Martin HD-28 Acoustic

1990 HD-28P (P=low profile neck). Just the right amount of ornamentation (herringbone bindings) with Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, Rosewood bridge, Ebony bridge pins with Abalone tops, Micarta saddle. Really nice to look at and finish really improved to showroom when I polished with beeswax paste. Dreadnought style with Martin tuners, Martin case which fits guitar perfectly, built-in pick-up. What more could you want?

Like all Martins it is a little too much on the bassy side and I would lose it a point for this, but overall the sound is rich, warm but bright with the right set of strings on it, and I am sure it will improve as my playing improves.

Great action sorted out by previous owner. A few blemishes on the top which unnerved me when it arrived as they were not clear on the photographs, but now I see that I will be able to tell my Martin in a crowd because of them and I feel much more relaxed about it. Almost like a personalisation sort of thing. Hey, that's mine there with that little blemish!

Only recently got it so don't want to comment too much on durability. If it has lasted this long and is in this kind of condition then I guess it won't be a problem. Little worried about the bellying and will lose it a point because I will have to take it to my local guitar shop every year just to keep an eye on it, but could be worrying unnecessarily as it seems to be common to Martins.

Secondhand so not applicable.

This is one beautiful little Martin guitar. It fits nicely onto my lap and is very easy to play. It looks beautiful without being overstated and sounds warm, but also bright and bluesy and has a more restrained sound than a Gibson, which is just what I wanted. This is the only expensive acoustic I will ever be able to afford, but in dreamland I would love to own other Martins if they are all of this calibre. Difficult to compare with other guitars, but I have a friend who has just bought a Taylor and I thought it looked and sounded thin and cheap up to the Martin. It had a sort of satiny finish which cannot compare to a seasoned Martin.

Buying off eBay can be a nightmare I know and you lay yourself open to abuse when spending a lot of money, but I got to know the seller really well by e-mail (a promo Nashville guitarist who had excellent feedback - you have to read between the lines and ignore the usual `Great eBayer' replies and look for genuine remarks of approval and thanks). There were 32 photographs in the advert so I was pretty sure of what I was getting and a great and detailed description of the guitar and its history.

If you want a Martin and don't want it too loud or bright then this would suit you well although I would think you could make it perform if you wanted it to (and had the ability).

A lot of money I know, but everything about it is class and it is worth every penny. Wonderful guitar!

Love this Model. I own a 1999 HD-28

Booms like it was amplified

Beautiful to look at! Add some gold Grover butter bean tuners and it is Awsome......

Mine has been stuck up into a Ceiling fan and it took a licking and keeps on ticking

Fantastic people working at Martin factory. Kudo's to Paula Primrose

Best buy for the buck from Martin ever.

Mine is a 1990 HD-28 P. The P stands for low profile, which I understand became the standard for the D-28s after 1990. The other features have been pretty well coverec; scalloped bracing, Indian Rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard and bridge, Schaller tuners. I give it a 9 for features because, although it doesn't have a bunch of features, it has the right ones and I don't want to bring down the overall rating because its not pimped out with extraneous B.S.

The sound is hard to describe, because it has a lot of them. I play a fairly broad range of styles and this guitar covers them all very well. This guitar has the classic bluegrass sound nailed, but then again, the Blues never sounded sweeter than on this guitar. At 18 years she has opened up beautifully and projects like a cannon. Very well balanced also. Equally fine for fingerpicking or flat picking.

The action on this low profile neck is amazing for an acoustic guitar. It rivals some of my better electrics, and is equal to or better than the other acoustics in my arsenal; Breedlove Focus, 1983 Martin D-35 and Martin MC-40. After 18 years the finish on the front has a couple of tiny dings (my fault) but otherwise the finish hasn't checked, the action is low with no buzz, the binding is intact and the top has turned a beautiful dark honey color.

Almost 20 years old and only better with age. Nothing has failed on this guitar and it has seen its fair share of playing around.

I've dealt with Martin before when I had pickguard issues on my D-35. I took it to an authorized luthier who did a great job and they took care of the bill, no problem. Lifetime warranties are pretty cool.

