banjo line to its former glory. The company chose Greg Rich for this task,Under Rich’s leadership and creative vision—and with the authority to handpick staff from the company’s finest stringed instrument makers—a new banjo division was launched. The magnificent Gibson banjos produced during his tenure are regarded with the same admiration and respect as the company’s master models from the 1920s and 1930s, and many of his unique art guitars and banjos are highly prized by collectors.

　Guitars crafted by Greg Rich are featured not only in the collections of stars such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Garth Brooks, but also in the collections of the world’s leading instrument enthusiasts.After leaving Gibson in 1993, Greg Rich became involved in the production of Goldstar banjos and Rich & Taylor banjos, and in 2021, he was inducted into the American Banjo Museum Hall of Fame.

　Moreover, there is an anecdote that this “Great Train Robbery Special” was originally intended for the legendary filmmaker Clint Eastwood, who has won a total of four Oscars as both a director and actor. As a symbol of Western films and a music lover himself, this instrument—which embodies the very “spirit of the Western”—is truly worthy of him.

　This guitar is a true museum-quality acoustic instrument that conveys a timeless sense of romance.
Just touching it will make the winds of the Wild West blow into your heart.

　This guitar is also featured on the cover of the Shinco Music Mook/Martin GUITAR BOOK 2.