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...

1958 Martin D-28. Sitka spruce top, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck. Grover Rotomatic tuners. 14 frets to the body. Bone bridge saddle, long saddle (not drop-in saddle). K&K mini-western pickup. T-bar neck (non-adjustable truss rod).
It is what it is, of course. It's a mighty fine vintage guitar. Other features that I'd like to have on a rosewood dreadnought might (or might not) be: scalloped bracing, bolt-on neck joint, truss rod, bone or fossilized ivory bridge saddle, nut, and bridge pins.
The t-bar (non-adjustable) truss rod is sort of a drawback, as any action adjustments must be performed by a (very involved) neck reset procedure, rather than a simple truss rod adjustment. The neck reset is complicated by the dovetail neck joint; it would be a job of just a few minutes if the neck were bolt-on. But bolt-on necks have suffered (undeservedly) a bad reputation through most of the past century.

The sound is very very good. The guitar is powerful & loud throughout its entire range. Plenty of bass, mids, and penetrating trebles. It sounds wonderful when flatpicked or strummed (especially with a heavy pick, I use a 1.14mm Wegen Bluegrass Pick), and also sounds great when fingerpicked with or without picks. I would describe the sound as strong, full, and complex. It sounds like a piano. It is extremely good for bluegass, and singer-songwriter type music, country, and rock rhythm. I think it would sound good in just about any genre. It can produce a wide variety of tones, from sweet to strident. I can play it softly and it is responsive. I can flatpick the bejesus out of it, and it doesn't overdrive the top. Balance between strings is good.
I primarily use it to flatpick bluegrass, swing, and fiddle tunes, and also to play at church (where the music ranges from traditional hymns to uptempo rock songs).
The only dislike I have about the sound is that the low E string can sometimes sound a little dull or muffled. I think this is specific to this guitar, not d-28's in general, and is related to humidity.

I can't speak for how the guitar was set up from the factory, as I got it used. When I got it, it was in need of a neck reset and new frets, which I had done, as well as a new bridge saddle and pickup. The setup went excellently (a luthier named Bryan Kimsey in New Mexico, I recommend him), and the guitar plays like a dream. The action is low enough to play very comfortable up the neck, and high enough to flatpick very loudly without buzzing.
My main fit & finish complaint on this guitar is the pickguard. The pickguards on older Martins (up to the 70's, I believe), was put directly on the topwood, and then lacquered over. Nowadays, pickgaurds are put on top of the lacquer, and for good reason. The topwood and the pickguard expand and contract differently in heat & cold. This differential expansion leads to small cracks in the top around the pickguard. Be very conscious of this if you're buying a used older Martin. Look carefully...
Other than this minor issue, though, the workmanship is outstanding.

It's a very sturdy guitar. It has seen plaenty of abuse, and lived through it, and even still looks good. The finish has lasted almost 50 years, and I expect no problems. I use it in gigs without a backup all the time. It is pretty stable in different temperatures and humidities compared to other high-end guitars, except that high humidities sometimes make the low E string sound a bit muffled.

I've been playing for about 15 years. I own various other guitars: a custom Tele, a Guild cutaway acoustic-electric, a Sigma acoustic, a Jom classical, a Mosrite hollowbody, a couple of mandolins, a handmade mahogany dreadnought, an 1886 HC Dobson Silverbell banjo. I've owned many guitars over the years. This is, hands-down, the best instrument I've ever owned. I feel fabulously lucky to have such an inspiring instrument to play. I love the sound and feel of it. I love the way it looks (and love that most people have no idea that the old-looking acoustic they see on stage is an awesome guitar to die for). A vintage D-28 is extremely expensive (to me, anyway). But if you have the money, you can't beat 'em with a stick.
If it were lost or stolen, I'd be heart-broken, because I know I could never find the $5-6K to buy another. I would have to get something else, and it would never be the same...

2002 Model D-28 Built in the Nazareth, PA U.S.A.
14 Frets Clear of the body
Solid Sitka Spruce Top with East Indian Rosewood back and sides
Solid Mahogany neck
Solid Ebony Fretboard and Bridge
Corian Nut/Micarta Saddle
For all intents and purposes this guitar is loaded with features that contribute to sound. No frills visually...body binding is tasteful and simple. Nothing to get in the way and distract you from all of that beautiful wood.

I do a little of everything...fingre pick, strum, and flatpick. This guitar does everything very well and best of all it just keeps getting better everyday. Over the last three years she's really opened up quite a bit. I'm very happy and I can't imaging how she'll sound in another 10, 20, or 30 years from now.

I bought this guitar brand new. In fact, the case was still sealed with plastic. Everything was perfect from day 1...Zero flaws!

I have never had a problem with this guitar. She is the most stable guitar I own. I also own a 1980 Martin D-19 and a 1996 Martin 000-28EC. My D-28 sounds great year round. The D-19 can sound a bit thin during the winter and the 000-28ECs B string tends to go a little on the sharp side also during winter, but my D-28 stays in tune all of the time even with dead strings.

Martin has always been very friendly and courtious over the phone and e-mail responces are always prompt.

I've never had any warranty issues with this guitar. I don't expect that I will.

I've played off and on most of my life, and my D-28 is by far the best guitar I've ever owned. If this guitar was lost or stolen, I would be crushed, but I would buy another D-28!

1975 D-28 w/ 14 frets/Rosewood/Solid Top/grover tuners, you name it. Blue thermo case also. It also has a grey colored acoustic pick up mic, but the chord that goes into the guitar is quite smaller than the usual guitar plug.

This thing roars! It has a deep, colorful tone to it. As a matter of fact, I'd rather not amp this one, it speaks for itself!

I'm not too sure of how the action was, because I wasn't alive when this guitar was made. It is 10 years older than me. The action is slightly high, but I can deal with that. There's a few blemishes due to age right around the pick guard, because this guitar sat practically unplayed for 20 years. It was my dad's first acoustic guitar and once I started playing, I never imagined it would be in my hands. For 30 years with no telling how many pounds of pressure, this guitar's appearance is an A+! The tone of the wood is darker than newer D-28's, which I think looks better.