I've been playing a little over 40 years, although playing a long time doesn't necessarily translate into being an accomplished musician. This guitar is a classic and has earned its reputation. Its also a very beautiful guitar in an understated kind of way. What do I love about this guitar? I like to pick it up and slide my hand down that smooth ebony neck, lightly fingerpick a few notes that ring like crystal and follow that with a few power chords at full volume. The result is what I love about this guitar.

If it were stolen, I'd start my search for another vintage Martin HD-28. Thankfully, there are quite a few around and the prices although high, are not out of reach for most. I mean you are talking about quality craftsmanship from right here in the good old U.S of A. and part of an American tradition.

2003 Martin HD-28 made in the good ol' U.S. of A. The best sounding of all acoustic guitars. Came with original hardshell molded Martin case (a must!) These guitars should never have the wood cut on them, it'll ruin the sound. I got mine untouched and raw, what a beauty! I use a separate Korg Tuner and LR Baggs Para DI, both great products! This guitar does not need features to shine.

Like I said, this is the best sounding acoustic guitar I have ever heard. Taylor fanboys can stick with those all they want. Gibsons never have enough depth. And Takamine's are great for the price, but still can't hold up to a Martin. The highs are crisp, yet not harsh. The mids are full with rich sustain. The lows are booming and make the Martin complete, but do not overpower its overall tone. It is perfect for soft strumming, hard strumming, finger picking, harmonics, whatever you want! This guitar literally has it all. Nothing compares to a Martin HD-28. It is the best sounding acoustic guitar of all time.

When I first got mine, the action was just a tad too high, and the D'Addario strings sounded a little old. I took it into my local guitar shop, the action was lowered, and they restrung it with my weapon of choice: Martin SP Mediums. One strum of this baby, and I'm in heaven. It sounded exactly how I wanted it to sound. The action is perfect, the intonation is not easily disjointed, and the guitar overall is very sturdy and firm. Martin definitely knows quality.

I've played it 3 times live thus far (I only got it in mid February) and it is a workhorse. Great tones no matter what setting I am in. These Martin's are built to last if you know how to care for them. The finish is good enough to last forever, and I gig it without a backup. I've gone through Takamine's, Breedloves, you name it. The Martin HD-28 has always been my dream acoustic guitar. I don't ever plan on replacing it. If i do, it will be with another HD-28.

Haven't had to deal with them yet, but I hear they're the best.

I've been playing guitar for 10 years now. I started out on a Carlos acoustic guitar in 1998 (where do these come from?!) then to a Takamine G Series in 2001 (great for the price, bad on the tone and quality.) I sold the Taka in 2007 and bought a Breedlove (I played one that sounded good at the Fresno Guitar Center) but I was never pleased with the tone of the one I actually bought. I sold that in late 2007 and put that money towards a Martin, which I got for a steal! If this were lost or stolen, I'd replace it in a heartbeat. Sure they may go for more than your average guitar, but they are worth it in every way. This is the only guitar I can justify spending over $2,000 for (you cannot even compare a Taylor to a Martin.) If you want the best acoustic tone, but a Martin HD-28. Acoustic guitars do not come better than this one.

Scalloped bracing, ebony fingerboard and bridge and rosewood back & sides are the only things that make it stick out.

First I need to tell my story. The mechanic who worked on my dad's car was a country music guy and a hardcore Martin man. He actually dealt Martins in Montreal, buying & selling them used because the new ones were allegedly crap. So I remember being stuck in the office because of a freak hail storm and it came up that I was a music student and I needed a steel string. I already understood quality from playing electric for a few years and I didn't want to skimp. So I asked him to find me a Martin.

Weeks went by and I actually left the part-time job I had. The guy calls up and says he has a found a guitar for me. I went over & tried it. It was a beautiful-sounding HD-28 from 1993 in great shape and he was asking $2700 canadian (a tad less than a new one if you factor in tax). Since I had lost my job, I just couldn't justify it, and asked if there was anything cheaper. A week later he calls and says he has a D-18 for me to try. I took it home for 24 hours and basically committed to buying it for $1900.

But here's the kicker: after those 24 hours with the D-18, I just couldn't gel with the sound and everything I wanted to hear wasn't in there, and the HD-28 had it all. I called and asked if he still had the Herringbone, and he had just sold it to a collector! CRAP! I begged him to call the guy get it back. He did, and it cost me a few more bucks but I don't regret anything.

