Martin D-28

My D 28 i still very young - I bought the "175 years" version and I am extremely happy ! I owned a DM from 1996 and that guitar had a great sound but this is something really right out of heaven.

The rich and brught sound is also dued to the Elixir 0.12 strings. I play a lot of fingerpicking and flatpicking and I must say that is the best guitar in the world for this kind of music. If I would buy another one I would not doubt !

Great action - good finish - it is tuned by Cor Mutsers, one of Holland's best guitarist !

This guitar will stay for ages !!! The strap buttons are very solid and I use a Santa Cruz strap in beautiful leather !

Don't know ! But I have a livetime warranty.

In every way the best thing I ever bought !

1973, made-in-USA, solid spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, transparent finish, deadnought body style, Grover tuners.

I love the sound of this guitar, playing folk,rock and blues this sweeet sound can not be beat.Very full rich volume, perfect for my folk style...i also have a D18 from 1973 ( love it !!!!) that is perfect for bluesy!!!This guitar has the desired sound for rhythm playing and vocal accompaniment. It is also suitable for flat picking but less adapted to finger picking

ok perfect!!!!!!!!

ok perfect!

!!!!!!!!!!

That would definitely defeat the purpose of this guitar-great acoustic tone.I've never played a better guitar. Especially compared to new guitars. i also have a Martin D18 from 1973 and i love it also!!!! there are perfect for my folk and blues!!!!
martin are great guitars!!!!!!!!

Well I think all its main features are well know,I will skip this part...

It suits perfectly for my music I play pop-rock-folk.I was dreaming of its sound.Well recorded with a condenser mic it is wonderful.If you are looking for its sound don't lose your time with another guitars and buy a D-28.Excellent for composing,the D-28 inspires you.I've got a more expensive Taylor for concerts,it's nice but does not have the personality of the Martin in my oppinion.

The action for me is perfect.Not that hard some people say.It came with an excellent set-up from the factory,ready to play.

I think it will last for centuries.

Never needed to contact with Martin.

I've been playing for 15 years and possibly it was my best investment.
If someone stole my Martin I'll kill him and then buy another D-28.

Standard D28. East Indian Rosewood back and sides, spruce top. 14 frets. No electronics installed on this one. Strap pin installed on the elbow of the neck. Made in Nazareth, Pa. U.S.A. in 1998 I bought it used for $1200.00 from the original owner. It came with the original case, (which I absolutely despise by the way,) a black plastic monstrosity that seems to want to close by itself....Usually when I'm taking the guitar out, which has resulted in a few "character marks" on the spruce top.

The guitar suits my style of playing well, bluegrass, gospel, americana, country, 70's soft rock. It has a great bass response, but can sound a little thin on the treble end of the spectrum. Has a bright sound depending on the strings. I like SP's by Martin, (medium guage) and sometimes use Elixir Polyweb, also medium guage. The guitar can elicit creativity in someone who writes songs or just wants to learn new chords or techniques. A variety of styles can be played on The D28. It has a balanced tone for the most part, but I would like to play some other models so I could do some comparisons. I like the guitar's sound more because of the bone saddle and bridge pins that were installed by the previous owner. I don't like the 640 case that Martin had the guitar come with. I'm not sure I'm 100% satisfied with the treble response, but I can deal with it.

I had the guitar set up at a "Martin Open House" at a local dealer in 2003 by Richard Starkey of Martin. I have never had any problems with it. The top is fine other than a few nicks here and there. The bridge is not pulling away and routes the strings perfectly up the frets to the tuners. Thank you Mr. Starkey! Structurally the guitar is fine. I've never really found any flaws in the workmanship of any of it's components. (Did I mention I hate the case though?)

I gig with this guitar a lot. It holds up well and is built to take it. This guitar will stand the test of time and will probably be a family heirloom. The hardware is solid, the tuners keep it in tune. I have put a few scratches on it, but hey, I bought it to play it!
The strap buttons are tighter than a gnat's ass. I depend on this guitar to "open up" the longer I own it. I've used it to play in church and at jam sessions and it more than holds it's own against high end guitars some of my friends own.

I never dealt with Martin, since I bought the guitar used, but I did have to have it repaired by a luthier friend whom I trust. I have, however asked Martin questions via E-mail and was satisfied with their response. They are very friendly and helpful in answering my questions.

