Martin D-28

1993 D-28 Every one knows the features! This one has an AAAA Solid Sitka Spruce top.

Perfect Bluegrass Guitar!!!!!!!! Hang's right in there with the old HD-28's. Recently blew a newer HD-28V right out of the water. The new Standard Series are not even in the same class!

Action is perfect for Bluegrass. It's used and has its dings.

It's 13 years old and solid as a rock!

No need.

As I said before, it's the perfect Bluegrass guitar! If lost or stolen, I'd never find another like it.

Right off the bat, I had my 2004 Martin D-28 for a several months and it was quite bright sounding. And there was a "something" that didn't sound right. I got it sound unheard off ebay (this can be a shot in the dark or you may get lucky here) because the new models have that stripped ebony which I can't stand. I wanted the solid black ebony and this one had it. I changed out the nut, saddle and bridge pins with real bone. Still, I wasn't happy and thought I'd put down 1,450 on a dud. Then I read an article where a luthier was using a product by Birchwood Casey (a varnish) thats used on gun stocks. Well, I remember reading how John Lennon had sanded the finish off his Epiphone Casino and applied varnish. So one day I stripped the finish off the top (not the rosewood back and sides and being no great painter, took to applying the varnish. My first attempt was a depressing failure. Stripped it again. On my second try, I was much more patient, applying about six coats very lightly, letting it dry between each one. To make this long story short, not only did this varnish give it an aged toner effect, but I am totally blown away by the sound, sustain and even projection of the guitar now.
Now who am I to mess with a tradition since 1833? Dunno. But I've been playing for some thirty years now and it was a gamble on an expensive guitar, but I wouldnt trade it on any other "newer" guitar by a long shot. I'll take a nice '45 D-28 except I dont have twenty thousand laying around. Now my 2004 D-28 sounds like my friends well played 1978 D-28. Impatience is my middle name, but it's been a couple of months now and it sounds better as the varnish has really dried out. I am a happy (and pretty lucky) camper!

Since I did the varnish job, it looks like a much older D-28 (I get that alot)! But the real joy is the vibrations through the back of the guitar on my gut and the sweet sound that it now has. I feel more one with this guitar than any other I have ever owned (except for a 1961 Jazzmaster I foolishly sold for alot of money-but money cant find that kind of groove). I took a chance and to me (and thats all that matters) the guitar really sounds beautiful.

Why Martin doesn't spring for bone nuts and saddles on all it's guitars is a mystery to me. I see they are doing this more lately, but heck Martin...give us a break.
The grain on the spruce top is very tight (alot of silking) which I personally dont like very much. I am convinced the tighter the grain, the more brighter the tone you will get from your guitar. I couldn't tell from the pics on ebay just how tight the grain was. Most older Martins I see have much more defined and spaced out grain on the spruce.
All in all though, the fit and finish is tops all around.

If this guitar could stand the punishment I gave it and the bookmatched center doesnt show any inkling of giving is a pretty good sign. I don't like putting pickups on acoustic guitars but I am considering a Baggs. I tried a Fishman active under saddle pickup and it never sounded very good to me. But I have to say a Martin is solid as a rock unless you drop it on the headstock.

Martin folks are very helpful and will answer most any question you throw at them. My warranty was never valid since I bought it second hand. But I have owned other Martins bought new and I never needed the people at Martin. But beware, I've heard horror stories of Martins gone bad and you really don't want to know the hassles I've heard about dealing with Martin here. Just hope you get a good one from the start.

I've been playing since I was thirteen and disco was king back then. What were we thinking...maybe backlash from Viet Nam. Hands down, Martin makes the finest mass produced acoustic guitars. A partial list of my favorite artist that use Martin guitars...
-Hank Williams
-Neil Young
-George Jones
-Dwight Yoakam
-Jim Croce
-Eric Clapton
-Tom Petty
-Stepher Stills

Since my refinish, this is an irreplaceable guitar. It is my one and only, just like my wife. I couldn't imagine life without either one of them. If I get rich, I'd definately find a nice Brazilain rosewood D-28. In person and not on ebay.

Covered by the other reviewers, won't repeat here. I got First Quality Music Store to install a Fishman Rare Earth Blender pickup (the one tha combines a magnetic pickup with a gooseneck condenser). Suits the guitar well - good for amplified live playing and does not interfere with the acoustic sound of the isntrument.