I have had the HD-28 for about 9 years and to me it is still the benchmark of what a great acoustic should sound like. Since that time, I have played many other styles and brands, and a good friend schooled me on how dreadnoughts are scooped/boxy and parlor sized have nicer midrange. I understood what he meant, and I heard the difference but I stand by this guitar! It has the "bloom", richness, & dark color as well as crispness I want to hear. This guitar gives up the goods; caress it, it sweetly whispers, slam it and it screams. There are no dead spots I can hear. I only use DR Rare Earth 13-56 strings because they really sound the best out of everything I have tried.

Amazing stability on this guitar -I had a problem with some rattling and brought it to the authorized Martin repair guy in town. He stuck the guitar in a humidity-controlled room for 2 weeks to let everything settle, and voila! No work needed at all! The problem was our electric heating during the winter which dried everything up but it restored itself just lik that. Never even needed a setup!

I have no problem relying on this thing, except it looks like it might develop the "Martin crack".

never needed

Superb guitar, definitely has opened up some. I mainly play electric but I installed a K & K Trinity western pickup system which is mighty fine, doesn't sound fake. I actually feel like I don't deserve such a fine guitar because I don't play it enough. Just throwing a review in there for anyone who cares. I can't say it's a great value because it's pricey. But at least it holds its value!

A gloss finish dreadnought with bookmatched back, East Indian Rosewood back and sides, solid spruce top, ebony fretboard. As all Martins are, it is USA made. The neck is satin finish but not a worry, and it is a fast neck, flat and easy to move about. For myself, the minute I picked it up and wrapped my arms around it, it felt like it was mine. So comfortable to play. These are the features I need- not electronics and a built in tuner. I don't care about that stuff.

This is a balanced guitar, with clear, ringing highs and deep, resonant lows. A low E plucked open rang for a full 25 seconds. It is loud and bossy. Demands to be heard and then calms down to a sweet tinkling softness. Nothing muddy about this baby. Every string and every note creates interest. Makes you smile the minute you touch the strings.

A close inspection revealed absolutely no flaws in this guitar. The action was set below factory specs which makes it play like, as we all say, butter... Smooth and fluid. Bookmatching is lovely, bridge perfect, frets smoothly filed. A classic spruce top with even color and figuring. And the smell! Delicious rosewood fresh from the Martin factory!

This bad boy is gonna last! I don't play out but if I did, I am sure it would carry me from show to show without a problem. This is a guitar you buy for life. I expect to have it until I die.

The warranty is limited lifetime, and I have tech who is a Certified Martin Repair Station, so I am in good hands there!

I have been thinking about this purchase for a long time. I have spent over ten years playing an old inexpensive Washburn. The HD28 was a gift to myself. I knew I wanted a Martin because I just love the Martin sound. I was going to get a D28 but liked the scalloped bracing in the HD28, as well as the herringbone. So I splurged. I am so glad I did.

This guitar I bought at Local music store.It is a 2005 model.It was sold to me as new guitar so I did have the full year warranty. It has gloss finish and was or seemed to be perfect.Your normal so;id spruce top rosewood back and sides.Neck material mahogany.

The sound of this guitar is just what I wanted. I always play a guitar and buy it for the sound and tone. This little guitar is the most boomy guitar you can buy bar none.I play bluegrass and it fits perfect.If I was looking for a lot of treble tones I would have bought a J-45 Gibson or Martin HD35. So no complaints about sound.

The set up for Martins are standard for minimal fret buzz. No.1 reason for this is most players play different. Example I play hard so the action was perfect for me no fret buzz.You can have the action lowered and lighter strings but it will effect the low tone. The intonation of every martin I have played are as perfect as it gets.

All instruments have to treated with care if you use the as drums the will break. Martin guitars are constructed as well as any the woods they are made of dent and scar like others of same quality.This little guitar stays in tune and I play hard. Its the only guitar I take when I play.

This is the reason I wanted to write this review. I had my Martin for about 2 months and the top fell against the top binding. The finish actually looked like it exploded. I contacted Martin, finishes are usually not covered under warranty.But I sent some Digital pictures and they seen that it was a problem with the adhesion of the seal coat. Sent my guitar back to the company in Nazareth Pa. And in about 12 weeks I HAD A BRAND NEW GUITAR. Also I had ask for a custom label and sure enough they fulfilled my request. Thats why I will always stand behind Martin Guitar.Made in the USA

I have been playing for around 35 years and have owned Gibson, Alvarez,Guild,And own those guitars now but my favorite to play is my little Hd28 Martin.The 28 has the boom that I need when I play bluegrass. This guitar has the feel of a more expensive guitar. The most expensive guitar doesn't always play and sound the best.So play the all before buying one.