This guitar is a rock! I watch over it closely. I never keep it out on a stand because accidents DO happen, and as a matter of fact I had a scare one time. I was adjusting my blinds and had the guitar out on the rack (last semester in my apartment) and I knocked a small lamp off of my computer desk and it hit the side. It only nicked the white finish on the sides. Did not mess up the sound at all or appearance (that is, unless you happen to notice it). I would definately use it on a gig (without backup, because nothing sounds as good).

I'm looking at a neck reset, but I have no way to prove that my dad is the original owner. His parents bought it for him. You get the picture... it would be pretty tough!

I have been playing for close to 6 years now counting when I first picked it up. I've made it pretty far with my talent. I don't think I could have asked for anything better. To make a long story short, last year, just before starting my first semester at the University of South Carolina my dad suprised me with this guitar as a birthday present. I had a dean, that I thought sounded good, but now I won't even touch it. The closest I've ever played or heard to my D-28 is my buddy's 1976 D-35, but I still chose the D-28.

Martin D28 Standard 2003 US made .Rosewood back and sides ,spruce top ,gloss finish, Gotoh Tuners,Martin 640 case Included ,14 frets clear.

The best sounding guitar I have ever had the pleasure of owning. bass and treble response is excellent .I have no complants of the sound.

The set up at the factory is good concidering the older models, the bookmatching is excellent, good finish, could use a better rossette, kind of plain looking but otherwise a very nice guitar.

This guitar will last a lifetime with proper care and will only sound better with time, great tuners, they never go out of tune. Everything is solid, you can play everyday with no problems, Excellent.

haven't delt .lifetime warrenty

I have been playing about thrity five years on and off, I first got hooked on martins when I was about thriteen, my friends dad had a old D18 from the sixtees and I loved the sound right away, It was all beat up and played like hell but ooo that sound. I have owned three Martins since then and wouldn't even concider anything else to play, My D28 will be the last Martin I buy because otherwise I would just be wasting money. The only thing I wish Martin would had done is to put a better rossette on and mayby a few more dots or differen't design on the fingrboard, of coarse if you by a B28 you buy Martin tradition right? I would buy another one if it was stolen as soon as the insurance check cleared.

martin d-28 standard

excellent sound

perfect finish

will last a lifetime if properly cared for

have not delt

35 years, I have owned two other martins a 1977 d-18 and a 1996 d-16 spd and have recently purchased 2005 d-28 that I have always wanted, It is new and I can't waut until the wood opens up because it sounds great now and Ican't imagine the sound after a few years. the only thing i wish the d-28 had is a tortise pickguard i think it looks better. if it wes stolen i would but a new one right away because my d-18 was stolen and it took me 15 years to get another martin. I have played a gerat number oof guitars in my life but a good quality martin seems to be my only choice. keep on pick'in

2005 Martin D-28, purchased in April 2005.
Martin hardshell case included.

Solid spruce top, rosewood sides and back.

This guitar needs no features.

I love the sound of this guitar - it "sounds like a Martin". I mainly finger pick and have no problems. The sound is rich and full, especially on the low end. Some complain of a washed out high end, but I have not discovered that to be the case.

Store set-up was perfect

This guitar is solidly made. The finish work is wonderful.

They say that Martins get better with age and playing. I almost can't beleive that as this guitar has character already..... and I really don't play that well.

Limited warranty is for life. Have not yet dealt with Martin.

Been playing almost a year. My other guitar is a Jasmine S-33 by Takamine, a nice sounding guitar, but nothing compared to the D-28.

I would buy another D-28 if lost.

I put a $2000 limit on myself when purchasing a new guitar. Looked at Talyors, Larivees, Breedloves, Takamines, Gibsons, Santa Cruz, etc. Nothing but Martins had the sound I was looking for. The only guitar that I came close to purchasing was an HD-28, but I preferred the sound of the basic model..... as well as its plain looks.

This is a 2005 model D28. East Indian rosewood back and sides, sitka spruce top, mahogahny neck, ebony fretboard. This guitar, like all new D28s, comes from the factory with bone nut and saddle.

The sound is great. It has a balanced sound with a loud, yet clear bass. The treble strings are bright and clear...they ring.

The guitar was set up perfectly from the factory. Martin has been known for shipping guitars with high action but this one was lower than other D28s that I have seen. The top and back were properly bookmatched and have a nice color tone throughout. I could find no finish flaws.

This is one solid guitar. Everything about it seems like it will last for a long time.

I have not had to deal with Martin for this guitar but my past experience with them has shown them to be an accessible company that is easy to deal with.

I've wanted a D28 since I was about 14 years old. I recently started playing again at age 47, after a 25 year layoff, and decided that I was going to get the guitar I've always wanted. This guitar is everything I expected it to be. It's the standard.

'de facto' standard D-28 built in 2001. I bought this sweetheart second hand on Dec. 31 2004.

What can I say? This guitar sounds right no matter how hard you caress it or how soft you punish it. I sometimes play it late at night, when the kids are sleeping, softly strumming with the side of my thumb. It sounds just as great then as when my not-so-carefull-strat-torturing friend tries to beat the strings off.

There is a large sound difference between light, custom light and extra light strings.
It has a definite "dead spot" on the 9th fret on the A-string.

I almost didn't buy it at first because the action was so high (more than 3/8 or 9 mm). The former owner hadn't played it much and it still smelled of glue solvent. After sitting in its case for 4 years, it looks brand new.
I immediately went to my local luthier an he adjusted the neck and the action to a normal 1.6 - 2.7 mm. The neck was bent forward too much so (probably) the retailer put a wedge below the bridge saddle.

It has a 2 inch long crack in the finish of the backside. The top isn't completely flat behind the bridge. No loose braces though, my luthier said he would have probably sanded some more off the top if it had been one of his.

Its great case protects it well enough.

n.a.

I sold a Tokai Strat, a Grand Suzuki dreadnought, a Legend amp and a Moog Prodigy to buy this guitar and took up playing again after almost twenty years. I started playing in 1973, played in al kinds of bands from 1975 to 1985.
I also own an Ovation Celebrity and a Tomas Tatai classical guitar. Oh, and a midi keyboard that connects to my PC that emulates a Minimoog and DX-7.