I'm 50 years old. I've been playing since I was 15. My Dad had a Gibson J50 that I grew up playing around with, but I wasn't serious about playing til my wife bought me my first guitar for my 22nd birthday. Now, 28 years later, I own the D28, a 1977 Fender Strat, a 1991 Ovation Anniversary Edition, a Simon and Patrick Pro Maple, and a "Little Martin" that my granddaughter will learn on if she wants. I knew about the quality of Martin before I bought my D28, and did'nt even haggle over the price I bought this one for. I was thrilled to get it. If this guitar were lost or stolen, I would absolutely replace it with another Martin, most likely a Herringbone D28. The thing I love about this guitar is the beauty of it's sound which seems to improve with age. I don't really have any negative comments about the guitar itself, I really hate the case and will be replacing it soon. I've compared it to other guitars in it's price range and it simply sounds better than the others I've played like Taylor, Larrivee, Huss and Dalton. I chose it for it's tone and it's beauty. I wish it had a tortoise colored pick guard and a Gieb case. I have considered adding the pick guard, will definetly add the case. Overall, I love this guitar and I'm glad I bought it. We've seen some changes in the last 5 years I've owned it. I hope to own another Martin in the next year or so. Maybe an HD28 or a 00028 EC

I just picked up my new 'burst D-28. I have about 10 hours playing time on it. Here are my first impressions...
Factory Service: I ordered it in January, was told early April delivery. Did not arrive until June 14. (This was special order due to sunburst option).
Case: Piece of crap #640 I think. For this high dollar guitar, I think you should get a better case. One of the latches is misaligned and hard to close.
Music Store: I bought from a local store. They gave me a great price. When I picked it up, they advised me that the price was misquoted and I owed another $133. Now I got a great deal, but jeez, get the numbers right. Again, there was confusion due to the 'burst option. The guy showed me his invoice from Martin so I know it was really a mistake. I did not raise a stink about it and I just paid it.
Looks: The sunburst is really more like tobacco burst. Black/Brown/Gold. I mean it looks cool but not exactly like the pictures. I was expecting a little red color in there. My mistake for not investigating thoroughly before ordering.
Smell: Great rosewood smell.
Factory Set Up: I'm happy...no buzzes. Plays pretty well even when strummed hard. I was expecting the action to be too high but it's fine for me.
Tone: This baby rings and hums. Lots o' bass. Lots o' volume. I'm very happy so far, and tone probably will get better over time.
Strings: MSP4200 sound pretty good. I'll stick with them for a while. Made in Mexico!?!?!?
Finish: Looks pretty flawless except for one hairline mark on the top about 3" long. Not noticeable enough to %$%%% about. Inside glue job looks clean, except for the where the p/u battery is glued....messy job there, but not visible to anyone not looking for it.
Miscellaneous: Strap button factory installed. Thin Line under saddle p/u factory installed...too early to tell about how this sounds. It does seem like the signal needs to be boosted even though it is battery powered. Ordered a Martin "High End Strap" from their website for $100.
Bottom Line: Tone trumps everything else so I'm happy. This is gonna be my #1 guitar. I guess all in all it could have been a better buying experience but I am happy with the end product.

2008 Martin D-28. Strap pin installed in the heel of the neck by luthier. Plastic pins replaced with bone pins. Back and top woods clearly not top grade (reserved for the more expensive guitars) but the silking and bearclaw in the top and the bookmarked back are still beautiful. Simple, classic guitar.

This is where it's at with this guitar. It has a lovely, loud, rich tone with nice punchy, woody bass and very well balanced highs. It's perfect for my flatpick/strumming hybrid style. I've only had it for a few months and it sounds wonderful already. If it gets better with age, this will be one fabulous guitar.

I live in Calgary, a very dry environment. I use a Planet Waves humidifier with it. I do notice a big improvement in the clarity of tone as it dries out over the course of a few hours left out of the case. The humidifier tends to mellow the sound. Something to consider if you gig the guitar straight out of the case - best to let it breathe for a few hours before playing.

Stock setup fine for strumming and flatpicking near the nut. Bit high for lead. I found it odd that the stock bridge pins seat high off the bridge, and the 2A bone pins I ordered (which are supposed to fit new Martins) sit even higher. Otherwise, the fit and finish are flawless and what I'd expect from a guitar of this price.

