Martin HD-28 Acoustic

2002 HD-28. Standard features - you know them all. Not a whole lot of frills, but if you bought the HD-28, you probably were either 1) stretching as far as you could price-wise, or 2) you were looking for THE classic Dreadnaught look and sound, and didn't care for a lot of abalone etc. In my case, it was both motivations.

I almost fell off my chair when I played this guitar. It plays fingerstyle and strumming equally well. This guitar has PUNCH. The guitar literally vibrates your arms with energy when you play it.

It is fuller on the bass than other guitars I have spent time with, but I do have it set up with medium strings (lights might take some of that away if you don't like it). Note that I like the deep sound (20,000 leagues worth, baby!), as it is a full-bodied warmth that gets the crowd feeling the music when you play solo, and makes this instrument a real rhythm-maker when playing with others.

Tonal qualities are the best I have ever played. Stick a capo on the 6th fret and the thing is in tune (per an electronic tuner). Wow.

I really have to say that it was worth every cent. People who know listen to guitar music but don't know a Martin from a Sigma comment on the incredible sound.

This baby will make you want to play all the time.

This guitar was set up post-factory by the pros at The Guitar Shop in Knoxville, TN, and I never saw the factory setup or how much it was modified if any. It currently has a medium-low action with medium Martin strings.

The top is typical Martin. A customer knocked it over and put two small (3 x 1 mm) scores in the finish (you have to look really close to see them), which resulted in me obtaining this guitar at a sizeable discount.

The rosewood back does deserve mention - it has a unique (and desireable) pattern and color that made me surprised Martin used it on an HD-28 instead of one of its more expensive models.

Everything else is near-perfect. I did look inside the guitar and noticed one spot where you could see glue between the 1/2mm spaces in the ribbon bracing (not in the guitar). But, the exceptional back makes me forgive this niggling detail.

I have not had the guitar long, but not only to I expect it will live up to typical Martin quality, but it has the lifetime warranty. It does look bomb-proof, though.

Not yet needed - hopefully not ever!

2003 Martin HD28 ,made in Nazareth Pennsylvania.20 frets ,14 clear.Dreadnought size body ,all solid woods ,sitka spruce top ,Indian rosewood back and sides.Ebony finger board and bridge ,wonderful playing guitar.Neck is solid mahagony ,feels great and is very high quality.The herringbone top inlay and tortoise shell pickguard make for a beautful and vintage style instrument.The tuners are Gotoh type tuners and are very fluid and the HD28 stays in tune.25.4" scale.The case is a high quality airline case ,molded ,very nice lining ,accessory compartment ,lock and key.

The HD28 sounds full and rich ,evenly balanced with a very beautiful ,articulate tone and sustain.The HD28 is very well suited to rock ,blues ,folk and I honestly feel comfortable with this guitar and any music I would play.The scalloped bracing allows the HD28 to really bring out that beautiful rosewood tone.I put on a new set of Martin's MSPPLUS4200 phosphor bronze strings and they sound sweet ,adding a tonal quality I have come to love.Martin's rich full tone enhanced with a nice brightness.After months of playing many different guitars at several stores ,I thank God for this guitar , it is truly a wonderful instrument.

The factory set up was excellent ,Martin has never left me with any doubts as to their quality materials and workmanship.The action is normally high on Martins ,the HD28 feels very good to me as it came from the factory, I did some minor tweaking and am very happy with the guitar's playibility.The bookmatched top is beautiful and very well put together.The bridge and saddle are well made also, Martin didn't miss anything I can see on this guitar.

Have owned several Martins and this one in particular is very high quaility and there is no reason it wouldn't do well playing live.The tuning machines are very fluid and the HD28 stays in tune ,again ,no concerns here.The polished gloss finish is beautiful and very durable.I would have no reservations about relying on this guitar to play or record with.As far as a backup ,the only reason for more than one guitar would be the different tonal qualities/styles of music to be performed ,no need to worry about this Martin HD28 letting me down.

The limited lifetime warranty gives me peace of mind on my purchase.Have always got quick replys and answers to any questions/concerns from Martin.