Now that I finally own my first Martin guitar, after seeing one for the first time in 1976, I definitely suffer from GAS: I will be wanting an Oratorium model as well. And maybe a National, and some kind of parlour guitar, and a HD-28V or a pre-war D-28 and... and...

You may gather that I am very pleased with my C.F. Martin D-28

I went to a music store one day in 2000, and bought a brand new HD28. I actually wanted a D28, but they never had any. I was determined to walk out with a Martin. I couldn't wait. I paid 3600.00 canadian dollars for the HD. I had it for 2 months. I couldn't get the true Bluegrass sound that I was looking for. I was willing to trade it for a D28. No music store would because of the paper work. Lazy! One day I went to a music store and there was a guy there that owened a 1999 D28, but was looking for a used HD. We traded fair and square. When I first strummed that D28, wow, there it was, the sound I was looking for. Bassy, with loads of punch. The HD to me played like butter and was very nice sounding but I needed the quick response of a D28. It has a striped ebony fingerboard and bridge and the saddle was replaced with bone, the guy also did warranty work for MARTIN.

I love the sound of this guitar. I go to a lot of Bluegrass festivals, and the old fellows there said that she sounds like an old Martin. I also play rock, but love playing bluegrass better. Can't beat those runs!

The action on this guitar is brutal. My mother and sister can't play it cause of the action. I have big strong hands as well as a heavy strum, so it suits me fine. No fret buzz! The finish is really good too. Looks awsome.

There was a band on stage one time playing and a the guitar player broke a string on his Taylor, so they needed a guitar right away. I was camped pretty close so I ran and got my baby. I ran it up on stage to him and he loved it.

I just dealt with the guy I traded it with and he said that if I need any warranty work done to bring it in. Never dealt with MARTIN myself.

I've been playing for 15 years. I also own a Kramer electic with lots of effects. If it was stolen, I think I would drag a knife across my wrists. Just kidding. Man! It would be tuff. But I would definitly buy another one.

2004 model, made in Nazareth, PA. Came with hardshell case and all the good stuff that is on Martin's site. Check there for the complete specs.

I play music from country to hard rock to heavy metal. This guitar fits the bill for all of it. It sounds great for country, sounds great for hard rock ballads, sounds great playing acoustic intros of Ozzy or Metallica.

I bought mine brand new. There was one on the wall and the salesman said he had some in the back unopened. Perfect. That is what I wanted.

He opened two of them for me to play (no 2 guitars sound alike, not even the same model) and I ended up picking the first one. No flaws, nothing. Hell, it was still in the packaging like it came right off the UPS truck.

I've never doubted Martin's reliability and durability. I take it out sometimes but if I was gigging regularly and needed an acoustic, I would either put an alarm on it or buy a cheapy one for live use. I know the Martin would hold up, no doubt, I just dread it getting stolen.

Haven't dealt with their support directly but I got my registration info really quickly after registering the guitar on their site.

I've been playing guitar for almost 20 years. Worked in a music store for 5 years and saw all sorts of different guitars come through. Out of every one of the acoustics, the Martin's impressed me most. The sound is just so rich and full. I love how I can feel the body resonate while playing.

The one thing I wish it had was scalloped bracing but that's another model anyway (HD-28) but I don't mind that it doesn't.

If it were stolen, first I'd cry, then try and replace it....in a heartbeat.

1993 Martin D-28L (lefty) made in Nazareth, PA. Solid spruce top, rosewood back & sides, etc., Optional active fishman pickup installed under saddle. Very basic guiar with the rarest and most critical feature- tone.

I play folk, classic rock, metal, traditionals, and a few classical peices adapted for guitar. It suits all of those styles well because it is a truly beautiful sounding guitar. Altough I have owned it under a month, it is about 11 years old and has aged extemely well. The D-28 has quite a reputation, and take it from someone who is extremely cynical about these things- it is well deserved. Acutally not as bassy as my Taylor 810ce, but extemely present, very loud if you want it to be, very warm & mellow, and must of all, just very rich. Has exactly the "woody" sound i love from old classic rock records (If you like the acoustic tone on Led Zep IV you will not be dissapointed!). High E and B strings chime like freaking bells. I give it a 9 only because I know there are even better sounding Martins out there. Fishman pickup nothing special, Taylor ES blows it away, but it rather superfluous anyway; a guitar like this should be miked.

Action was pretty low, lower than factory, prior owner must have had it redone. The top has aged to a beatiful, rich golden honey color. This particular guitar has many cosmetic flaws, battle scars of a guitar that sounds too beautiful to keep on a stand. But we all know the Martin reputation for craftsmanship. Intonation still damn near perfect, you can play chords in the 12th position with no problem.

This guitar will absolutely withstand live playing, again this guitar is 11 years old, has been very well-used, and still plays and sounds excellent. I play acoustic sitting down, don't know about the buttons. I would depend on it for live performances. Always have a backup ready. There is some shallow cracking on the neck near the headstock, but I don't know how the prior owner trated it so I can't hold it against it.

I t is no longer uner warrantly, never dealt with company. I'm taking it to a luthier next week to evaluate the cracking.

I have been playing for almost 16 years. Acoustics i've owned: an epiphone, fender, and currently own the Martin and a Taylor 810ce. My Taylor has a special place in my heart, my first high-end guitar, and I love it. But I will say without a doubt this guitar sounds even better. I have been playing acoustic twice as much as usual since I got it, and am still discovering all the nuances to the sound. If it was lost or stolen I would definitely get another, old D-28. I love the understated beauty (except the concentric circle rosette- does look ugly). It has everthing I needed and wanted- beautiful acoustic tone. A rare case where the reputation is deserved.

Made in Nazareth, PA in 1995. Bear-claw spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fret board, ebony bridge pins, bone saddle and nut, molded hardshell case, sunrise magnetic pickup, mini-condenser microphone- what a beautiful guitar!!!