This guitar is probably the single most gigged acoustic in history, with the J-45 coming close. Finish is delicate - already there are scratches from buttons and rivets from my clothing, even though I'm usually quite careful. Though I haven't had it for long I can't imagine a more solid or dependable guitar.

No experience so far.

I've been playing for about 15 years. I also own an Epiphone PR775-S and a 60s re-issue Stratocaster. I'd always wanted a Gibson J-45 but when I went to play a new one I simply didn't like it. The neck felt wrong and the tone was too dull and muddy - perhaps this was due to the Mahogany back, I don't know. I was handed the D-28 and it felt and sounded just perfect. It was how I'd always imagined the perfect guitar would feel and sound. I didn't need to try anything else. Compared to the Gibsons it's very light and it hums and vibrates even when simply held. It feels alive - that's the best way I can describe it.

Initially I'd planned to put some sort of active pickup in it, but I may just mic it externally when performing. I really don't want to mess with it.

If lost or stolen I'd have to play a bunch of Martins and I'd maybe consider an HD-28 or a D-28 Marquis if I found some more cash. It would be interesting to order a custom D-28 with an Adirondac top. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone interested in a guitar with a ton of volume, tone and to anyone interested in classic design and heritage. You can't go wrong with this guitar.

New. 2007. Spruce top, Indian Rosewood sides, Grover tuners, etc etc. Dreadnaught, no electrics - just a solidly built beautiful guitar without the fancy frills. All of the value here is in the guitar. Original hardshell case (lovely) included. For Australian readers - don't pay the usual under rrp prce - I really shopped around and got a great deal from Musgroves in Perth. I found a one-off in a store in Qld (online) and they matched the price. Beautiful.

I play Blues/Rock - also do a little fingerstyle. This guitar has a ton of tone - weighed up a Taylor 414ce and a Gibson Songwriter Deluxe before I got the Martin, but there was no real choice. This thing is brimful and complex, boomy when you want it to be, and subtle when you need it. Great for strumming or picking the blues (does anything really sound like a Martin for this?). Plays better after a few months and I look forward to the tonal riches as she opens up, as others have said happens, with age and care.

Simplicity of design and good materials - the finish is just beautiful. You can tell quality - this is it At first look it seems a little plain - then the sheer joy of simplicity, functionality and shape just confirm that this is what a guitar should be.

The action was quite good out of the box, but a little high for me. My friend also played it in the store before I bought it and felt the same way. He thought the Taylor would have been better. I nearly bought it (see above) because the action was very easy, but the Martin had more 'personality' in tone. The guy at the store said that I could take the the guitar home and come back and have it adjusted if I wanted a lower action. Played it for a month and feel sure that guys who play a 'dig in' fingerstyle would love it. Got it back to the store, had the action lowered and ...WOW...once you've had Martin you never go back! Gave a 10 cause it can be adjusted to suit the player. My friend now thinks that I made he right decision. But who cares - it's my guitar!

It's a Martin D-28...they last longer than we do - in fifty year time (if nobody steps on it) I expect my grandson to be playing this...lucky sod.

Never dealt with Martin, but Musgroves in Perth (ask for Adam) are just fine.

Have been playing for nearly 4 years. Have a Washburn Southwestern D46-S acoustic (my first - and still a great value guitar that I'd be loathe to part with), but this guitar is it for me...until...you know it's gonna happen...now it's in the blood..., but this one is a keeper, for sure.

Standard Spruce top, with solid Indian Rosewood back and sides. This guitar was built by a dedicated work force that takes price in the finished product. Just compare the Martins to say other "so called"
competitors that charge a lot more money.

Classic sound. I experimented with different strings. The heavier string and this guitar exploded with sound! I was taken completely by surprised! Suggest you use the Planet Waves humidifier package, the newer version (cloth version is better--consistent humidity, and doesnt dry out). After using this humidity package, the guitar sounds better than it did. Again, another surprise!!

Action is perfect! Like in other reviews, it cuts like butter.
Thanks Martin!!

I paid $2300.00 for this guitar. There are other guitar companies that charge $800--$1200.00 more for their "flagship" model. This guitar was a bargin (big time) for the money. The guitar is well made inside and out. I would suggest you use a humidifer system like I mentioned before, Plant Waves, as this will enhance the sound, not right away, but over a period of months! Yes, do leave it in the case! Only take it out when you play.