I use the guitar with the factory set-up and medium (.013 - .056) strings. I use it in a Celtic oriented band and I also take it to Irish sessions. Its great for this use, beatiful tone, LOUD, and a bit bottom heavy which is nice when you play without a bass player. I play a lot in dropped D tuning and the low end D growl on this guitar suits the music well. Its an instrument very well suited for ensemble playing because it cuts through and you get heard. For the ones that have commented that it sounds too "tight" - use medium strings and play it alot. The sounds really opens up over time, this is an instrument that is built to last for a while.

Personally I like the Martin factory set-up. You need high action and heavy strings to make acoustic volume. People coming from electric guitar may find this hard, but when you get used to it it is no return - light strings have no sound! (that I care for anyway)

My specimen of the D28 is a well crafted instrument, high quality woods with even grain, nice top with tight and very even grain, clean interior, nice ebony in the freatboard, nice finish, well worth the money.

Duarble as any acoustic guitar. I have carried it around for gigs and jobs for 6 years - no problems whatsoever. Will last as long as I, and then I don't care! Agree with the reviewers that say that the case is not as nice as it could be, but it withstands rain, which was a great feature the year i bicycled from Ennis to Miltown Malbay for the Willie Clancy Irish trad music festival with the guitar strapped on my back.

Never dealt with Martin. First Quality Music Store is first rate!

I have been playing guitar since 1974. When I was young I always dreamt of owning a Martin. Now I have one - play it every day - I am very pleased with it. You need to be physical when you play this instrument, it is big, heavy to play, but the reward if you dig in is a huge, beautiful tone wich for me is just the sound for acoustic rythm playing. I can imagine if you only fingerpick and use a light touch other instruments may be more rewarding but for rythm playing this is it.

Stock 2004 D-28. Everything you need, nothing you don't.

I've had the guitar for about 1.2 years. I would describe the guitar as having a pretty straight forward sound, kind of what you hear is what you get. It emphasizes the bass more than the highs. For my likes, it is too bassy. I feel the bass is kind of thumpy or whoomphy and reduces the clarity of the sound. The highs are a bit thin and lacking harmonics. It strums better than flatpicking or fingerpicking and can be strummed very hard without distorting. I think it sounds great for the first couple days after putting new strings on but then the sound gets too dull and lifeless for me. I'm left a bit uninspired.

I feel that the guitar is tight, like it wants to give more but it can't. I don't feel the same resonance with this guitar as my Goodall. With the Goodall, the whole body resonates and you can really feel the bass notes through the back. I don't feel much with the Martin.

The action is about medium, just fine. The finish is good. The rosewood stain was done pretty poorly though. It bled in a few places into the binding and purfling on the back. The wood selection leaves a lot to be desired. When I put this guitar next to my rosewood/sitka Goodall the Martin woods look like cheap shelving material. The woods are very nicely bookmatched though. The MOP fretboard dots have fine grooves on their surface parallel to the length of the neck from when they sanded the fretboard. A minor flaw.

This guitar is rock solid. That may be one reason the sound is so tight and lacking color/flavor/harmonics.

The black molded plastic case with the big Martin logo imprinted on the top is a piece of junk though. It doesn't close very smoothly. The strap that prevents the top from going past 90 degrees came unglued. There isn't enough padding inside. Enough said.

NA

Overall I give it a 7. The sound just doesn't do it for me. The woods are low quality, the stain was done poorly. The guitar is too big for me and my Goodall grand concert gives more punch and the same volume with a smaller more comfortable body size. I am currently selling the D-28 as it doesn't inspire me like the Goodall does.

D-28purchased in 2005 to replace an aging 60's D-28
all of the standard stuff...dont want to be redundant

Its a D-28....that should be enough said ...but...this guitar has a richer sound than the older model that it is replacing....
well, I play figerpicking blues, bottleneck and little else...I have always preferred the sound of a Martin over the resonators when it come to bottleneck....this guitar wails.
I know that bluegrass pickers are saying..."Oh-no' but it is true, d-28 has always been my blues axe.

well, the finish began to peel after about a month out of the box...it came off in sheets...Martin set me up with a nearby luthier that does good work...he was quicker than Martin , but there were setbacks due to the hurricane.
He tweaked the action and the finish is superior to the original Martin finish....it is one of a kind now....I am told that Martin has been plagued by this malady due to some bad laquer the bought...
I am forced to give a low grade here...I dont want to but I must.

its a D-28 and now one of a kind...I wont take this one on the road as it is now custom...I plan to buy a D-12 28 for jammin...i love to play bottleneck on a 12 string. no this guitar is staying here in my house...
I believe Martin is still the best out there, I mean just go into any shop and grab a different brand...there is no comparison (at least for my tastes).

well...they did try to play some games with me at first...but nothing crooked...they wanted to have me ship it back to them for inspection, I was in the luthiers shp, he took the phone and told them what was going on...he is so well respected by Martin they backed off. The guy I taslked with at Martin reminded me of a lawyer or something...this was my first bas experiance with them...but then, they did repair it better than it was so maybe he is there to get rid of the people trying to screw them...who knows...but yes, I was treated ok in the long run.