When I play any other guitar I long to play my own. Just like any other man who loves his guitar, I can?t say enough about it. The deep rich bass that it produces only comes from the signature sound of a grand old martin; while the crystal clear highs could be picked out of any lineup. Not the loudest guitar I have every played, but certainly the warmest and most clear by no doubt. It is my Magic Martin

When I first received the guitar a while back, I had the action lowered as the bone saddle was being made. After that? a dream. A very ?fast? feel to it afterwards. As for the finish, it is in pretty good condition, however, the guitar goes everywhere with me, so one might expect a few dings here and there. I feel sorry for the person who is afraid to even bring their guitar out the front door? they were meant to be played.

I feel that my guitar will last, and last, and last. I am very happy with the way it has held up- flawlessly.

I have never had the pleasure or sadness of dealing with them, yet I do hear they are great!

This is ?my guitar!? I will never need another in my life, unless it is out of pure indulgence or to just have another pretty ornament to hang on my wall. It is amazing that I even received the guitar; I had a two week old newspaper, with an add that had been running for about a week. I thought the guitar would be long gone, but low and behold? I call the guy and it turns out he is the printing manager at the newspaper and just got tired of running the add, so he pulled it (evidently no one wanted it, or even came to see it). I go look at the guitar, and I knew I had to have it. I offer him all I had at the time, about $900, and he agreed to it (he dropped it from $1250). And ever since, I have been thankful and love to tell the story about everybody?s great loss that didn?t find the time to check it out. I lead worship at my church and it is great for live playing and/or performances.
When I compare the sound to some Taylor guitars I have had the pleasure of playing, like the 814, 810, 710, I feel like the sounds from the Taylors shoot straight out of the sound hole and into the air, Whereas the sound of the Martins tend to fill your ears and encompass your body. The Taylors seem to be very heavy on the treble side with little lower end, whereas the Martins tend to have a bit more lower end to balance their high end. At my local music shop, music 6000, a guitar guy there and I did a side-by-side comparison to a brand new 2004 810-CE Limited Brazilian Rosewood. There was absolutely no comparison between my aged martin and this brand new, tight sounding, $3,000 guitar. It was hard to believe for the both of us, but we both preferred the sweet sound of my d-28, hence the nickname "magic martin" (nickname was given by him, not me).
The d-28 is a great guitar, and I would suggest that if anybody wants one, you go try a few out, I certainly can say that they do not all sound alike. You might not buy one right away; nevertheless I guarantee you will not be disappointed when you do. If it were stolen, after a long good cry, I would start the search over for that mystical ?perfect guitar.?

The Martin D 28 ?dreadnaught?- ?flat-top? acoustic guitar has been Martin?s ?flagship?? since 1931. It is the model most copied by other makers for over 70 years. This is a new 2004, ( post one million serial no.), model. It is constructed from all solid woods, with a spruce top and an East Indian rosewood back and sides, a mahogany neck, and with an ebony fingerboard and bridge. A detailed description is available on the C.F. Martin web site. A Martin 640 / SKB molded case with ?C.F. Martin? embossed into the outside plastic shell was included.

I was able to audition a few new D 28s along with HD 28s and D 18s, and found that this one delivers the signature ?Martin Sound?. It has good string balance and an even response with adequate volume and the typical strong bass, sweet woody mids and a clear bright treble. D?Addario (EJ 17), medium gauge phosphor bronze strings give good results. 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, (It isn?t ?finger picking good?), at least without a thumb pick or finger picks, which I don?t use. No pickup is installed, as I favour the pure acoustic sound. ?pickup,.. finger picking,.. picks..!

There are no obvious construction flaws. The neck is set at the proper angle and it only required a slight fingerboard relief adjustment. The action is slightly high but I will wait until the guitar stabilizes at a lower humidity before I adjust it. (We had a warm humid summer, and this usually causes the action to rise slightly.) There are a few natural grain blemishes in the spruce top but the rosewood back and sides and the mahogany neck have nice wood grain patterns. The gloss finish is well applied. The neck contour feels ?just right? and the left hand slides smoothly on the semi gloss finish. The tuning machines appear to be of medium quality, but they hold the tuning well. The intonation checked out ok.

This guitar is new but its solid feel and precise construction indicates that with the proper care it will be reliable and durable. The neck is stable and maintains the action, tuning, and intonation. I definitely intend to keep this D 28. It is used mainly at home. I will probably replace the molded plastic case, as I don?t like the embossed ?C. F. Martin? logo and it is not very scratch resistant.

I have dealt with this dealer for a few years and have never had to go beyond him for service, so I don?t foresee any problems, and there is a Martin approved luthier near by.

I am very satisfied since I finally acquired this standard Martin. No guitar is perfect, thus the 9 rating. Overall, it is equal to my excellent mahogany bodied 2000 Larrivee D 05. This has been a hobby for over 45 years. I also own a 1988 Fender US Strat, and a 1994 Yamaha AES 1500 B, and have owned another Martin. I traded a 2002 Gibson WM 45, with no regrets, for this D 28.

1995 Martin D-28.
Standard features but well presented. The Martin headstock looks classy.
Great sound from East Indian Rosewood, spruce and mahogany. The finish is wonderful, the wood looks great under a flawless finish.

Sounds like a dream, Great tone and range. Clear if you softly pick or if you strum the hell out of it.
I played 6 guitars the day i bought this one and the D-28 was the best by far.

Great action, just what i expected from a Martin.

Its 10 years old, not a scratch. The sound has matured as its got older.
I dont bother bringing a backup to gigs, not bust a string yet and it stays in tune for a full set list.

never used any.

All i can say about this guitar is its wonderful. Rich tone, great action, well built, wonderful to look at and it has the added straight up respect a martin demands from people.
If you dont have one, buy one.

Nothing to add to what everyone else has noted.

I didn't realize how rich the bottom is on this guitar until I got a Taylor Big Baby. The Big Baby's got great action and a nice high sweet sound but it just lacks the depth and complexity of the sounds that come out of the D-28 (understandably, given the gap in price between the two instruments).