Mine is a 1997, pretty much unplayed newish condition (NOT broken in or benefitting much from 9 years of ageing.) I bought it yesterday. Vinyl had not even been peeled off pickguard. Plenty of reviews here with details of features. I advise you to read ALL reviews. Or you could just take my word for it and buy the thing and you'll have more time left to practice.
("Shut up and play your guitar" - Frank Zappa)

I have been a pro player for over forty years. I knew within thirty seconds that this guitar had the classic Martin sound, that was all I needed to know. I also own an original 1935 Herringbone D-28 (that I have played regularly since 1971) that is the best acoustic I have ever heard anywhere. The HD-28 is pretty much just as good.
With all due respect, I think that the people who talk about the nut, saddle and bridge-pin material are splitting hairs. I don't doubt that these improvements help, but I personally don't care. This guitar sounds good enough for me as it is, and I am pretty spoiled. I also believe that a OOO-28 (which I have owned) like the Clapton model may be generally better for strictly finger style for some folks (definitely better for folks who find the dreadnaught too large), but I believe that a lighter touch on a dreadnaught will work just as well for many, as well as myself. You can always play a loud guitar quietly, but the reverse is not really true. You see lots of fingerpickers with dreadnaughts, but did you ever see a bluegrass/flatpicker in a band with a OOO? With proper playing skills, this guitar does it all. Maybe a thuddier guitar is better for old-time blues or ragtime where the overtones, sustain and richness are not required; or a resonater for slide, but all can be done on this type of guitar. I own lots of guitars, and even delta slide has an interesting quality on a good Martin....A National will sound more traditional, but Blind Blake or Rob't Johnson played on a good Martin brings something new to the party; don't knock it if you haven't tried it.....(I doubt if Doc Watson rags would get a similar result played on an old Duolian.)
I play all the styles mentioned above in depth, especially old-time and modern finger styles.

It is my understanding that if you want really smooth action, you give up some tone. Methinks there is no free lunch. Of all the guitars mentioned in these reviews, the Martin is probably the hardest to play. I say, get over it. Want an easier guitar to play? Get a Gibson or a Taylor. Or play the piano. It is a give-and-take world.
My trade off is that I use light guage strings. I haven't been able to handle mediums since I discovered electric guitar decades ago (with Super-Slinky strings). I learned to play on Mediums, and I miss the tone, but I play both acoustic and electric both on the same day.....and lights are a little easier on the structure of the guitar. As I stated, this guitar is as good as you need even with light strings, cheap bridge pins and a plastic nut and saddle. I say, in closing, to work on your chops more and trust Martin to build a good guitar. They seem to know what they're doing, and also have had 173 years of experience (not counting the old country). This particular model was released in 1933 or 1934 depending on who you talk to, so they have pretty much worked the bugs out by now.

People complain about the finish. You can get a thick shiny bullet-proof finish, or you can get a more fragile thin finish that will sound better, such as the HD-28. If you want a structurally stronger (heavier bracing) and heavier finished guitar, buy a regular D-28.
Remember, a plywood top guitar is much stronger and more resistant to cracks. I used to own a genuine all plywood Stella guitar, and it needed no case, and was sometimes a better choice than a Martin in some severe playing environments. And over $2000 cheaper. A bulldozer is not a sportscar, and both can come in handy at the right time. For what it is, this guitar is real solid. My 1935 is still suitable as a daily player, although there is not a lot of finish left. I could refinish it, but I like the tone as it is. Other than that, it is as sound as the newer one. Seems like they build 'em to last.....

