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Martin 000-28

Summary
Price New Martin 000-28 @ Musician's Friend
Manufacturer URL http://www.martinguitar.com/
Features 7.7 (7 responses)
Sound 8.9 (7 responses)
Action, Fit, & Finish 8.7 (7 responses)
Reliability/Durability 8.8 (6 responses)
Customer Support 8.4 (5 responses)
Overall Rating 8.7 (6 responses)
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Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: USD 2400
Submitted 06/30/2009 at 04:11pm by Ricardo

Features : 7
Solid Sitka Spruce top and solid Rosewood back and sides makes the tone warm but punchy enough to produce clean highs. Love the finish???high gloss. Odd that the neck has a satin finish. Nothing fancy about it...clean lines, not a deep body, no electronics, no frill inlays???just understated class. Came with a very nice and secure Martin hard case.

Sound : 8
Again, lower register holds up well (not boomy like a Dreadnaught) but doesn't overpower the highs. I compared to similarly priced Taylors, which sounded too 'tinny' too 'steely'. I like to finger pick and wanted those bass notes to carry. The solid Rosewood back and sides keep that bass going and the sitka spruce top kicks those highs right out and holds them up.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Finish was a little high right out of the gate. I took to pro to get it taken down. Nothing about the finish or fit is imperfect. Handmade. It's clear that Martin loves their work and accepts nothing less than solidly built, beautifully sounding, long lasting craftsmanship.

Reliability/Durability : 8
Properly stored in it's case (with humidifier and hygrometer/thermometer) and treated with respect it will last forever. I expect to pass it down. I owned a Little Martin LX1 which was perfect for banging around. Don't get me wrong, the Martin 000-28 will take some heavy handed playing too.

Customer Support : 9
I've contacted Martin 3-4 times about other issues. They are a top notch customer oriented company. You CANNOT go wrong with them. They love each and everyone of their guitars and the people that play them.

Overall Rating : 9
Overall, it's the only steel string I'll turn to every time. It's not as flashy as Taylors, but looks aren't everything. The sound of the Martin 000-28 beats em all. The heritage, the care, the craftsmanship of Martins will always beat mass produced, 'bling', technology. I played and considered the Martin 000-15, 16, 18. All of them have their good points. But it was the solid rosewood back and sides that clinched it for me. The others have great slim necks, but the woods in those models were not all solid back and sides. There is a definite difference with the Rosewood???hence the price.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: 1100 USED
Submitted 08/19/2008 at 05:31pm by zodiacbluesbaby

Features : 7
USA Martin Standard Series 2002. Spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard: 1 11/16 width, 14 frets clear. Straight bracing, (unlike the scalloped 000-28EC) and a shorter 24.75 scale-length, as opposed to the longer OM models. The short scale doesn???t seem to affect the playability or tone in open tunings. No pickup, tuner or electrics. I???m tall enough, but this smaller-bodied guitar is easier to sit with.

Sound : 9
The traditional fingerpicker???s guitar, it???s almost like a ???lead??? instrument as opposed to rhythm. Perfect for intricate single-note lines and frills: jazz, folk, country, blues, you name it. Versatile as far as it goes, though it doesn???t have the boom or breadth of a dreadnaught. It does straight strumming, though not as well as say, a D-35 or Gibson Jumbo, either of which would complement this guitar perfectly. The sound here is tighter and more compressed, with sparkling harmonics so gorgeous they make me do a double-take. Leaves an ambience in the air, kind of like a classy perfume. It has body and middle too, very clear and balanced (unlike Taylors for example, where the tone is ALL at the top, and kind of empty). Judging tone is obviously subjective and this guitar does it for me. Like black chocolate, it???s dark but sweet.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Plain-looking in the finest Martin traditions, with no abalone, fancy rosette or inlays (though the book-matched Indian rosewood back is lovely). It doesn???t jump out as the prettiest guitar, but I don???t like paying hundreds extra for bling. The investment here is in tone. It came with a very high action which will need a professional setup. It says inside the guitar only to use medium or light-gauge strings.

Reliability/Durability : No Opinion
Bought it used, it had a couple of buckle scratches on the back, nothing serious. The headstock doesn???t look like it???s going to fall off or anything, but I won???t be gigging it much.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with Martin, don???t think their after-sales policy applies to non-original owners.