It's a 1974, and in those days Martin glued down the pick guard and then lacquered over it, which over time caused the pick guard to curl up. I was lucky in that this didn't crack the top, but I did have it replaced (for free, of course). While it was being repaired, I asked the tech to lower the action and I'm kicking myself for not doing that 28 years earlier. A little buzzy when you go for big volume, but I'm only playing the family room these days. It's always had this mysterious sponginess at the third fret on the high strings in high humidity, feels like the fretboard is just a little loose from the neck itself, and it makes a little buzz sometimes. I am apparently the only person who hears this, so I let it ride. I understand Martin's setting the D-28 actions lower at the factory these days.

I think this guitar will last forever. Some self-inflicted dings, but the finish is still in great shape and the top is golden now. Frets show some wear but not in need of replacing. Grover machines still work as well as they did when I got it; once in a while I need to adjust the little screws that hold the knobs on the shafts. Still using the same bridge pins that came with the guitar.

As noted, Martin replaced the pick guard and lowered the action for free, about 28 years after I bought it. They really MEAN lifetime warranty.

Started on a hideous Harmony arch-top (Monterey) model in 67, then an imitation Hummingbird (also hideous), then the D-28. Also have the Taylor Big Baby as the beater guitar, and a Fender Strat which was pure self-indulgence. I would get another D-28 in a heartbeat, wouldn't consider anything else. Love the tone, used to hate the action.

Mfg'd in 1974, I purchased my Martin D-28 in a small music store downtown in Wilkes-Barre, PA and has been my primary guitar ever since. I paid $450 with a trade and it was the best investment i have ever made. I will die with this guitar. I still play every week 30 years later and my guitar is like my right arm. I have replaced the frets twice and the pick guard once. I have a fishman pickup in the bridge. I started with transducers since the beginning starting with Barcus-Berry - remember them. My fishman has been fine since I installed it back in 87.

This D-28 has aged 30 years and sound better every day. As it ages, the spruce allows more flex and sustain will increase everytime you play it. Imagine after 30 years of vibration.

I am somewhat hard on my guitar since it is my primary guitar. I play Fla beach bars and patio bars and smokey bars and I polish it and guess what - it still looks great and has turned a shade of orange - it is absolutly beautiful.

30 years as my primary guitar and I have sold many other guitars that i have owned but will never sell this one. I don't need a backup guitar.

Once I was playing my D28 too close to a campfire and melted the coating on the headstock. At that time I lived in PA and took it to them. The VP of Marketing took me to his office and showed me a prototype electric they were working on, gave me a tour of the factory, fixed and shipped me my guitar at NO CHARGE! You can't ask for a better customer support.

I have been playing since I saw the beatles on Ed Sullivan Feb '63 I think. I started playing acoustic in the late 60' at coffee houses and small pubs. I have been playing the songs of this era ever since. I am 50 now and play every saturday evening. I have had nightmares about someone stealing my Martin. I would be devistated. I would try to find another - 30 year old one would be hard to find.
In my opinion there is no comparison to any other guitar.

D-28 (2002)
you know what it has.

Ah-sound-the reason why we're all here.
Well this is why I settled on a Martin for my first high-end acoustic,
After playing cheaper acoustics for a number of years I thought it was about time, so I spend six months researching and comparing models. The D-28,HD28,D-35 have the best sounds bar none for my style, some D-16s and 000s are sweet too-but thats a later purchase :)
The D-28 for me was beauty to behold in terms of sound and each one I had tried in Music shops were very consistent.
The D-28 resonates like you wouldn't believe and is quite balanced. I hardly play my electrics anymore-I don't need an amp or wires or effects.

I bought it from Elderly instruments and so it came set up perfectly-quality is remarkable-beautiful rosewood back and sides, top is perfect with slight silking going on and lovely figuring- Gloss Finish is wonderful but not thick at all which is great.

I don't understand Martin's website pictures of their guitars, you can barely see the detail in these instruments-i guess each guitar has a different grain pattern and they don't want to get the customer believing he is going to get that particular guitar.

I think this guitar could withstand anything,-'cept maybe a 3yr old child.
Very solid- Although I am afraid to leave it on a stand just for the simple fact that I have a 3yr old running around who occasionally likes crash his matchbox cars and likes a passing strum on my guitars.- so I leave my beater acoustic Fender out for quick inspired play.
I actually considered(for 2 seconds) leaving the Martin on a stand then envision crayon scrawls and severe dents. although he really hasn't damaged my other acoustic, I sometimes find toys inside the guitar.
I hope to have the "d" out later when my son grows up and gets his own guitar. Then I will put little men in his guitar.:)

don't know anything about it-newbie to Martins.

I give it a 10 overall because it deserves that. I was shopping for taylors and martins for a while and realized that Martins are far superior in sound which was the major factor, Taylors are pretty and sound nice but don't have the balls of a D-28, you can play any style(flatpick/Fingerstyle) on this guitar and it sounds perfect.

In my opinion the upper end taylors like the 700's are the best sounding but they cost some and dont have the feel & tone of the martins.

HD28 or D28? that was the question.. for a while. I found a HD28 once that sounded like heaven but was like 2200 and it was a bit overpriced & I wasn't ready at the time.
Continuing on I began to compare the HD's. I realized I needed a workhorse/ but beautiful sounding all around guitar & I shouldn't be going after herringbone and frillies -so I picked up some D-28s and realized the D-28 is what I need as well as want-
I wanted a lovely sounding and looking guitar that will not be a showpiece on the wall but something I would play often and not worry about an occasional ding(argh-god forbid).

Some say don't buy from the internet-however I spent many days in several music shops comaparison shopping- and the D-28 was consistent every time, even with old strings it sounded great.
so-I knew of Elderly and checked the vintage section occasionally, finally a afforable d-28 came on in perfect condition- I didn't want an oldie that looked liked someone use to use it as a plow blade & you needed a equity loan to buy it.
-& I didn't care if it was too new or worried about the lifetime warranty-I knew this guitar would be around many years before it had trouble or needed work.
I wanted one to grow old with me-So a 2 year old D-28 was perfect for me cuz it was somewhat broken it and still was like new in finish. It even smells great!
In Conclusion, find a small room and play a D-28 softly and then hard & let the sound bounce off the walls its amazing! My next quest will be for a 000 or OM just for fingerstyle- but that won't be for a long while- I want to spend some years with my D-28 before get into that.
Once you have a D-28 you know what a Drednaught should be.