Been playing for 33 years and own a Takamine ,Taylor ac/el ,Alvarez classical ,Fender Strat ,Harmony electric and other Martin guitars.I would replace this guitar with the same.The tone and sustain of this guitar are wonderful.The feel and playibility are the best I have owned.I compared the HD28 with Taylor ,Gibson ,Guild and found nothing close to the HD28 in sound and quality of construction.If you are on the hunt for a great rosewood dreadnought , an HD28.

This is a 1997 model purchased new that year. Appearance is the usual, repeated here - all solid woods, rosewood body, spruce top, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and a reddish tortiseshell style pickguard. And of course, there is the lovely Herringbone trim around the top! It is not a flashy guitar, but classic in understated elegance. Martin has been making this guitar in one form or another since the early 1930s and it looks basically the same as always.

Huge. Loud. Punchy. With medium gauge strings (the only type that should be used on powerful dreadnaughts IMHO) this beast thumps like a kick drum and really fills up a room. Highs are bell-like and clear. Terrific flatpicking guitar, it really has that classic old fashioned sound right away. A veritable pipe organ.

Bass is very powerful, a hallmark of D-28s which makes them just OK for fingerstyle but oh they really shine with a flatpick. Tremendous for rhythm work, too. I have done a lot of recording with this instrument on both rhythm and solos, both sound gorgeous and full.

I never, ever stick with factory setups, so I don't remember how this one was. I took it to my luthier the day I bought it for refitting with bone nut & saddle. The original saddle was micarta, which I consider a bit cheesy for a nice guitar like this.

Also the original frets, while well adjusted, were too low for further milling. After 3 years of playing I had worn them down a bit and had to replace them completely as Martin had not left enough metal to work with. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise - the original frets were 0.025" high and the new ones are 0.040", which makes the guitar EVEN LOUDER than before. Whew!

The finish is very good, except for a couple of spots on the white binding that have chipping inexplicably. This shouldn't happen but it is truly minor.

I keep my action low with medium gauge strings (Elixir nanowebs) and adjust the truss rod about 3 times a year to compensate for weather changes, etc. It plays very, very well indeed.

My low rating here reflects the original factory setup, not my current setup which I love.

This guitar can be passed along to my grandchildren. It is build like a classic old Martin and they have nothing to prove.

I have never used Martin warranty in over 30 years of playing (I have owned 6 Martins in that time) because I always have local craftsmen I trust so well. Money is not a problem and so I just have those people fix what needs fixing. However, the people at Martin are always a pleasure to speak with and you really ought to visit the factory.

I have been playing for 30 years, and spent about 12 of those doing nothing but guitar for a living. My other guitars are primarily electrics (Telecaster, Strat) and I am getting a small bodied guitar soon to replace another Martin dreadnaught I just sold (probably a Martin 000 size for fingerstyle). I perform a lot of traditional Americana, from bluegrass and folk to rockabilly and R&B. I prefer very traditional sounds as a result.

I love my HD-28 and would replace it with another similar Martin immediately if it were lost. I love the feel on my chest and the responsiveness under my right hand best of all - it just feels great! I have compared it to other great guitars (Collings, Taylor) and I am well satisfied with my choice.

Reissue of the Classic Martin pre-war dreadnaught
Solid Spruce top
Solid Indian Rosewood sides and back
One piece Mahogany neck
Ebony fingerboard and Martin D28 dart on back of peghead
Herringbone binding
Ebony bridge
Scalloped top braces
25.4" scale, twenty frets
Schaller tuners
Made in Nazareth, Pa
Lifetime warranty
Martin hardshell case

I tried every rosewood guitar I could, and this guitar made all the others sound thin, bright, and stiff (including the D16RGT, standard D28 and D35, as well as the Taylor 710 and 810) . This guitar is so rich, full, and three dimensional sounding, it amazes me every time I play it. It seems to accentuate just the right frequencies no matter how you play it. And it responds perfectly to your every touch. Honestly, I can't imagine how a real, aged pre-war Martin could be any better. The finest sounding instrument I've ever played

Top and back woods higher quality than less expensive Martins
Martin's impeccable fit and finish
Action high as are all Martins right from the factory, but the higher the action, the better the tone