40 years...no other gear just now...I dont amplify guitars...I am a purist.
Love it cause it is a Martin D-28...the top of the line.....yeah the new ones do have a unique smell...
I think the D-28 can outplay most anything in the Martin inventory...love the simplicity, I can bend notes radically , though the action is low, there is no buzz whhen using a steel slide....I use a thumpick and my fingers...sometimes no thumbpick....
Some Martin strings are pretty lame...I just bought the ones ..Claptons Choice , mostly out of curiosity...dont waste your money. I do like the Marquis and DR strings...I am always searching for the right strings for a new axe....the Clapton strings are dead sounding.
When I put a set of Med. Marquis on it ...whoa!
This is perhaps the finest guitar I have owned in my life as far as playability, etc.;etc.

2005 Made in Nazereth, PA. all wood Dreadnaught. 20 frets with 14 clear of the body.Back and sides are East Indian Rosewood, and the top si Sitka spruce. Bridge and fingerboard are Macassar Ebony. Tuners(ping)Are marked Martin and do a good job of keeping the guitar in tune. Came with a plastic Martin hardshell case. Has what I need and nothing I don't.

I play from the Grateful Dead to Staind and this guitar does it all with tone and style. I use a Shure SM-57 for mic'ing on stage and one of several condenser mics for the bredroom recording studio. The bass is full without being muddy, the mids and highs are well balanced with beautiful undertones across the range. When I got this I cut a Mammoth Ivory nut and saddle, and put in a set of Camel bone bridge pins. Love this guitar its just starting to open up and I can only imagine how much better it will get. This is the guitar that all others are measured against, and for good reason.

Cane with a medium high setup, which I lowered some, the neck ia a modified oval that is just right for my hands. All the wood is Good but not master grade. I love the plain Jane look and the rich feel and smell of a new Martin. No flaws and the binding and finish is excellent.

THey have been making this guitar since the 30's and there are a lot of them around that command some stupid prices so I guess I can trust it. The finish is a high gloss that should last a few years of gigging(drunks and spilt beer not withstanding)Musicians been depending on Martins for over a hundred years so who am I to challenge that. Still I alwasy have a couple of guitars available for alternate tunings ans backups.

The Gentleman I got this from is a Martin Repair center and from what I have seen Martin stands behind there guitars 100%. Limited lifetime warranty that covers materials/defects. Haven't had to repair any of my Martins over the years, but they are quick to answer questions and the T shirts always get here fairly quickly.

I have played off and on for better than 30 years and own to much gear to list. Totally satisfied with the guitar. This is my second one the first was stolen. So I did replace it with the same model. love the tone, the feel, and the clean functional lines. Hate nothing about it. I use a Larrivee D-03 and one of several other acoustics when gigging, but the Martin is always there as it covers so much ground. Only thing I wish it had was a little brother in the bedroom with it (OM-28 sounds good).

2006 D-28 made at the factory in Nazareth. Came with a standard Martin case.

Ahh. Here's where the fun begins. I can't say enough good things about the D-28. I started out with an OOO-15, traded up to an OM-35 and thought I was all set. But at the end of the day, I realized that I am, first and foremost, a strummer. I don't thrash the guitar, but I like to strum songs, pure and simple. And for that, you need a dread. And if you are in the market for a dread, the D-28 can't be beat.

If I had one word to describe the sound, it would be "full." Strummed chords sound just heavenly. And unlike its smaller cousin, the OM-35, you can really get after it with this guitar w/o any break-up. It's as if the guitar just shrugs and says, "You want loud? I'll give you loud."

To sum up, the D-28 is the most famous guitar in the Martin line-up, and I can understand why: If you're looking for a true rhythm acoustic, I can't think of anything better than the D-28.

I went over the guitar very carefully when it arrived. I purchased it from a reputable dealer on-line, so I didn't have a chance to check it out prior to purchase. No worries. The set-up was perfect, the bookmatching is excellent. I still haven't found any cosmetic flaws.

I can't really say how this guitar will hold up. I've only had it for a short period of time. However, it seems to be built like a tank, and there are a whole lot of touring musicians who play with D-28s. Look at Neil Young: He plays Hank Williams's old D-28 (made in 1940, I believe). The guitar looks like its been through some battles, but it sounds incredible.