Used 2001 left handed D-28. All the same standard features as already listed. My only complaint in the features: Chrome Schaller-type closed tuners with the C.F.Martin logo on them. They turn smoothly, but I hate the look of them. I would have preferred Grovers or, even better, open back Waverlys.

That small personal quam aside, the features are as simple and utilitarian as one could expect. No fancy abalone purfling, binding, intricate rosette design work, or extraneous inlays. The fanciest part is the art deco-motifed backstrip that separates the two pieces of bookmatched Indian rosewood on the back of the body.

The D-28 is a basic, no nonsence instrument It has one primary function: to provide the sound that has set the standard of steel string guitars for the past 70+ years. Read on.

Before purchasing my D-28 I owned a Taylor 714ce for a few years and more recently, a Gibson J-180(the Everly Brothers model). The Taylor sounded OK, but I realized as my ears and taste developed that it was too bright and somehow sterile sounding. The J-180 was a jumbo with a nice round tone but lacking in the high end. Again, nothing spectacular.

When I played the D-28, it was exactly the sound I had in my head that I couldn't get before. A loud guitar that projects well with high end "zing", crisp treble, slighty scooped mids and tight bass, as others have mentioned previously. The acoustic growl from the lower strings is a thing of beauty that is classic Martin. It is a very balanced sound and no frequency overpowers another. It is the quintissential acoustic guitar tone. I put medium strings on as soon as I was able and it brought out even more volume.

I agree with the others: forget detail issues like scalloped vs. non-scalloped, Brazilian vs. Indian rosewood vs. mahogany vs. maple vs. whatnot. Let your ears be the judge of what a good sounding guitar is. As an addition to the non-scalloped vs. scalloped debate, non-scallop braced Martins have been around since the mid forties and have been used by countless artists. If a post-war Martin is good enough for the Beatles, Jimmy Page, Elvis, Clarence White(yes, he played a '50s D-18), Bob Dylan, and Steve Howe then it's certainly good enough for me!

I have not compared it to an HD-28 side by side, but to my ears the D-28 has the tone of many a classic recording that I had been searching for years but could not find because of the scarcity of quality left handed instruments. This is the first lefty Martin I have found locally and I'm glad I did at a time that I was able to afford it.

The quality of the workmanship is outstanding.

The laquer is thin, glossy and immaculate compared to the bad orange peel on the top of the headstock of my J-180. Inside the bracing as far as I can see is very clean; not a drop of glue to be found.

Everything is fitted together tightly, no buzzing from any open or fretted strings, and the action is a high but comfortable 3/32" at the 12th fret. I didn't even have to play with the truss rod when I switched from light guage to medium. The satin finish on the neck has been buffed out to a nice gloss which I prefer (I don't know if the previous owner did this?)

The quartersawn spruce top is beautiful to look at. I imagine it will get better with age as the laquer takes on a deeper amber glow.

It seems as reliable as could be for an acoustic guitar. The nitrocellulose laquer will of course not be as sturdy as modern tone robbing plastic/poly finishes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. The finish is already wearing under the pickguard from heavy strumming. I love that!

I don't know. My warranty is void since I bought it used.

I've been playing 13+ years now. I've bought and sold more lefty guitars and amps than I care to mention. I've owned a couple of '52 reissue teles, some strats, a Taylor, Rickenbacker 12 string, '57 reissue Gibson goldtop Les Paul, original 1960 Fender tweed Bassman, the list goes on...Right now I'm down to 3 guitars: a '62 AV reissue Strat, '58 reissue sunburst Gibson Les Paul, and the Martin as well as a '70 50 watt Marshall JMP(great amp).

I wish I found this guitar before I plopped down the coin for the Gibson J-180. I lost some money on the trade-in, but gained the tone I was looking for.

If it were stolen, I would have to buy another Martin dread, no question about it. I would have to compare several lefties side by side, though. I don't know if I'll ever get that opportunity. Acoustic guitars are such individual animals and MUST be played prior to buying--the same model guitar can vary greatly from one to another.

I love the sound of this guitar. It's already opening up at 3 years old. I can't wait to hear it in a few more years. Like I already mentioned, I don't care for the look of the tuners. That's about the only bad thing I can say.

Pretty basic in features. No fancy inlay or binding but still a beautiful guitar to see, smell and play. I personally would like a tortoise pickguard but I'm not complaining. I bought it for the sound and playability, not the looks.

This is why they sell so well! When every other company is basically copying your (Martin's)guitar but putting their own headstock on it, you've created a standard. The rosewood back and sides give it such a clean, punchy tone that is ideal for pickers-which I really am not. I'm a strummer but I still can't think of a sound I would rather have.

FQMS does their setup according to your tastes before they ship it to you. I was concerned at first about mail-order instruments, but these guys are good. I highly recommend them. The action, fit and finish were absolutely flawless.

As long as you take care of it and keep the humidity in check, any guitar would probably last a lifetime.

Have not dealt with them.

I've been playing for 16 yrs. My previous acoustic is a 10 yr. old Epiphone PR-350-S which I have enjoyed playing and learning on. I just got to the point where I thought I deserved an upgrade. If all goes well this could be the last guitar I ever buy. Actually, if all went well, I would have more money and probably buy one of everything, but....
I also considered a Martin 16 series (ooo or dred.) mostly for the electronics at a comparable price to the D-28, but I really wouldn't have used it plugged in much so I went this route.

Industry Standard Dreadnaught, solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides. Not very fancy, but extremely elegant. Purchased new (2003 built)

This is the first rosewood dreadnaught I have ever owned. In fact, I went shopping for a mahogany guitar (D18, Hummingbird). In the past I have never been a fan of D28s, however this particular guitar sounds incredible. I can literally feel the vibrations pass through my body while strumming sitting down.

Guitar needed some adjustements, but dealer took care of all of them,

Brand new, but Ive seen and heard 30 year old D28s that are amazing.
I am sure with proper care and feeding, this D28 will hold up fine.

I am not rating this category as the guitar is to new so I cannot comment on how this particular instrument will hold up.