Ah, this is great category. Martin takes pride in its employees, heritage, and the final product: the guitar. Thank Goodness some American company still believes in that sort of philosophy! They come out twice a year with a company magazine. From protecting the rain forrests, to employee testimonials, you can see this a people oriented company--nice and refreshing!
Thank you Martin

I have 3 Martins: the forementioned, HD28, a D16GT, and the SWDGT sustainable wood guitar with solid cherry back and sides. You truly get what you pay for-->QUALITY!!!
Thank you Martin for keeping up the family tradition!

Traditional Martin dreadnaught design;Brazilian Rosewood back & sides; Sitka Spruce top; ebony bridge & fingerboard; Grover Rotomatic (patent pending) tuners; ivory nut (stock)/bone saddle/bone bridge pins; non-scalloped bracing; USA made (Nazareth, PA); circa 1967; original hardshell case.

Extremely versatile for folk/blues/rock etc. (not particularly suitable for metal); tonalities are rich & deep with good clarity.

Factory set-up was somewhat lacking; guitar required a minor nut adjustment to ensure ease of play; top (Sitka Spruce) & sides (quartersawn Brazilian Rosewood) were properly bookmatched & tightly grained.

Extremely durable; going on 40+ years; the Grover Rotomatics stay in tune; nitro-cellulose finish is holding-up quite well; the under-the-finish pickguard has curled a bit & will require re-gluing one of these days; no cracks or warpage; neck still straight & action at 12th around 7/16"; no need for a neck reset (I do not use humidifiers of any kind).

Lifetime warranty. Company usually doesn't respond to e-mails in a timely matter & shows little interest in older Martins (they seem to be more focussed on pushing the newer, sometimes gimmicky models like the Signature Series & various vintage re-issues.

Played on & off for over 40 years; if stolen or lost, I would probably buy a new Collings or a Foley instead of a contemporary Martin; after 1969, most rosewood Martins are nothing to write home about as they are (1)no longer vintage-collectible, (2) mass-produced to the extreme, & (3) somewhat compromised in terms of overall tonewood quality & worksmanship etc.

New 2004 Martin D-28, Solid Sitka Spruce Top with East Indian Rosewood back and sides, Solid Mahogany neck and Solid Ebony Fretboard and Bridge.

When I played the D-28, it was exactly the sound I had in my head that I couldn't get before.I play rock, blues, country, reggae, folk and more and this guitar sounds great for all of them. I was looking into Taylors , but wheni play this d 28, i love it!!!!!!!!
This guitar has always had a very rich and full sound
LOVE , LOVE , LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!

very easy to play, even with medium strings. great fit and finish

OK!!!!!

!!!!!!!!

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.
i also have a '85 ovation legend mod.1117( great guitar!!!)and a fender mustang '66,

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

Features? Its a D28, the most copied guitar in the world. The features are listed in the myriad of other reviews. The finish is exemplary, the neck is the standard neck, the wood selection is very good. A stock dreadnaught does not have alot of features

Sound is what it is all about. Frankly some Martins have a great sound and some don't. I bought min new in 1984 and was very happy with the sound the day I bought it. Over the years it has become richer and fuller. Once it hit 20 years old it was nothing short of phenominal, now each year it sounds better. It is an amazing instrument. There is good reason why Martin has the loyalty that it does.

Action, as shipped from Martin, was Ok. A little high. Over the years, I have had it set up several times. I like very fast action, and it now has it. Martin has a reputation of High action stemming from the days prior to an adjustable truss rod. The fit and finish of the guitar, as shipped, was very good. The bookmatching was perect, binding was perfect, overall quality very high

I have had several issues through the years. A crack on the front that needed to be cleated, the binding came loose on the front, then a year later on the back. The neck had to be reset. It needed a fret job (not the guitars fault!). The finish on the front is now extremely checked due to our cold weather, again not the guitars fault. It has held up well for its age and treatment.

Martin's support was very good. Never any qualms about honoring the lifetime gaurantee.

This has been my main guitar since the day I bought it, I also own Gibsons, Taylors and Guilds. If this one was lost or stolen I would definately get another Martin D-28. I recently had the necked reshaped to be more like a low profile neck, an option that is now offered.