Never needed customer support.

Been playing for 2 years (after about a 20 year lay-off). Right now, it's the only guitar I own. I may add a D-18 in the future, but I can't really imagine needing another guitar anytime soon. It does what I want it to do.

If it were lost or stolen, I would replace it as soon as possible.

I compared the D-28 to several other guitars, including Taylors, Collings, and Breedloves. While they are all great guitars in their own way, nothing really captured my attention like the D-28. It just has that sound, you know?

I've rambled on at length in this review, but with good reason. In my experience, "things" rarely live up to their hype. I don't know if this makes me a cynic, or someone who simply resists the herd mentality. But in this case, I can honestly say the D-28 meets -- and exceeds -- expectations. Just a spectacular instrument.

2005-d-28
dont care where it was made
dreadnought
indian rosewood spruce top
included hard case

dylan, donavan, folky kinda player
no amps
increadable sound

play it out of the box and i had me a boner
no flaws

i love this guitar
a very dependable guitar after a couple of months of constate playing only sounds better and better every time i pick it up by the time this thing is 10yrs old it will be the guitar of folklore it has a voice of its own and everyday i decover something new with it

life time warrenty
had one small point in the # 4 fret that i just played out because i did not what to give up my guitar for repair

playing 30+ yrs own a guild 12 string f-112
blueridge om ?
alverez classical nylon string
grestch j-3700 heritage series (loudest guitar on earth)
if stolen i would kill some one
never would be lost
this guitar sound better and better everytime i play it
how is this possable?
it all i can think playing this thing
use to own a 1966 d-28 that was stolen from me in 76 that i loved so much i knew it could never be replaced (NEVER) so i never tried in fear of being dissappointed always talked about it and my lovly wife bought me this one for my 50 th birthday i played it one time and i swear it was like my old friend havent put it down long ever since
IF ANY BODY SEES A 66 D-28 WITH MS CARVED IN THE HEADSTOCK JUST ABOVE THE NUT(VERY SMALL) OR A 66 WITH A LARGE CRACK ON THE UNDER SIDE(WHERE YOUR LEG GOES) punch the owner in the dick for me

Martin D28 solid sitka spruce top,East indian rosewood for back & sides ebony fingerboard, 19 frets.
This is a nice guitar but Martin has a cheap case for this classic that smells to high heaven. i sent back case to Martin & they replaced it with one that smell's worse than then one I returned.
This smell is very bad, it smells toxix to me. I left my guitar strap in the case & now it smells. So when I try to play this Guitar it makes me gag & cough. You think that Martin would use some kind of glue that was less toxix or less smell. I had to let guitar strap air out for 3 weeks & you can still smell this funk on it.
I should have bought a Gibson insted of this smelley thing.
Martin said they where going to pay for shipping about 6 months ago, still no check for the shipping.
Hey thanks Martin.
Hank H in Chcago, IL

Good

Good

fair
yes, but still smells
life, but said the case was good for a year.

30 yrs on & off.
Yes can I smell the guitar case!
some thing else.
Tone.
yes buy a Gibson.

This is my initial review of my new 2005 manufacture Martin D28. I'll submit another after I've been playing and gigging with it for several months. This is the classic/standard d28, all solid wood Martin flattop with no electronics (yet). Rosewood and spruce, with striped ebony bridge and fingerboard. It is a beautiful example of Martin craftsmanship, with only a few irregularities in the finish, probably caused by density variations in the spruce top. The top itself is very clean, as is the bridge, unlike some of the "ashy" looking striped ebony bridges on some other Martins I have handled. I am very happy with the features and looks so far.

I play rockabilly, blues, honkytonk, country and folk, so this was always the guitar I wanted. It was a long time coming. The sound is amazing, very throaty and full, not bright and tinkly like the d18 I used to own. The initial "boom" when this guitar is strummed is startling. Absolutely breathtaking sound, great resonance and projection. The warmness of this guitar is delightful.

Perfect factory setup for me. A bit lower than some Martins, certainly lower than my previous d18. Tuners, bridge, bookmatching are all spot on. Maybe better than average because my sales guy called his man at Martin and had this one handpicked for delivery since the last guitar I bought from him (NOT a Martin) was fretting out.

I'll post more on this after gigging for a while, but this guitar feels rock solid. It's somewhat light, but feels exceptionally stout. The tuners feel fantastic. I would ( and will ) gig with it without a backup.

Never dealt with Martin, never needed to.

I am in love