As with all high quality guitars, if cared for it will outlast you
Has a lifetime warranty against defects
Martin's reputation for the finest is uncontested and legendary
Dovetail neck joint more complicated if a neck reset is ever necessary, but I think it sounds better than bolt on necks

Martin has a sterling reputation for customer service
The lifetime warranty is second to none
After I bought this guitar I sent Martin an e-mail and they responded within a day

I have been playing for over thirty years and have owned dozens of guitars, but never have I played one that sounded this good
The is the closest to a pre-war classic for the least cash
I could never play anything else again, unless it was an even more expensive Martin
Compared it to D16RGT, D28, D35, Taylor 710 and 810, Collings D2, Gibson Songbird Deluxe and J45 Rosewood, and several Takamines
I also have several Stratocasters and an Epiphone Les Paul
and a Fender amp

Made in 2000. Solid Sitka Spruce top. Solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides. Mahogony neck with Ebony fingerboard. Herringbone top border and scalloped braces.

The woods used and the workmanship is outstanding. This guitar is a thing of real, understated beauty. Where it does lose points, however, is with the plastic nut, saddle and bridge pins. For a guitar of this value I feel Martin could use something better. Also, the molded plastic case, whilst strong, is not as attractive as a traditional wooden case.

Despite those minor complaints this guitar is stunning.

The HD28's legend is built upon it's sound. The scalloped bracing gives the guitar a huge advantage over the non-scalloped D28. Flatpicked, the HD28 has a strong rich bass, sparkling trebles and fantastic balance in between. I am surprised at how great the guitar sounds when fingerpicked as well. I expected the HD28 to be too boomy for fingerstyle and bought it for flatpicking. It has turned out, however, to be a superbly versatile instrument.
I flatpick bluegrass and a little Jazz and fingerpick blues, ragtime, Jazz and more modern fingerstyle music. This guitar sounds terrific playing all those styles.
The sound has improved significantly in the 2 years I have had it so I am looking forward to hearing it in 10 years time.

When I bought the guitar the action was too high for my taste. However, that is a very easy thing to correct and in no way put me off buying it. Everything else about the guitar was perfect.

I've only had the guitar 2 years but it does seem solid and durable. There are certainly plenty of vintage Martins around in good enough condition to suggest that this guitar will last.

I've never had to deal with Martin. They seem to have a pretty good reputation.

I have been playin guitar for about 16 years. The only other quality guitar I own is a Martin OM21. I am a big fan of Martin guitars and have no regrets or complaints about either guitar. Before I bought the HD28 I compared it with a Santa Cruz D, a Taylor 810 and a couple of others. The only one that came close was the Santa Cruz which was a wonderful guitar. If I was buying again I would look at Santa Cruz and Collings but they would have to be something special to make me move away form the HD28.

2001 Model
HD 28 standard model.
Gieb case.

The best sounding acountic I've ever had. I had a Taylor 510 (nice but too bright), with SP strings this guitar SINGS!

Set up beautifully. Perfect intonation, great action.
Flawless finish.

Very solid, but I'm very careful with it.

Haven't tried them yet.
Hope i don't have to!

I'll keep this one forever. Have been learning to play for 15 years now, and this will be the one that shows me the way! Tone is stunning. Playability is excellent! Stay with the SP strings (Di'Addarios sound flat).

2002 model, beautiful natural finish spruce top, deep brown (slight red streaks) East Indian rosewood back & sides, herringbone top trim, mahogany neck, ebony (not striped) fretboard and bridge, molded case, low-profile neck (kinda' fat like I like 'em, but they do vary) . Really the most "high end" features on any guitar in it's price range. Rosewood, ebony, and herringbone for this price, what a steal!!

I give it a 10, because the tone is perfect. A little loud and on the bassy side, but lightening up on the pick makes it "just right". Nice and rich for fingerpicking too. It a powerhouse when you need it and it can really ROCK OUT, no kidding here either. This guitar produces one the most beautiful woody tones I've ever heard. I must be starting to break it in, because it has a little jangly treble edge to it now which I find is the icing on the cake. You can feel this guitar resonate when you play it, it's almost like it becomes an extended part of your body.

