Martin D-28

Used 1993 D-28 dreadnought, Indian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, ebony bridge and fretboard, mahogany neck, gloss finish, black pick guard, no electronics. Everything on this guy is more for function rather than visual aesthetics.

Sound is what D-28s are all about. Deep, warm bass is accented by clear transparent highs. I traded in a 1979 D-18 because I wanted more bass support when playing solo. I mostly flatpick, sometimes picking with my nails. Too much brightness from trebles is irritating for me so I didn't dare go for a Taylor or any mahogany guitars. The D-28 is perfect for me because it is warm, LOUD, but crisper in the bass area than scalloped braced guitars like the HD-28. I don't know if it will cut through very well in large ensembles, but I got it to play solo and for studio work.

The set-up has low action all the way up the neck like Tony Rice or Dan Crary would have it. No Buzzing, just one clunker note on the high E, 5th fret, but only if you pick it really hard. I sort of use that spot as a gauge to make sure I play relaxed and don't hammer too hard. But over all, you can bang out chords as loud as you need to.

I have traveled a few times into different climates and humidity changes haven't caused any problems for me. I live in a dry area so I keep it in the case with a humidifier when its nor used. Built extremely durable. Dependable if you know how to take care of guitars (don't keep it in your trunk in the summer time)

No need yet. It's used so it has no waranty

I've played for 10 years, owned a Yamaha, Takamine ef325src, Martin D-16tr, D-18, Taylor 355, and for songwriting, playing solo in small settings, its hard to beat a D-28's volume and tone. It's versatile and can really take on delicate lead and heavy rhythm playing. The only thing I'm unsure about is whether to have any electronic installed for amplification. That would definitely defeat the purpose of this guitar-great acoustic tone. If stolen I would get another or consider any other model which is also a rosewood dreadnought without the scalloped bracing.

Standard Martin D-28 with 14 frets, spruce top, rosewood side and 2 piece back, ebony fingerboard with natural gloss finish. Have installed Martin Thinline Gold under saddle pickup. No better materials around.

I play mostly contemporary gospel, country, pop. Like all Martins, the sound is incredibly rich, full, and loud. There is no guitar with better sound than a Martin. I have owned 2 D28s since 1982, it seems to me that the D28s have a brighter tone than the D35s(3 piece back). I believe that the D35 has a fuller, more rounded sound with more pronounced mids and richer bass, but both sound great. If I had it to do over, I would buy a D35, but as all Martin owners will tell you, you become attached to your guitar, so I will stick with my D28. I give an 8 just on my opinion on the fullness of the D35.

I have never played a Martin with the action exactly as I want. I have taken mine to a top rate guitar shop and asked to lower the action, and the response was it could not be lowered any further. This may just be my preference, or I'm wondering if anyone else thinks this also, Martins aren't exactly the easiest guitars to play. Also, on both of my D28s, the intonation has been a little off on the 2nd (or b) string, and I know this is a common problem with all guitars, but you would think that Martin could solve this problem. But generally, I have no complaints other than the above pickiness.

I don't believe there is a more proven, reliable, acoustic guitar that exists. 1940, 1960, 1990 model, it doesn't matter, no better more reliable guitar

I have had the bridge come unglued on one a few years ago, no problem getting fixed at authorized repair shop. I have heard of tops warping or cracking and people have sent to Martin and they will repair or replace any part of the guitar back to specs. I have heard to keep your receipt though, my brother found out the hard way. DO NOT LET JUST ANY REPAIR TECH work on these guitars. Call Martin, I have talked to thier techs, and they are as nice as they can be, and are truly interested in helping you on any guitar related issue. They gave me advice on installing my pickup, and where to take it if I ever need service.

Been playing for 20 years, and have been around musicians my entire life. As listed above, I wish I had bought the D35, if mine were ever stolen, that would be my replacement. I can't compare the sound to any other guitar, however, I have owned a Takamine and I wish I had the Martin sound with the action and playability of the Tak. That's just my opinion.

The best acoustic guiatr ever made! It is really old so the rosewood on the guiatar just keeps getting better with age! I LOVE THIS GUITAR!

Like i said i love this guitar! I use a L.R. Baggs dual source pickup with it (check out my review of that also) it just sounds awesome. I will only use BOSS effects for the rest of my life and maybe a Roland Guitar Synth!

Perfect, perfect the best !

Extremly reliable we have broken 1 high E string in 40 years of having the guitar. It also still going strong.

Never delt with Martin. Why would you need to their instruments are flawless!

I love it we also use Elixir strings with it they are soo good in sound. Between that and a L.R. Baggs dual source pickup, and a boss footpedals i don't think any guitar will come close to matching it!

1998 model, made in USA (of course). Most people will be familiar with the features: dreadnought guitar with solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, white binding, ebony fingerboard, etc.

This guitar sounds great, as it should given its price. It sounds very clear and bell-like when played lightly, e.g., when fingerpicking, but is LOUD when strummed or picked hard. It's so loud that when you abruptly lift your hand from the soundhole area there is a pronounced wah effect (I haven't been able to duplicate this on my other acoustics - a Seagull, Ovation, and Tacoma). Very crisp bass with no muddiness (especially on the low E, which I find to be a problem with most acoustic guitars). My only complaint is that with new strings, the D tends to ring out louder than the others, yielding a slightly unbalanced effect.