Purchased a Left D28 two years ago for my son as a graduation persent.
Both Dealer and Martin were superb!

There are other solid spruce/rosewood alternatives out there, some with more glitz, others cheaper. A Martin D28 (just like a Gisbon Les Paul or Fender Tele) is a timeless design. While not inexpensive, it is still the benchmark. Your find a good one, and you grab it. I have been playing for many years and while I am primarily an electric player, I wanted a good solid wood acoustic with a fixed neck (no bolt on excuses!). I own some pretty serious grear (Gibsons: Les Paul 56 Reissue, Les Paul Standard, ES335; Fender American Series Ash Tele and G&L Legacy) so I know a good guitar when I play it. The D28 inspires me to be a better player. Dealer (Guitars ETC is highly recomended as well).

1990 D-28 from Nazareth, PA, USA. Solid sitka top and Indian rosewood back and sides. Mohogany neck. Ebony bridge and fretboard. Nitrocellulose high gloss finish all around. Came with Martin Hardshell case. I guess it could have a pickup, but I don't want one... I got a $100 in soundhole pickup and it works just fine for me. Included bone or ebony bridge pins, saddle and nut would be nice, but they are cheap upgrades if I take the suggestions and go that route.

I play rock, blues, country, reggae, folk and more and this guitar sounds great for all of them. I was looking into Taylors (410s) before I got this guitar and played a D-28 at the store. It was far more expensive, but the tone was leaps and bounds above. I decided I would wait until I could afford a D28, and then found a good deal on this used one. It sounds beautiful and I personally like the tone better than the new D35 and 45s I've played. Big sound, but compact and tight, not real loose like a Jumbo. The guitar I own is the best sounding guitar I've played in any guitar store. It's a joke to compare my previous guitar, an ovation balladeer, to this. I think someone mentioned a Pepsi can... I'd say Gatorade bottle. The tone kills my fathers 1970 Guild steel string by all accounts.

I'm playing with strings right now... started with Elixir Mediums which I had always used on my other guitars. Very even toned, great for strumming, but slippery on the right hand picking. Went to D'addario EJ17 last night and they are taking some getting used to. For induvidual notes they kill the Elixirs on this guitar... nice woody sound that the D28 has with these strings... but far harder on the left hand fingers... just some extra info for those interested!

I think the action is perfect and a number of people have remarked at how easy the guitar is to play. The only finish flaws I've noticed are around the tuning pegs... it seems like the finish dripped so there are gaps of finishless wood around a few of the tuners. VERY minor and you have to really look for it.

I'd have no problem taking this playing live... I play it hard and often and have had no structural issues, nor do I ever feel there is undue strain on any of the guitar's parts. Hardware all seems top knotch and it stays in tune great.

Haven't had to deal with them yet.

I've been playing for about 4 years only, and am really glad to have found 'my guitar' so early. I love this guitar... great sound, applicable to all styles, plays like a dream. If this was stolen, I'd have a heart attack. After my recovery I'd get another D-28 (and maybe try out some HD-28's while I was at it), but I think this one is really special (kinda like getting another golden retriever to replace the one that got ran over... just not the same). I got this one at a good price, so for me it was quite the value, though I would pay full retail price for another one in a heartbeat(list price is a joke).

I've also owned an ovation custom balladeer and a baby taylor, and there's no comparison (thought the taylor is great if you travel, but I don't...)

This is a response to Jeffrey Tobbins. Jeffrey, Jeffery, what are we gonna do with you? I fully understand what you were saying, but you are misunderstanding solid wood guitars. All D-28's sound very lame when brand new. But you have to play it in! They have to break in--think baseball gloves. Cheaper laminate guitars sound the same the day you get them to the day you finally have them cremated. But a D-28 takes some time to give that legendary tone. I hope you haven't sold your guitar yet--keep playing it and you will see why people worship the guitar so much.

Standard D28 features as listed in other reviews. Good tuners.

When I first got this guitar, I was unbelievably excited that I had just purchased a real Martin and the hype of the guitar quickly got to me. As the door rang and the UPS guy delivered the guitar, my heart beat so fast that I thought I was going to die. Taking it out of the package, oh wow, it was just incredible.

The guitar was very well finished. The looks are classic Martin, although I thought the pickguard seemed less attractive than I had remembered it from playing many friend's Martins in years past.

The moment of absolute euphoria drew near, and I played a few chords after tuning it up.

and... oh boy... it was way under my expectations. Maybe it was just the amazing hype that this guitar has gotten but it sounded... well... plain. The best way to describe it is that it sounds like a Squier or an entry Epiphone. The oft-described mids of this guitar are extremely dull and lifeless.

I figured maybe I was just having an off day with my hands and decided to bring out my stage guitar, a Washburn D46SCE Southwest. There is just no comparison. The Washburn's sound was still full of life, energetic, clear, and simply beautiful to the hands and body as well as the ear. And the Martin was... well..., a Squier.

All I can say that while many guitar afficiandos worship this guitar, you really have to have a taste for its feel. Maybe that comes with being older, but at 24 I cannot fathom how a 2500 dollar guitar can sound so terrible. I can honestly say that I'm not one of those "nu" freaks that lives and dies by the high gain Soldano or Triple-Rec stacks, and nor do I have 3 compressors on my effect chain. I've played classical, blues, rock and country on steel string guitars for 10 years now...

For the price, this has to be a 2.

The action was very good, as was the finish. This has to be expected from such an expensive guitar though. Nothing spectacular.

Everything seems good except for the pickguard, which seems a bit cheap and more suited for an entry level guitar.

They were very helpful when I called them to return the guitar.

I have been playing for 10 years, since I was 14, and I am incredibly dissapointed with this guitar for many reasons, some of which are stated above. I have played many, many guitars over the years and have gotten a good feel for acoustic tone and feel.

The D28 is not a bad guitar, but one that should retail for about 300 or 400 dollars. It is solid, but overall just leaves the impression that its a souped up cheap guitar.

I returned it after a week of trying to make myself believe that I liked it.