I don't remember how many Martins I have owned, maybe six or eight (including a 000-28, D-28S and a D-18 all back in the sixties), and I have never had a new one with a warranty in place (well, once....). But the few times I have had occasion to speak to the factory, they seemed like they were sitting around and hoping I would call and took all the care and time I could have hoped for. I will say that it has been many years since I have had contact with the factory, but based on limited experience, I give them the highest rating. Dignity is hard to find, and the Martin folks reek of it. This is one of several reasons that I have remained a Martin player. They seem to take appropriate pride in their work, and respect their customers. I understand that this has not always been the case (we all wander from the true path at some point, don't we?), but all reports indicate that is in the past.
I have had the neck reset two or three times by certified Martin repair guys on my 1935 D-28, and it could probably use it again (Keeping in mind that is over a 35 year period of pretty hard and steady use, and travelling including lots of hitch-hiking "back in the day"). Hopefully the adjustable truss rod on the newer ones (since 1985 or so)will eliminate the need for some of that.
By the way, unlike an incorrect statement in a much earlier review on this page, the D-28 has always had a braced (rod or bar) in the neck of metal or ebony. They just weren't adjustable in the older ones.

I own too much gear to list, and I am actually quite poor even though I own some valuable instruments. I have been a pro acoustic and electric player since the mid sixties. I play a '64 Strat, '66 Tele, '74 LP Black Custom, 1920's Premier (English) frailing banjo, Coral Sitar (Jerry Jones reissue), several resonator guitars, etc. in addition to mandolins, keyboards, basses, drums, harmonicas, bells, whistles, squeak toys, etc.
Even a mediocre Martin is worth the money. The slowest race horse is still lots faster than a plow horse. Some Martins are better than others, and Martin has had a few bad years (long ago) when they proved that they are humans, not gods. But I would buy a Martin mail order if I had to.....like sex and pizza, they're all good - but some are better. And unless you have money to burn on snowflake inlay or you really must have a V-neck or ten pounds of pearl on your guitar like Porter Wagoner's outfit, the HD-28 will do you quite nicely.

Work on your chops.....

You probably know all this already. Nothing fancy, but it's got everything it needs for amazing tone, which is wha's important.

Simply, the guitar sounds amazing. Very well balanced, bass, mids, and treble all come out very clearly but don't step on each other at all. Sounds especially nice capoed up a few frets. I got the guitar about 2 and a half years ago and I have noticed it starting to open up since I play it a lot.

Setup was great when I bought it. Action might be a little high for some people but I like it that way. The guitar is put together perfectly. No frills, but I'm more interested in sound and I still would consider it a very attractive guitar.

Very reliable. Has even taken a few spills, but never was hurt.

Haven't had to deal with them since there have been no problems.

I've been playing guitar since I was 12 (about 8 years). I started on a Squire Strat and got a crappy acoustic a year later. After taking more interest in acoustic, I eventually got this one, and it is all I will need for the rest of my life, especially since the tone only gets better as the guitar ages.

It was made 6/05/06 In the U.S.A. It has 20 Frets, a solid top, Body & sides are Indina rosewood, neck is Mahogany, finish is transparent with a Amber sunburst top, body is a dreadnouhgt and it came with a hard case

the sound is rich&full and it suits my style very will. (bulegrass)

the set-up was to high for me but I`am a finger picker. the bookmatch on the top was very good & the bridge was dead on. thier was no flaws.

This guitar is very well build & has good hardware the finish is good (I got the Amber sunburst top) I would use without a backup.

The warranty is life time for Martin and one yr. with Elderly.

I have been playing for 35yrs.I have a Epiphone PR350/SR & a Carvin & a Epiphone Les Paul. if it were stolen I would replace it. I looked at talyor`s,santa cruz,collings & larrivee befor I buing this guitar & for the price it was the best buy

you know the features

Nice Full Round tone with lots of volume. It makes any of the taylors sound thin and weak.

Medium action - Perfect for me. Fit and finish are perfect

Very solid guitar with no belly bulge or othe issues after 2 years.

Great technical support.

Been playing 34 years. I've owned em all - gibsons, taylors, tacomas, guilds, and other martins. If you could have only one guitar, the HD28 will do it all - even fingerstyle.

My HD-28 was built in '93-94, and had a solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides (very attractive herringbone detail on back).

Overall, the sound was disappointing to me. The low-end was powerful but indistinct, and the mid- and high-range was largely absent. Some may prefer this sound, but I found it largely unsuitable.

Fit and finish were inconsistent; The wood and herringbone detailing were absolutely beautiful, but the fret ends were very sharp.