Overall Rating : 9
Trying to find the ideal guitar is always a compromise. As a mostly electric player for 25 years, I???m on a learning curve with acoustics and really did my homework before buying this time. Tried all the usual suspects: Taylor, Gibson, Guild, Larrivee, etc. I was slow coming around to Martins, always found them a bit dark-sounding, probably because I was trying the wrong models (D-16, D-28 etc). Turns out the 000-28 had the high-end sweetness I was looking for. I was a bit concerned about dropping so much money on an axe that???ll be used mainly for home recording (bit fragile to gig with), but this is a classic and hopefully a keeper.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 08/01/2008 at 08:49pm by mike
Email: gracienmikey at aol<dot>com

Features : 8
2008 All solid wood martin.Lovely woods.I bought mine with a factory fitted fishman elipse blend which is not standard on a 00028 but the shop ordered the guitar like that.

Sound : 8
This guitar is brand new and sound a little tight.I cant wait to play it in.It has a rich,mellow tone.Not much bass response on 000 guitars,but a rich balanced tone.The trebles are so smooth.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The factory setup was a little high but i lowered the saddle so it plays real easy.The build quality is flawless.The ebony on the fretboard and bridge is striped almost like rosewood.Excellent finish and woods.

Reliability/Durability : 10
These guitars will certainly last and i know i can depend on it.A solid constructed instrument

Customer Support : 8
Martin are a friendly company i have previously dealt with them.

Overall Rating : No Opinion
I have been playing guitar for 25 years and i;m a full time guitar teacher.I love smaller guitars because they are comfortable to sit a long time with.I compared this guitar to other martins,the 0m 21 was real nice but the 00028 looked nicer.Dont buy one of these if you like alot of bass response cause you just wont get it in the 000 size.This is a fingerpickers guitar not a strummer.I love these little martins, i also own the 000m which is nice and responsive but not quite as nice looking,although my 000m has better bass response and a raw earthy sound the 00028 is richer more sophisticated if you like.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: 1500
Submitted 02/24/2008 at 07:46am by Keith Skelton

Features : 9
When first bought the guitar I thought it was very plain. There are no features apart from an extremely well made guitar. The beauty of the guitar grew on me and its the guitars plainess that is so eye catching. It feels like a guitar should feel like it is perfectly balanced.

Sound : 10
I play english Folk and Country Blues 00028 sounds rich and deep with plenty of sustain. I had the Lowden F25c which was a beautiful guitar but the Martin has the better voice.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The action was well set up by the factory and guitar was ready to play out of its case. The guitar was bought Feb 2008 and was made in the Martin factory sometime 05/06 and took that long to get to the shop in England then into my hands. Yet the guitar had travelled well and the shop had looked after the guitar because it was prefect when I collected it.
The guitar was flawless and beautifully made this guitar is for life.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I play the guitar everyday for about 2 to 3 hours and it remains the same feel everytime I pick the guitar up. I wouldn't use the guitar at a gig the guitar is too good for that useless you are a very famous artist who doesn't mind the damage that can be done at a gig by other people. No this guitar will remain in my house to be played by me and me alone.

Customer Support : 8
I have contacted Martin by e-mail and they were very quick with a reply. Living in the UK my support will come from my local shop but I have found martin helpful. This is my second Martin I have the 00016 also and as yet I have never needed support.

Overall Rating : 10
I have being playing the guitar for about 20 years. I have had a huge amount of guitars in that time including: Seagull S6, Aria, Taylor 314, Takemine, Lowden F25C, Tanglewood and Martin 00016.
It were stolen I would buy the same guitar again.
I love everthing about the guitar it is flawless, the wood is beautifully finished.
I would like the Martin J40 and I would have probably have bought it had I had the money. However, I never picked one up and I can't compare it with the 00028. Now I have the 00028 I would't swap it for another guitar.
This was my dream guitar I just wish I had bought it 15 years ago.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: USD 1575
Submitted 12/22/2007 at 04:51pm by GuitarJoe

Features : 7
Rosewood back and sides, spruce top, short scale 24.9
gloss body, but not neck

I rate a 7 due to a finish flaw on the back, and the neck and headstock not bing gloss.

Wood quality fair

Sound : 7
Sound, the rating of a 7 is generous, for a guitar of it's price range. The problem is, and maybe it's the non scalloped bracing, but it was flat sounding and had no depth or sparkle.