I am rating this guitar as 10 because it has soul. Its sound is unmatched by any, and it has been my best friend for the last 22 years.

This review is for my brand new, 2005 Martin D-28, made in Nazereth, PA.

It is the basic 14 fret Dreadnought, the standard by which all dreadnoughts are measured. The top consists of two fine pieces of quartersawn, medium grained, stika-spruce, with beautiful striations throughoutand. The back and sides are made of richly colored deep dark Indian rosewood, with such a beautiful grain.

The neck is a satiny feeling low profile mahogany neck, that just begs to be grabbed onto. The frets are perfect, of course, and rest on an ebony fretboad, which matches the mild striping of the ebony bridge perfectly.

The binding is white and provides a perfect contrast to the dark rosewood. It is amazing how such simplicity can be so remarkable. In fact, the sppearance of this guitar exudes quality from stem to stern.

I give it a 10 on features, and why did I do that? What do you expect form a rosweood dreadnought? Perfectly sawn spruce on the top...and this has it... Perfectly slected rosewood for the back and sides...and this has it. A comfortable, solid mahogany neck...and this has it. Perfect frets with perfect tuners on an ebony fretboard, witha matching ebony brige...and this has all of those things.

The remaining features are subjective, and what may be right for some, may not be right for others. For example, I did not want the herringbone, I think the standard looks much better. I did not want the tortoise pickguard, I prefer the black. I did not prefer the sound of the scalloped braced D-28s to that of the non-scalloped. So in a nutshell, the featued were perfect for me.

I play bluegrass, country, classic rock, travis pick, and some old country blues. American roots if you will. I will lay down some nice Neil Young style licks, or I will play a delicate Simon and Garfunkel number. I will play James Taylor, and on rare occasion...James Hetfield (Metallica). I love bluegrass and traditional gospel. I will flatpick, strum and fingerpick.

The D-28 may not be perfect for each of those things, but it can play each of those styles quited nicely. The sound is not nearly as boomy and the HD-28 or HD-28V. It is a much more balanced sound, but not quite as balanced as a Martin D-18 for example. Also, a 000-18 or something like that would be more suited if you stayed mainly with blues and fingerstyle.

If you do a little of everything, like I do, you will want a dreadnought. And a rosewood dreadnought, in my opinion is a better rhythm insturment than a mahogany dreadnought. The sound of my D-28, is what you expect in a rosewood dread. Dark, rich, warm sound, emanating from deep within the belly. My playing will usually accompany my singing, or someone else's singing, and I prefer the rosewood sound for that.

Again, we are judging this for the expected sound of a rosewood dreadnought, and unlike the features, I will deduct 1 point for sound, because this guitar has not been in my hands long enough to get to the "perfect" score. i have a 2000 Martin D-18, which, in my opinion, has reached that perfect status expected from a mahogany dread.

The guitar was set up extremely well. I bought it off the shelf in West Palm Beach, Florida, knowing full well that I was going to take it to my luthier to put the finishing touches on it.

After the purchase, I had a hand crafted bone nut and saddle installed, and the action was lowered slightly. I replaced the strings with D'Addario mediums, which is what I prefer. So I will not deduct for the guitar shop in West Palm Beach, nor will I deduct for Martin in general. They have to sell guitars to the masses, and when you fork out big bucks for a guitar...do youself a favor and take it to a luthier and let him/her make it perfect for you.

No doubt this is the standard bearer. This guitar will stand up to any challenge...just take good care of it. The finish is durable, but it will wear off, like any good guitar...eventually. The tuners are solid, and the feel is solid all the way around. No worries at all with this one. I always travel with two guitars. Main reason is that I tune one standard, and the other to Drop D. So, if anything was to happen, I woudl adjust the tuning on the other one, and drive on.

Martin is the best company to deal with. They are so incredibly proud of their product, and seem genuinely appreciative that I picked their D-28 amidst all of the available choices from their competition.

I have been playing guitar for 18 years. I am a decent player. Currently, I own a 2000 Martin D-18, and this 2005 Martin D-28. I am very happy that I made this purchase. Is it the best guitar that I own? I don't know. My D-18 kicks butt, and offers things that the D-28 doesn't, and vice versa.

The D-18 was the rock upon which I built my repotoire for open mike nights, jams, and various shows at events, both solo and in a group setting. The D-18 is great, but I wanted to add another dimnension to my playing, so I purchased this guitar, and made an excellent choice.