Factory set-up was poor for a guitar of this price. The action was far too high and the sharp frets inexcusable.

The guitar was subjected to live playing on only a few occasions. It seemed durable and well built.

N/A

I have been playing for 15 years, and currently own and play guitars made by Bourgeois, Taylor and Gibson. I owned this guitar for about 1 year and was very happy to trade it. In my opinion, those seeking a dreadnought would do far better to consider a Taylor 810.

2006, HD28 , see their webpage for all the details, the herringbone and spruce top and the best I've seen!!, Collings, Huss and Dalton, you just can't beat the Martin HD28. I didn't want a ton of features , I wanted a Martin D28, period.

I play in a country western / rock band. Fits that sound like a glove. Will probably have an LR Baggs pickup installed soon. The guitar sings with a familiar rich voice. Rich and full, well welll well balanced. I've only played it a few hours now, it was perfect right out of the box. It was in the store only one day and I snagged it. Wasn't even up on the wall yet. I had played 30 or 40 acoustics before finding this one, Martins, Laravae's, northwood, Huss and Daltons, Collings, Santa Cruz, breedloves, traveled hundreds of miles to different stores, etc. I knew this one was 'the one' when I first saw her, then... I played the first G chord. OMG!!! It sounds like a million songs I love.

perfect setup from factory, action smooth and easy, the best spruce top I have ever seen, the eboney, and other woods are beautiful. Very nice, I am lucky and blessed to have gotten this particular guitar and I wasn't going to stop looking until I found it. took about 2 months of looking. well worth the wait.

I think this guitar will last me the rest of my days. Everything looks well made and put together. I have seen many old d28's around. They last.

don't know.

Have been playing 35 years. I own a Martin 017, 1958 (got it at a garage sale $350). Got that one from the original owner. I will be selling that very soon on ebay. I own three G&L electrics (asat custom special, legacy reverse headstock, commanche and a Cort M-800), Mesa boogie amp, and a 58' super. lots of effects , etc. This guitar will be used for everything. I am in a country rock band, play at church, teach guitar, write songs, just have fun and enjoyment with playing. I love the sound !! My lead singer has a very nice Laravae guitar (an older one made in Canada), he's gonna hate me for awhile, but I guarantee you he will end up with an HD-28 of his own. If it were lost, that would hurt alot, if it were stolen I would hurt someone alot. Either way I'd have to replace it.

This 2005 Martin HD-28 is what any other dreadnought guitar wishes it was. Straight ahead, no real frills. I had a D-28 and it is a great guitar. Cant say the HD-28 is significantly different in sound yet. But I am just an intermediate player. One thing I dont like are the tuners. They are OK but for a two grand guitar...well, its an important issue with playability. The herringbone makes the guitar look absolutely beautiful. These things (as Ive heard) need to be played for awhile to open up. This aint to say it sounded better than any other acoustic Ive ever played straight out of the box. To me, when God said make me the finest acoustic guitar, Martin made the HD-28. The pre-war D-28's had the herringbone binding. I just have to be patient and watch her age.

Just play an open G and it vibrates for all the day long. Resonance is huge. Rich and very full sound...very even. Not too high or low. It plays very easily and will make you sound better than you ever thought you were. Gosh darn, she just sings. The most playable acoustic hands down. I simply cant put it down.

Martins come set up pretty high. I guess its for them bluegrass players. Just sand down the bridge to where you want it. But Ive heard that lowering the bridge lessens the sustain. I dont know about this cause the sustain is unmatched. Beautiful bookmatched finish. I think these guitars put Taylors to shame. Just simple beauty/sound. HANDS DOWN!!!

Just watch and listen to Neil Young playing his old Martin once owned by Hank Williams. Its a very special thing. These things are ment (and will) hold up for your grandchildren if taken care of. I ALWAYS keep mine latched and in the case EVERY night. I would play this thing anywhere. I am very overprotective of her now. Not too many people understand how special Martin guitars. I let professional players have a good time with mine. Cause they understand it for what it is.
Just one thing, the nitros cellous (sp.) finish is very sensitive to some rubber guitar stands. It will eat right through the finish ASAP.

Call Martin, even if you are just wanting some good info before you buy, and you will get (mostly) a very pleasant and patient guy who will help you out. These guitars are pure USA...none of that Asian crap (though some of theyre work is pretty good. Comes with the lifetime warranty and these guys have been doing this for a very, very long time.