If you don't want a very loud guitar than you can strum the heck out of even while your singing, I'd say go for the D-28/18/18 series, or Gibson J-45 instead. I personally have found the HD-28 the be a beast that is more than worth my while to tame.

The action is medium on mine. I will have it lowered slightly soon by a friend that owns a guitar shop. Everything cosmetic is perfect on this guitar. This is my first "high end" acoustic and my first natural top. This instrument is a "less is more" real ACOUSTIC guitar and doesn't need a bunch of extras to distract from it's folk (pardon the pun) art look. It was in style when it came out, still even now, and will be until the end of time.

Martin is the best all the way around.

Call or e-mail "Martin" and they will answer all your questions in a kind and timely manner.

about 7 years off and on.

This guitar can be on the loud side and that is the only thing I might change about it. I'd soften the volume a little bit, after all we do have alot of choices nowadays to amplify guitars that we didn't back in the day.

My guitar is a 2001 model Martin HD-28. Solid spruce top, 2-piece solid rosewood back, solid rosewood sides, solid rosewood neck with unbound ebony fingerboard, 14 frets clear of the body, standard gloss finish, scalloped 5/16" bracing, encased tuning machines...came with a nice hardshell case. All wood pieces are excellent, beautiful cuts. I kind of wish the guitar came with some nice gold tuners, and perhaps some little appointments here and there, and black binding instead of white, but that's all just aesthetics. What I DO really wish is that Martin would spring for a bone nut and saddle.

I play bluegrass and old-time music, and the sound of this guitar is astonishing, especially for the bluegrass. The bass is just growling, but can be subdued when desired. The mid is punchy and clear, and the highs come through undisturbed by the monstrous lows. Sound is very even up the fingerboard. This is a guitar you can feel in your chest...typical of Martins, especially rosewood Martins. But this one is indeed an upgrade in sound quality from the less expensive rosewood D-28 due to the bracing. This in my opinion is the best bluegrass guitar out there dollar for dollar...if you want to spend more money on a Martin, you can, but all you're really getting in my opinion is more eye-candy. I've played my HD-28 against an SPD-16, a couple D-18's and a D-45...in terms of colume, this guitar can bury the mahogany D-16 and D-18's easily (thought the point can be made that the mahogany's do have a unique warmth, and I agree), and is every bit as loud and clear as the D-45. And Taylors and Gibsons, and I mean ALL Taylors and Gibsons, don't even stand a chance. What's best...this guitar is a banjo killer! A warning though, you have to be careful when micing this guitar, however. You may have to adjust the bass to avoid overdrive.

The action was perfect out of the factory (I've since had to make adjustments due to changes in the weather...nothing major). The wood on the top is almost perfectly bookmatched...can't say anything bad about the action, fit, or finish. Excellent craftsmanship.

This guitar is built like a brick !#@$-house, and with appropriate care, my grandson will inherit this from his father (well...I guess only time will tell). I have and will continue to play out with this guitar. In fact, this is the only guitar I own that I'll play out with anymore!

Haven't dealt with them yet, but I've heard nothing but good things. Buying the guitar was a pleasure, and you can't beat a lifetime warranty.

Been playing for 11 years. I own a cheap Washburn (bought when I was young and naive...worst investment I've ever made) and a Carvin C-550 (a great solid rosewood dreadnaught for the money). Also own a cheap Ibanez electric guitar, and was given a cheap hand-me-down banjo that I never learned how to play. Needless to say, my Martin is the crown jewel of my collection, and if it were lost (yeah right!) or stolen, after sobbing for days, I'd collect my insurance money, and go grab another one right away. Maybe I'd think about getting a mahogany Gallagher or Huss and Dalton first, but eventually I'd decide to get another HD-28. This guitar is just the total package for me in terms of sound, and I don't care enough about the eye candy for that to matter. What's great is that this thing seems to sound better every single time I play it (at least if the strings are fresh). If you've got the dough to spend, don't tust me, give this one a whirl for yourself (try several if possible, as each one sounds a bit different).