Not a lot of tone variation from picking at the bridge vs the neck.

This guitar was not alive- because I'm left handed I had to factory order it, I never would have bought it from the store with that sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
Wood grain- well Martin used poor grade quality woods for this, probable where the flat boxy sound comes from. Otherwise the guitar was made well.

Reliability/Durability : 8
Good relyability- the problem is with the soung and responsiveness- i wanted the Martin sound, but I'm afraid they really don't make em like they used to- SOME not all Martins from the 1970's have the sound (but not hte price of vintage)

Customer Support : No Opinion
No Opinion.

Overall Rating : 6
A 6 overall- really the tone was dissapointing- I bought a used Guild frm the 70's and it sounds great! I've been playing about 20 years, style folk and acoustic blues. Used it a gigs, it sounded OK through the PA, but nothing special.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: USD 1500
Submitted 01/02/2007 at 10:28am by Kenneth Dunneth

Features : 7
No fancy stuff some people might me looking for, no onboard EQ like new the new Taylors if thats what your looking for. Not too many frets, 14 open frets, 20 frets total. All around a simple, beautiful guitar, almost has a rustic feel since so many new Acoustics are coming with electronics built in.

Sound : 10
Amazing.
Tons of sustain, almost nasal-y, but full and round. A perfect guitar to record with.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
No flaws. Martin does a fantastic job with all their guitars.

Reliability/Durability : 8
It seems like a keepsake to me, It was passed down to me from my uncle when he passed away. perfect for recording and "campfire songs" (or... getting the ladies...) You could use it in a gig, but not a wild one.

Customer Support : 8
I havent tried with martin... A local guitar shop tweaked the neck because my uncle didnt play it for a year or so when he was sick, so too much time in the case and string tension made the action too high.

Overall Rating : 9
Overall, a steady, beautiful peice or work. Best reasonable acoustic (Below 2 grand) I've ever played.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: USD 1850533
Submitted 12/14/2006 at 02:24pm by nott -lynn

Features : 9
typical martin flawless finish . small body , beautiful rosewood , low profile neck , striped ebony fretboard and bridge looks surprisingly like rosewood , solid top , compensated saddle , medium action not too high but could be lower but playable right from the box .

Sound : 10
sounds smooth and warm and full , with the most sustain I've heard from an accoustic

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
as before , plays nicely out of the box . the fit and finish is flawless , set up could be improved but definitely playable as is.

Reliability/Durability : 10
hopefully , a martin is a lifetime purchase

Customer Support : 9
only had the guitar a short time , so no eperience with martin customer service .

Overall Rating : 9
playing a short time , but wanted a "nice piece" to muck about with. would definitely buy another martin . the thing just fits me , with the short scale and small body , you can truly embrace this instrument . probably a 9++


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: US $1450
Submitted 09/16/2003 at 11:27pm by LSLS

Features : 8
This is a 1994 Martin 00028. Solid high quality woods. This Standard series was made pre Clapton Unplugged, pre mass production acoustic guitars. Hence, you can't find any new standard series Martin with high quality spruce like this one. As high quality spruce and rosewood become more and more scarce, the mid line Martins will show a lower quality woods. I kept this one all stock. However, replaced the case for a Martin Geib case with green crushed velvet, and changed the black dot string pegs for pearl dot pegs. Al the standard appointments as expected for a guitar of this era.

Sound : 10
The sound is excellent: true auditorium rosewood sound. Great for fingerpicking, shorter lenght neck, volume is not loud, but is very sweet and sustains well. The guitar's tight grain (what is concidered near master grade by today's standard) allows for a great transfer of vibration to the back and sides. Thus, a great warm sound that I like for phrasing notes and cords. It is great for finger picking. Not made for strumming, does not sound good when attacked strumming (too much noise).

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
I keep the action low, and it still sounds great after considerable grinding of the saddle. It may be due for a neck reset in 2-3 years. The spruce top is flat (no warpage), and I have kept this guitar in mint condition: no scratches no dings, no exposure to adverse environmental conditions. The binding has yellowed some and the top has become honey colored. I hated the large plastic TKL case it came with, and purchased a Geib case with green crushed velvet. The visual of the dark ebony and rosewood trimmed with black and white binding, the honey colored spruce all in the Green Crushed Velvet Case is awsome to look at. You gota see this combination.