I take both guitars with me everwhere I play. They both perform like champs and I have no complaints. I am a Martin guy through and through, and that is for good reason.

There comes a time when you are faced with making a decision on what guitar to buy, and in this realm, you will have close to $2000 riding on it, so you do not want to make a decision you are going to regret.

I urge each and every one of you to go to the guitar shops and play the instruments. You may think you want a D-28, but end up liking a D-35 more. Or you may prefer the HD-28, with it's scalloped bracing. You may even discover that rosewood is not your thing, and opt for a D-18.

Heck, you may even prefer Taylors, and not like Martins...or maybe even you would like Larrivees or Gibsons better.

The bottom line is that you make your choice for you and no one else. Regardless if others may think you are nuts for buying a Martin, Gibson, Larrivee or Taylor. Others may also tell you to buy a scalloped braced guitar. You may or may not prefer scalloped over non-scalloped. It's your money, and your hands playing it, and your ears hearing it. So do what your heart and your gut tells you to do.

Rock on!

Just some basic "FYI" about factory set ups on Martins. People tend to give a lower score for the higher action. Martins have a higher action out of the box for a reason: It's easier to take material off a saddle or nut than it is to add material to one.

Any store selling a Martin should set it up for nothing. If they won't, tell them you're taking your business elsewhere and will tell everyone you know to do the same.

I personally don't like the Martin tone; I'm a Larrivee guy. I do however believe Martin to be at the top of the acoustic game as far as quality, and people should be aware of the reasoning behind the factory set ups on their instruments.

I can be found on the Acoustic Guitar Forum (AGF) as "notamartinfan".

1995 model D-28.Serial# 553XXX. This axe was first purchased at Veneman music Rockville MD U.S.A.(from warranty registration).Now it is in Oriental . Solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides, some bookmatch Bear-claw solid Sitka Spruce top, one piece Mahogahny neck, Ebony fretboard and Ebony bridge.No electronics install. Made in Nazareth, PA. Came with #640hardshell case. The saddle was changed to bone.The frets were a little wear off.without electrics install.I was looking for D-28 or HD-28. The used D-28 is a half priced of used HD-28. I choose it.

It's 10 years old, . The sound has been open up matured as its got older.Very full rich volume clear & sweeeeet sound. rich warm harmonics.And balance.I plays without amplification. At the party of I amplified it with L.R.Baggs passive pickup soundhole the cable running out the soundhole to L.R.Baggs DI. to Trace elliot Ta100. It's sound great.I liked it.

The factory is set it up in high touching. But it's very good for strumming.I play it only by strumming. The dried glue under the pickguard rim protruded all around pickguard.The finish have been aging, spruce top finish is changed to golden. The neck is in good condition.

This guitar is the heaviest built dreadnaught.No fancy of pearl inlay. It's far better than scalloped HD-28. The Martin tuner is fit well. With the diamond neck can be strenghten headstock and neck.

It's 3rd hand. No warranty outside U.S.A.

I'm 55 yrs old.I want the sound of old guitar.Can't wait for aging process. It 10 yrs old that perfect for woodtone. This thing is the best of mine.The another are 1994 Martin D-1,1995 Taylor412 + fishman natural I and 2005 Taylor420ce-L5 + ES . D-28 for strumming, D-1 and 412 for fingerpicking, 420ce-L5 for open tuning strumming picking and slide playing. If it was stolen I will buy the another D-28

New 2005 Martin D-28. Personally picked by Stan Jay of Mandolin Bros. (who makes the setups for McCartney's guitars).

Standard features which are more than documented... classic spruce/rosewood combo. I won't make you lose your time reading them over again.

It came with the molded case stringed with D'daddario .012's with an extra set included.

That's what's the legend is all about, right?

Ok, out of the box it's a good sounding guitar but nothing spetacular. Play it for a few days though and as it starts opening up you'll feel the urge of playing it more and more. After a couple of weeks you'll understand all the hype and mystique behind the D-28. Then you'll find out why it is considered THE standard steel stringed guitar but be prepared: After that aural bliss you'll probably lose some hours of sleep or even get a little sloppy with your day job. It'll be almost impossible to put it down. Those innocent '5 minutes' can become hours if you don't watch yourself.