The factory set up was perfect for me. It came with light gauge stings (.012's), but they feel almost like extra lights because the action is so low and the ebony fretboard is so smooth. There's nary a buzz anywhere along the fretboard. A dream to play. I wish it were available with a 1.75" nut width though, like my Tacoma.

I've only had it three weeks, so I can't comment personally, but I think Martin's reputation speaks for itself.

Haven't had to deal with Martin yet.

I've been playing for 25 years. I own three other acoustics: a 1997 Tacoma D-20, 1997 Ovation Legend, and a 1996 Seagull SM-6. The Martin plays better than any of these, though the Tacoma gives it a run for the money tonewise and is even nicer visually. If this guitar were stolen, I'd replace it for sure, maybe even consider an HD-28. If I ever hit the lottery I'm going to spring for a D-45.

1998 model. 20 frets, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, rosewood neck with ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, white binding and highly gloss top. This guitar follows the keep it simple stupid approach--nothing fancy to look at, but everything it needs to sound and play perfect, as well as carry a look of elegant simplicity.

What can you say about a Martin to do it justice? Simply put, this guitar sounds what an acoustic guitar should sound like. A soft, warm, well-articulated sound when played lightly with your fingers, crisp pick attack when flatpicked, and LOUD when you lay into it. Dynamic range is amazing, and very controlable with the picking hand. String seperation is superb, and the sustain is absolutely amazing considering that it is an acoustic guitar. Not only can this guitar get loud, but it maintains tonal balance at volume.

Everything is top-notch. It comes with the action set fairly low and 12-gauge strings. I would have prefered 10, but the guitar is set up so well that you almost forget they're heavy strings. You can't even tell where the seperation point for the two top pieces is at. There are no gaps, cracks, glue drips or anything in any of the joints. The bridge fit is superb, and the bracing shows no signs of cracks, excess glue or poor fit. The finish is highly glossed, with no sign of orange peel, overspray, drips or dings. The fret fit is flawless, the crowns are perfect, and all the frets are highly polished. The tunning pegs are very smooth and hold position well--it seems the guitar always in tune, even if it has been in the case for a few days. The guitar plays more like an electric than your typical acoustic.

The guitar is built like a tank. I've know others who have used this model live for years. The D-28 was built to be a live guitar, and it shows in the rugged construction and durable finish.

Haven't had to deal with the company.

I've been playing for roughly six years, and own a variety of different guitars--a couple of Fender Strats, a Gibson Les Paul, a Parker Nite Fly, a Takamine cutaway acoustic/electric, and a 12-string Seagull. This is definately one of the best sounding acoustics I've ever played--it sounds better than my father's 1967 Gibson Hummingbird. I tried a variety of different guitars, like Taylor, Gibson, Breedlove, and a few botique pieces, but nothing seemed to compare to the Martin, except for a few pieces at three times the price. This guitar is the perfect acoustic guitar--the only thing I wish it had was an upper strap button.

1972, made-in-USA, solid spruce top, passive Martin piezo pickup (under saddle with output jack in rear strap button), Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, transparent finish, deadnought body style, Grover tuners. Everything a D-28 needs! I give it a 10 because less has proven to be more in this guitar's instance.

If Zeus himself were to go "unplugged," this would be the guitar he would choose. The acoustic 6-string tone on all those great Zeppelin songs? The D-28! The bass of this guitar is amazing (I've never heard anything like it except on another old D-28), it's tight and LOUD, but not boomy. The midrange is smooth, and there is beautiful top-end definition. This is what every dreadnought is trying to sound like. The guitar is equally suited to fingerstyle and flatpick. This guitar responds very well to using picks of differing thickness, there is so much volume built into this beauty that the dynamic range is unlike any other acoustic guitar. When strumming hard, there is a sweet natural compression to the chords, and there is tons of natural sweet sustain. Admitedly, some of the new boutique acoustics patterned after the D-28 succeed in getting the dreadnought tone to kill for as well as the dynamic range I've mentioned, but those are new instruments in the +$2,500 price range. Also, the fact that this guitar is so well "seasoned" (it was afterall built over 25 years ago) probably has a lot to do with its tonal rsponse. Newer D-28s I've tried don't sound this good (but close!). The built in piezo pickup is pretty good, but truthfully I don't play this guitar live so I don't have much occassion to plug it in.

The rosewood back and sides are beutiful, as is the grain of the bookmatched spruce top, but, let's face it, this is not a fancy instrument. Overall this instrument has stood the test of time (and A LOT of playing hours) rather well. The build quality is just waht you'd expect from an old Martin: tough, simple, and a design that just works.

Again, the guitar is over 25 years old, and has endured quite a bit, and it is still delivering great tone. The guitar is getting to the point where the neck needs a re-set; this is not uncommon for a guitar this age. Unfortunately, I have about $300 worth of work to do on this guitar, the only consolation is I know it's fairly common for this to happen to older Martins.

Never dealt with Martin, other than to date the guitar.

This would be a tough guitar to replace, at current prices. However, if lost, destroyed or stolen I'd be sure to be on the hunt for another old D-28. This guitar is the benchmark of dreadnought tone.