Reliability/Durability : 8
The craftsmanship and quality of materials used in this guitar has endured almost 10 years. I do not use this guitar at the beach or to gig with.

Customer Support : 10
I have used the Martin 1-800 # and got great service from the tech and sales person.

Overall Rating : 10
I have owned many guitars, Acoustic and Electric, over the past 28 years. This guitar is an investment that I play 1-3 times a week. I am supprised to see that today Martin uses this caliber of wood in their higher priced models. One sales person reported: the acoustic guitar became more popular after 1995 and 1996, and due to the demand for the acoustic and th limited supply of high grade woods, they made adjustments to use lower quality wood in today's standard series. This is evident in the serial # history of Martin Guitars. You can't find spruce and rosewood like this on today's standard series Martins.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: 1,690 (EUR)
Submitted 08/03/2003 at 01:13am by Andreas
Email: andreas dot uthmann<at>web dot de

Features : 6
If you are looking for "features" you probably would not by a D28. This guitar has all what is necessary. Not less and not more. However, there arn't many "features".

Sound : 10
It is new. But it has "this sound" I wanted. It is balanced, precise, warm with that typical D28 kind of tone. You may pick, pleck or whatever, this guitar will follow.

I read different things about the sound of new D28. I matched it e.g with a well used DM I have. No way! To me the D28 is a different world, although I like the DM.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
No complains. However, I selected it out of three D28 and on one of these the strings were not very well adjusted. At least for my taste.

Reliability/Durability : 10
I do not know yet,, since I only have it two weeks. But I am very confident that it is "rock solid".

Customer Support : No Opinion
Tree years warranty. No "support experience".

Overall Rating : 10
I am convinced I did the right decission. Looking forward for the sound to "mature".


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 05/20/2003 at 02:00pm by Don

Features : 5
1943 Martin OOO-28. This guitar was mad during WWII. There was a great metal shortage at the time. The tuners are quite flimsy but they work quite well. I was told if I replaced the tuners it would devalue the guitar by $1,000.00. Sides and back are rose wood with harringbone inlay. Because of the metal shortage it does not ahve a metal truss rod... It's made of Ebony. The Ebony has held up great for 60 years. I use light guage stings not to put undue stress on the neck. I rated at a 5 on features.. Face it... there are not many features.

Sound : 10
It's a finger fickers guitar.... Fantasic sound.... Just sings...

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Action is great... Love the V shaped neck.... Fits me like a glove. It has scalloped bracing. This guitars is like the newer "OM"

Reliability/Durability : 10
After 60 years it's still going strong... There is a bit of wear but it looks great. What would you expect after 60 years?

Customer Support : 10
The warranty went out years ago.. But the historian at Martin was quite helpful when I researched this guitar.. There were around 100 made. Guess EC has one.. There must be 98 or so left...... ;)

Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing for many years. This is a once in a life time guitar that you leave in your will.... I would never sell it... I will say this about Martins. Try a few before buying. Some sound better than others. Also the most expensive are not always the best sounding. I find they sound better with age and use. The weather makes a difference also on solid wood guitars. Somedays they just sound better than other days.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: US $1700.00
Submitted 04/14/2003 at 06:47pm by Walt
Email: logcabin<at>adnc dot com

Features : 9
Made: 2002
MODEL 000-28
CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: 000-14 Fret
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
BACK MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
TOP INLAY STYLE: Multiple Black/White
NECK MATERIAL: Solid Mahogany
NECK SHAPE: Low Profile
NUT MATERIAL: White Corian?
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood/ Raised Gold Foil Logo
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
SCALE LENGTH: 24.9''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1 11/16''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2 1/8''
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss/ Dark Filler
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss
FINISH NECK: Semi Gloss/ Dark Mahogany Stain/ Dark Filler
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Compensated/White Micarta?
TUNING MACHINES: Schaller Chrome w/ Large Knobs
CASE INCLUDED: SKB type

Sound : 9
Great sounding guitar. Folk, blues, rock, jazz.
I play originals and some covers, finger style and pick.
Amp: Fender 100 watt keyboard amp.
Rack Mount: EQ, Alesis, Compressor, assorted Boss pedals.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Action was typical factory Martin set up on the high side. On past Martins high enough to throw off intonation up the neck. I lowered the saddle and plays like a dream. Installed a K & K Sound, Pure Mini Transducer set-up. Try this internal triple pickup system and you will never use anything else again on a pricey acoustic. Wonderful natural clean sound plugged in.