Ive been playing for some thirty years off and on. Ebay has been a bad addiction cause Ive gone through old Silvertone, Harmony, Gretsch, Fender and Gibsosn (acoustic and electric) guitars in a totally unwarranted. I always bought vintage cause I thought the guitar had spirits imbeded in them and I like an older and worn look. This was a huge step for me. Brand new and my wife is wondering how long I will keep this one. Im not really an electric player and now that Im 45 tears old, I like Country music much more and an acoustic guitsr is simple (no amp, effect pedals, cords, etc.) And I believe omore in the K.I.S.S. principle more snd more. I dont plan on (and never have) had my guitars ripped off in the past (and some of the guitars were worth six or seve thousand dollars). But its insured just the same, but I believe we were ment for each other,

My HD28 is a 2005 model and I'm sure you know the features. One important thing I'd like to stress here is that I'm not big on fancy looks like Larrivee and Taylor guitars have. I'm more interested in playability and TONE. I went to the GC and sat in the high end room for 4 hours playing every high end guitar they had. I intitially went in with the idea of buying a Martin D35 which is an excellent guitar too but when I picked up the HD28, I was blown away. This guitar has perfectly balance sound, is very very loud and has that nice boom a guitar should have. I played Taylor, Larrivee, Gibson, Legend and a $3,200.00 Alvarez Yarhi. Every one of these guitars looked nice but sounded too thin and boxy to me. I picked up the Martin, hit a G chord and the neck vibrated in my hands. At this point I was sold. The Martin HD28 is the MacDaddy of acoustic guitars in my opinion. Sure they are high $$$$ but you get what you pay for and they retain their value and increase in value with time. The folks at Martin have been building guitars since 1833 and they know what they are doing.

Excellent for strumming and finger picking. You can also get different tones strumming on different areas over the guitar body. The best sound I've ever heard from an acoustic.

Perfect! Not 1 single flaw. Martin stakes it's reputation on it's quality. American made! Nuff said!

Do I really need to respond? LOL

Martin cares PERIOD!

I've played for over 35 years and have never played an acoustic as nice and that sounds as good as my HD28. I've owned every high end guitar you can think of and I'm now a lifetime Martin owner. She's my baby! I stated that mine was a 2006 model but it's a 2005 model. My mistake!!!!!!!

My HD28 is a 2006 model and I'm sure you know the features. One important thing I'd like to stress here is that I'm not big on fancy looks like Larrivee and Taylor guitars have. I'm more interested in playability and TONE. I went to the GC and sat in the high end room for 4 hours playing every high end guitar they had. I intitially went in with the idea of buying a Martin D35 which is an excellent guitar too but when I picked up the HD28, I was blown away. This guitar has perfectly balance sound, is very very loud and has that nice boom a guitar should have. I played Taylor, Larrivee, Gibson, Legend and a $3,200.00 Alvarez Yarhi. Every one of these guitars looked nice but sounded too thin and boxy to me. I picked up the Martin, hit a G chord and the neck vibrated in my hands. At this point I was sold. The martin HD28 is the MacDaddy of acoustic guitars in my opinion. Sure they are high $$$$ but you get what you pay for and the retain their value and increase in value with time. The folks at Martin have been building guitars since 1833 and they know what they are doing.

Excellent for strumming and finger picking. You can also get different tones strumming on different areas over the guitar body. The best sound I've ever heard from an acoustic.

Perfect! Not 1 single flaw. Martin stakes it's reputation on it's quality. American made! Nuff said!

Do I really need to respond? LOL

Martin cares PERIOD!

I've played for over 35 years and have never played an acoustic as nice and that sounds as good as my HD28. I've owned every high end guitar you can think of and I'm now a lifetime Martin owner. She's my baby!

mine is a 2005 HD-28 I especially like the satin finish on the neck but wish that it was the V style. The dots on the fretboard are nice but snowflakes would be nicer. I also like the way that this guitar's appearance is understated. I wish that Martin would ship this guitar with the same case that they supply with their artist series. The plastic case is probaly just fine and is definitely lighter than those plush cases are, but they are not as nice as they should be with such a fine flag ship instrument. I also think that the gear pocket is too small inside of the case.