I'm writing about my 1981 D-28-- I'm the original owner, and have been playing this guitar for 22 years. You all know the features-- rosewood back and sides, beautiful sitka spruce top, all solid woods and hand carved neck (diamond feature on the back), etc. The neck on this guitar was made without a truss rod- at the time they were carving the necks at a slightly backwards angle, such that the strings would pull the neck up to the proper placement. Big and deep dreadnought shape,etc. Original black hardshell Martin case (I got this just after they stopped making the blue cases which, apparently, had been too easy for thieves to spot). No inlay or decorative frills.

Incidentally-- I use a lot of alternate tunings, and these tuners have given me NO grief in all these years!

I have played this guitar HARD for many years and taken it with me everywhere. I used it as a summer camp songleader, have played around many a campfire, mostly folk and later fingerstyle playing... coffeehouses,accompaning choral performances,etc. It went with me to college. Has been on a few airplanes (hand carried, always!)

This guitar has always had a very rich and full sound-- loud projection, etc. I started playing with light strings and eventually developed the strength to play on mediums (which really brings out this guitar's fullness). The sound was originally very bright, of course, when the wood was new. 22 years later, the wood grain has loosened and the color has darkened...and this guitar has the mellowest deep tones you have ever heard-- and while it is not as bright as it once was, it has lost no richness of tone in upper registers.

It now suits my mostly fingerpicking style VERY nicely (and did well for the mostly strumming I did as a songleader when I was young)-- it projects beautifully and I can use very gentle picking and not rip up my nails and it sounds great. I use a thinline pickup which was installed under the bridge many years ago...I find that there is disproportionate pickup on the B string-- it is hotter than the others-- and this needs to be adjusted with EQ when performing plugged in or recording through pickup.

I don't remember the original set up-- but there were no flaws that I know of. Over the years, I have had lower fretwires replaced once (from heavy use) and have had the neck pressed once due to a small amount of bowing that mostly affects the frets close to the guitar's body (which I use in fingerstyle play). I replaced the original endpins (ivory colored plastic with black dots) with wooden ones made out of ebony with mother of pearl dots, just cuz they were prettier. I also I currently find the guitar most comfortable to play when capo'ed on the 2nd or 3rd fret-- I'm not sure why-- it just seems to sing best there.

This guitar is SOLID and very durable-- I have taken it everywhere with me, and thanks to a really high quality case, it has just lasted and lasted. It has a number of dings and scratches that were TOTALLY my fault. These are all superficial. The finish has held up remarkably well (is starting to check a bit now)-- the only place it didn't was just above the soundhole where it is my (bad) habit to rest the heel of my hand when I'm picking, and I had worn the finish enough that I decided to add a pickguard there.

Strap button is solid, and the tuners are awesome-- they continue to be very accurate and smooth despite hard use and using lots of alternate tunings. It is entirely dependable, and I have used it on many gigs without backup (not having any backup!) in many settings from intimate coffehouse to dining hall full of 500 kids, and it carries equally well in each! I had problems with string breakage in the hard-strumming dining hall setting, which was solved when I switched from light gauge to medium gauge strings.

I have had little dealing with Martin over the years. They have a lifetime warantee on their guitars to the original owner, but I understand at this time that they require some proof to that effect, and since this guitar was bought for me when I was a teenager, I don't have receipts or anything...would have a tough time providing proof. I have visited their factory and taken their tour, though, and would recommend this to anyone who is passing by the area...

I have been playing guitar since I was 10 y.o. (28 years) and was given this guitar on my 16th birthday-- my parents didn't understand why I wanted a new/better guitar, although I knew I was bumping into both high-end and low-end limitations on my Elger. I brought them into the store and played a song on my Elger... then I picked up this D-28 and played the same thing and the lightbulbs went off over their heads... they GOT it!

This has been my primary instrument for all these years. I've also owned a Yamaha 12 string, a vintage Gibson A4 mandolin, an Aria bass, and a cheap nameless tenor banjo. THIS GUITAR IS ABSOLUTELY IRREPLACEABLE!! It has all my travels and tunes worn into its grain and tone-- I'm sure I could find another good instrument, but this guitar has aged with me, and there is no replacement for that.

At this time, I am looking for a small, lightweight parlor/travel guitar that I can pick up and play more easily-- one that is smaller and lighter and can be trucked around in a gig bag. I currently find that the size and heft of this guitar is sometimes a deterrent to frequent playing now that I am not performing as much. But I think of this as something to help me keep my chops up so that I can keep playing the Martin and enjoyting it...

standard modern d-28 without scalloped braces...oh yeah....it came with a nice case.

what can i say? it sounds like a martin d-28. very loud, though the herringbone i tried on the same day was much louder, but not as clean. this guitar has nice bass, with clean treble. single note runs are defined nicely, though not as much as...say...an OM model. most people consider this the "bluegrass model," but that's doing it a disservice. it has a wonderful when finger picked. not as easy to record or amplify, but is that really what guitar playing is about? this guitar is great for songwriting....

very easy to play, even with medium strings. great fit and finish. i tried a few gibsons (a j-45 and an AJ, and the quality was laughable...they felt crappy, to be honest). i must say, martin has a handle on the consistency thing. every d-28 i tried sounded almost exactly the same.

everything seems of a high grade. the guitar is a 1998 model. i guess it will start sounding even better with time....can't tell since i play her every day. the case it came with is very nice and plush. i wish the top would age a little wuicker for that "yellowed" look....but you can't rush certain things.

i've had no problems. the warranty seems good, and i was invited to the factroy for a tour...which i haven't the opportunity to do...yet.

i would highly recommend this guitar. many sales people tried to sell me another model saying "it sounds just like a martin" or "you should try this one as well...it's like a d-28." honestly, i tried a taylor, a larrivee, a guild, as well as other high-end models and while they all sounded good (which they should at this price range!), none of them moved me like the martin. they all had specific abilities which may have exceeded the martin's attributes slightly (the larrivee sounded like a better fingerstyle guitar, the taylor had a lower action and was easier to play), but none of them approached the d-28's ability to play EVERYTHING well. it's loud, it's sweet, it's clean, it's bassy, and....if you are a romantic...a f^&$*% martin!!!!