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 Wild West.
A symbol of that era was the steam locomotive, chugging along while belching smoke with tremendous force.
Only members of the privileged class at the time were allowed to ride them.　
The train’s mail car was loaded with vast quantities of gold coins,
and brave, rugged train robbers pursued it, hoping to seize this 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 guitar from a guitar collector on the U.S. West Coast, along with its history and the collector’s personal memories.
When you think of the U.S. West Coast, you 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 scenery woven from blue skies and endless sunshine is far more than just an urban landscape. It’s also a familiar place to us, as San Francisco was recently selected to host the next Olympic Games, and as seen in daily sports news, Ohtani is dazzling fans 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 pointing a pistol at passengers, a figure clutching a bag of gold coins, and a gentleman and lady 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, in 1975, crafted solid-body guitars under Rick Turner at Alembic Guitars. He says that learning the basics of inlay from Turner—who taught him the technique to conceal 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—so much so that people said, “If you want stunning inlays on a musical instrument, he’s the one to call.”
He has worked with nearly every major American guitar maker—including Martin, Gibson, Fender, Santa Cruz Guitar Company, National Resonophonic, Kevin Ryan, James Olson, Lance McCallum, and Kathy Wingert—and has also taken commissions from hundreds of private clients.

In 1994, he published the seminal work *THE ART of INLAY*. This book reveals some of the secrets behind his techniques. “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. It features not only photographs of the instruments he has worked on but also details on tools and materials, and has since become one of the bible-like reference books for luthiers.
This book was revised in 1999 and 2005. (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 extremely luxurious guitars for Martin—the D-45 China Dragon and the D-45 Peacock—but Dick said they were looking for something with even more elaborate decoration than those, something that encapsulated the company’s 171-year history. I felt 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 mark milestones for Top of Acoustic with the #1,500,000 and #2,000,000 models.
Incidentally, the D-200 DELUXE, produced to commemorate the #2,000,000, is currently trading for nearly 20 million yen.

His delicate yet bold approach breathes a vibrant 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 alloy 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 that complements the guitar beautifully.

　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 has captivated enthusiasts to such an extent that it is referred to as the “Greg Rich Era.”

　Since banjo-making techniques advanced significantly during the heyday of mainstream instruments—particularly in the 1920s and 1930s—it is rare for modern banjo makers to not only match but actually surpass those techniques.
Through a lifetime of work, Greg Rich is one of those individuals who has carried on the structural and decorative standards of respected builders of the past, capturing and distilling the vibrant spirit of the banjo’s history into contemporary works of banjo art.

While living 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, metal sculpture, woodcarving, and custom painting in San Diego, and taught himself the essentials of all these skills under Randy’s guidance.

He then moved into Snotty’s workshop and began building custom 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 original and weathered as possible—caught the attention 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. Gibson singled out Greg Rich for the task, andUnder Rich’s leadership and rich creative spirit—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 praise and respect as the company’s master models from the 1920s and 1930s, and many of his unique art guitars and banjos are personally prized by collectors.

Guitars crafted by Greg Rich have found their way not only into the collections of stars such as Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and Garth Brooks, but also into the collections of the world’s leading instrument enthusiasts.After leaving Gibson in 1993, Greg Rich went on to work on the production of Gold Star 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 an icon of Western films and a music enthusiast himself, this instrument—which embodies the very “spirit of the Wild West”—is truly worthy of him.

This guitar is a museum-quality acoustic instrument that conveys timeless romance to this day.
The moment you touch it, the winds of the Wild West will blow into your heart.

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