I play blues, classic acoustic Pop Rock, and some hard to be labelled music that falls somewhere between New Age and Raga Rock. For those I use lots of alternative tunings and the ringing sustain and amazing overtones the guitar produces makes playing a truly magical experience.

Deep and resonant basses (you can feel the vibrations that comes from the box...) and crystal clear highs. It's exactly how a acoustic steel string must sound like.

It has a vey snappy fast and percussive response and that's why is so revered by bluegrassers and flatpickers. But I play mainly with my bare fingers and it sounds much warmer and percussive to me that way.

I haven't played the scalloped model - the HD-28, but I've heard that the standard non-scalloped is more solid and has more defined highs. The HD-28 seems to have a slightly better projection and volume with a boomier bass that some might consider muddy. Since I needed clearer and brighter trebles as much as deep basses I opted for the D-28.

Also I couldn't spring the extra $400 and since all my heroes (including the incomparable virtuoso Michael Hedges) played the standard D-28 I had no reason to justify for the fancier herringbone.

The setup was nice. I read lots of reviews of people who complain about the high action of the factory setup, but the truth is I don't know how it was setup from the factory since Mandolin Bros sent me with .012's (It comes originally equipped with .013s). I dislike low setups since they kill the natural harmonics of the instrument so the medium action it came was fine to me.

I exchanged the 0.12s for .011s and kept the low E from the .012 set but that thicker string had intonation problems up the neck and whenever I used a capo. After replacing it with the low E from the Custom Lights set it was fine.

The top is nicely bookmatched...I hate it when the halves of the top have different colours - one darker than the other. I think that's inadmissible on an expensive guitar.

The gloss finish is beautiful but it scratches fairly easily. Also it can became a bit dull and lustreless on some spots, specially on the top bout where your right arm rests. Martin polish and rubbing won't remove them. Too much rubbing might damage the lacquer, so you have to learn how to live with them.

Since it's intended to be a workhorse guitar you shouldn't worry too much about that but I'm only mentioning it because it's brand new and I'm still on that 'kiss & polish all the time' phase.

There was something rattling inside the guitar which was a bit disturbing...some tiny wooden chips. After removing the strings and bridge pins I found out that those were leftovers from the bridge drilling. So don't panic if it happens to you.

It's designed to be a workhorse guitar and although it appears so delicate when you first pick it up brand new it will undoubtly withstand the rigours of live playing and pretty much abuse.

It's a solid, dependable guitar that's built to last (hence Martin's lifetime warranty)

The strap button is easily removable but I don't think it might slip during a gig.

The machine heads are sealed with amazing ratio. You have to turn them quite a bit to change the string pitch. Much better than those open-geared reissues of the vintage models.

Since I rarely break strings I would surely gig without a backup.

The only contact I had with Martin & Co. was upon registering my guitar online. They've sent the confirmation, registration number and papers by mail to Brazil.

They seem to be nice people who care. I'll probably will never require their services anyway.

Mandolin Bros. on the other hand is top-notch. Mr Stan Jay, a great guitar coinesseur and enthusiast, personally picked the guitar and actually asked for my email feedback to check my aproval. He was glad to answer all my questions prior to my purchase including a highly informative discrimination about the D-28 and the slighly more expensive D-35.

Although it was specially designed for strong rhythmic play - which makes it a strummer's machine - the overall quality is so high that it can handle it all, a fact that can be backed up by the artists with many diverse styles such as: Lennon, McCartney, Dylan, Joni Michell, Jimmy Page, Michael Hedges, etc.

I've been playing guitar for ten years and spent most of my finest acoustic moments with a Yamaha APX4 (a nice guitar) - a small-bodied cutaway with onboard eletronics which I ended plugging very little. I missed the bass response of a larger instrument and wanted a nice resonant guitar with plenty of volume and the most amazing unamplified sound I could possibly get. So that meant getting almost the opposite features of what I had.

So I sold the Yamaha, an Epiphone Casino eletric hollowbody and a fretless Fender Jazz Bass and I have no regrets.

Rest assured that when acquiring a D-28 you'll be paying for the sound only. That means great woods with even greater worksmanship. A no-nonsense workhorse guitar. If you care too much about glitz and fancy inlays you'd better look elsewhere. It's pretty spartan on it's appointments, though the glossy finish beautifully highlights the quality woods.


I think I'll go play now...