This is a 1976 HD-28. The first-year of the HD-28 re-issue. I bought it in 1976 from the Fifth String in San Francisco. As far as can be determined, it was the first HD-28 on the West Coast.

Solid Spruce top, Indian Rosewood sides and back, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge. Black pick guard (tortoise on the new ones). Nifty herringbone purfling. This guitar has the best top I have ever seen on a 28-level Martin. Fabulous rosewood, too. I think Martin put a lot of energy into this re-intro and the first ones were pretty special. Of course, the brand new one I looked at in the music store last week was pretty damn special, too!

Scalloped bracing- they used to call it "voice bracing" but it's something else now. Medium strings or lighter only.

Finish was flawless, sadly I have now put some nicks in it here and there. It has mellowed to that beautiful yellow tone we all love.

I am primarily a finger-style and flat-picker, but I play lots of musical styles- all poorly for all my years of experience!

This guitar has superb tone. The bass is, of course, booming, because this is a Martin dreadnaught, but the treble is amazingly loud and clear. I love putting new strings on this guitar- sustain is incredible.

This guitar will cut through a roomful of other acoustics.

Action was too high for my taste so I had the Fifth String lower it and replace the plastic nut and saddle with compensated bone. I do this for every guitar I buy. The action would have been fine for a person who primarily flatpicks.

Absolutely no flaws or defects, but I have always hated those plastic parts.

This guitar is 26 years old and as solid as the day it left the factory. There are not even any finish checks. The older I get the more careful of it I become, but it ought to last for the rest of my 12 year old daughter's life when I hand it down to her.

I don't play on stage much but I gigged with this guitar when it was new- who could afford a backup? I'd trust this guitar with anything you could throw at it this side of outright abuse. It stays in tune- period.

I have never had to contact Martin for anything regarding this guitar or any of the other Martins I have owned, but the warranty is there if I ever need it.

I have been playing for about thirty years. Lots of guitars have passed through my hands, including a pair of Martin D-18's, a cheapo Japanese Crown dreadnaught, several Yamaha classical guitars, and various electrics. I still have a mint 1968 Fender Lead III, a couple of nylon string guitars for the kids, a Go Walnut Grande travel guitar on order, and the HD-28. I am going to buy my daughter a Martin 00-15 because she can hardly hold the HD-28, but I can't see any more acoustics in my future.

If this guitar were lost or stolen, I could never replace it. Way too much history. I'd buy another Martin for sure, though.

I ordered this guitar the day I heard that Martin was re-introducing it. When it came in I played it against every Martin in the shop. It didn't give anything up to a D-45, and it has just gotten better with age.

My HD-28 is a 150th anniversary model...I think I purchased it in 1985. I was lucky and got it for wholesale. At the time, retail was around $1100. As for features, not that much to an acoustic...the usual (for Martin) Sitka Spruce, Indian Rosewood, etc. The only "feature" with a Martin is quality with a capital "Q"!

Rich, full sound with a lot of resonance. The sound that I get, after restringing, then doing some open "E" stuff, just about knocks my socks off!

As stated before, Martin means quality! Everything was as it should be...and continues to be.

I learned through the years to put a cloth over the top when playing, or wear long-sleeve shirts. Even though I clean mine thoroughly when changing strings, I've noticed a slight "dulling" where my right arm has made contact over the front over the years. This is due to skin acids/perspiration and in time, it will take a toll. I also noticed a few years ago, that the white binding around the herringbone was becoming loose in the curves (top and bottom) of the body. No problem, it was repaired by a local luthier at Martin's expense...remember the lifetime warranty?

As stated above, I had an issue with the binding separating from the body after about 15 years. The repair was done by a local luthier at Martin's expense. Martin contacted me afterwards to ensure that it was done to my satisfaction...class act!

Been playing guitar since early 60's. I've owned/played Taylor's, Takamine's, Guild's, Gibson's, Epiphone's, etc. It took a while for my "ear" to develop to the point that I could discern the difference in sound between guitars. Since the HD-28 purchase, it's the only guitar that I own...don't need/want anything else.