Reliability/Durability : 9
Martins are Martins. Built to last and be played. And of course loved.

Customer Support : 10
I have contacted Martin support on petty little questions and always got a fast response and questions fully answered. Email and phone.

Overall Rating : No Opinion
Playing off and on for years. Now more than ever. I own Martins, Taylor, Takamine, Ovations. If stolen would hunt the person down and kill them. Very comfortable to play body wise and very nice full sound for a smaller body guitar. Sustain and harmonics seems to last forever.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 03/31/2002 at 12:14am by Anonymous

Features : 9
I believe it was made in 99'. 14 frets clear. Solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides, ebony fretboard and bridge. 000 body, 24.9 short scale. Basic standard Martin line. Plain, but thats the way I like it!

Sound : 8
Folk style to Clapton's unplugged music sytles. Rings forever, sounds nice, a bit 'twangy', but may be expected for the body style and short scale. Liked the looser string tension of the short scale.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 1
Problem!! The set-up was okay, considering how long it had been in the store. Had a few marks, but again expected for hanging there that long. Now for the problem. Tuning problem! It would tune up fine, but when capo was put on, the high E and B strings were flat, and immediately apparent to the ear and a tuner. If you tuned it with capo on, then it was fine. But I can't do that. Thats not why you pay premium prices for a Martin. Plus, it didn't go over well in the studio!! It was interesting to find another review on here for a 000-28 that had a tuning problem. I'll sum this up in the customer support section. The finish was fine.

Reliability/Durability : 5
Obviously unreliable in my case. I'm sure the guitar is reliable insofar as holding up, etc., but if it won't tune its not reliable when performing.

Customer Support : 2
This is my third, well, now fourth try with Martin. I say fourth because I ended up trading out for a guitar that would tune. The dealer treated me as well as could be expected, but I don't think Martin did. Actually, both me and the dealer took it on the chin for Martin. Initially, I got the, 'well its gonna be a year' if sent back to the factory. And the warranty may be void, and all that jazz. Blew me away that the rep was so adamant that the warranty may be void for who knows whatever reason. So I agreed to send it to a very reputable and obviously good Martin service tech. But it came back and it was the same. So versus going through the fight and aggravation of waiting a year, I traded it. I didn't really get an explanation or anything concrete as to wether it would tune or not. The reply to that question was the same ole' Martin reply - fretted instruments don't tune perfectly. Well I agree, but not tuning perfectly and being obvious to the ear is two totally different issues. I could go on, but the bottom line is I love Martin guitars, if you can find a good one. That seems to be the trouble with them these days. They are trying to build so many cheaper models now to compete with other companies and they are not watering their roots. Typical lack of service that seems to be a growing concern with all products these days. We all know Martin makes the best guitars, but finding the 'best' one is tough. Overall, I have lost my 'bottom' on Martin guitars.

Overall Rating : 6
Enough said.


Product: Martin 000-28
Price Paid: US $4000.00 used
Submitted 08/22/2001 at 05:50am by Anonymous

Features : 10
Manufactured in 1936; neck was replaced at the Martin factory a few years ago. The body is the original 1936 spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides. I installed a Fishman passive pickup (an active pickup required installing a battery which would have covered up the Martin serial number. The guitar is beautiful in its simplicity which is exactly what you want from a pre-war Martin.

Sound : 10
Incredible in every respect. Each note rings clear and distinct. The low strings are load, mellow but not boomy or fuzzy. I also own a 1973 D-35 which has great sound but next to this 000-28, it's night and day; The D-35 sounds unclear and lame next to this guitar.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Considering its age, this guitar has stood up beautifully. The new neck work done by Martin is first class

Reliability/Durability : 8
This is a 65 year old guitar made in the pre-war style (light X-bracing, thin top, etc). It needs to be treated with the respect and care it deserves. But it's still a reliable Martin!

Customer Support : No Opinion
If I wver need support, I know it's there. After all, this is a Martin

Overall Rating : 10
I own several guitars. Each is unique in its own way. This 000-28 is my special favorite. I play alot of Folk/Country useing finger-picking style which suits this guitar perfectly.

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