When i walked into the guitar store down the street from me the teacher was sitting on a stoll playing a Zep song on it. The whole store was filled with the beautiful sound of this instrument. I had just purchased a Martin 000-28EC that I thought sounded like the best guitar on the planet. NOT! Once i heard this HD-28 I knew just what to do. I traded straight across and man am I ever glad that i did. I play folk music and finger picking type stuff. Recently I have been going to Bluegrass pick n grins. At these events there are all makes and models of guitars. The song will be in progress, people just playing away. Then I strum the HD-28. Everyone turns their heads and their mouths drop open. This even happens when i play the correct chord,...lol. I replaced the stock nut, saddle, strap buttons, and bridge pins with fossilized irory ones. This change made an already fantastic sounding guitar sound even better and they looking swank. The store where I got this guitar has many Martins. This HD-28 has a much better tome and balance than the Clarence White, Eric Clapton, Norman Blake, or any other guitar in the store. Ive had high end Martins, Guilds, Gibsons, and Taylors and have played Collins and Bouguois (spelling, sorry). I have found MY guitar in this instrument. I use medium gauge Martin phospher bronze strings. I have found that the material the pick is made of as well as the thickness makes a huge difference in the tone of this guitar. Even bare finger style finger picking is clear and can have any amount of volume that I desire without sounding muddy of thin with this instrument. I like to allow friends to play this guitar so that I can hear what it sounds like from the other side. You folks know how they always sound different when you are playing them than they do when you are sitting in front of them just listening. Mine sounded already broken in right off of the show room floor. The sound of this guitar always makes my sticker peck out.

This was one of the few guitars that I have ever had that was perfect right out of the box. The grain on my tops is superb and tight, even has some bear claw in it. This is probably why my particular HD-28 sounds so much better than other HD-28's that I have played ( though they sounded great also).

This guitar is a tank. My buddy has a 1957 model HD-28. Its an old war horse that is worn and tattered but it sounds heavenly.

I have not had to deal with Martin yet.

I've been playing for about eight years and i have owned many acoustic guitars. The only other acoustic guitar that I have owned that even came close to the sound quality of this HD-28 is an old guild that once belonged to Jackson Brown. Dang I should have kept that guitar.

You can read the Martin website to get a complete list of features. Mine is a 2004 model that came with the micarta saddle, nut and pins. This is the rosewood dreadnought that most people think of when they think dreadnought. I would be dinging it for the micarta components, but in 2005 they have changed the standard offering to bone for all three of these components. I upgraded my saddle and pins to nut and it improved an already good sound.

I play just about any type of music my limited skills will let me. This guitar hangs in with everything from fingerpicking to fingerstyle to rhythm to jazzier strummed to flatpicked folk to bluegrass. It is full of great tone and resonance that responds beautifully to the nuances of the player.

This is the classic Martin dreadnought tone. When I hit an open G chord on this beauty it sounds of history and legend. Harmonics pulled from the sounds of time captured in the grain of the rosewood and spruce embrace your ears. The vibration from the back cascade along your body letting you feel the sound as well as hearing it.

There are specific technical reasons why this guitar sounds like it does - the style and type of bracing, the tonewoods, the finish, etc. - which are all important, but only matter when you actually hear it and go "That is the sound I have always wanted from an acoustic guitar."

Every time I play my HD-28 I fall in love with the tone again. As with any high end acoustic, this will only get better over time. After 7 months of consistent playing it is beginning to show the promise of its mature voice. Don't mistake this statement. Out of the box this was a killer guitar. Playing an acoustic brings changes the tone of the woods and they begin to exhibit greater depth, harmonics and resonance. A great sound getting greater!

Fromthe factory the action and fit was right on the money. I tweeked it a little with a truss rod adjustment (probably less than a 32nd at the 12th fret). I changed the pickguard just for personal preference (a vintage Tortis) and no other reason. This plays wonderfully and just continues to feel like my guitar.

It is an acoustic so keeping that in mind, this is a workhorse and will take a lot of acoustic playing abuse and still shine sonically. If ancient D series guitars from Martin are any indication, this guitar will last my lifetime and, hopefully, that of my children.

Great support. Martin isn't as much a guitar manufacturer as it is a culture. There are few companies that make their product into something greater than just the product, and Martin has done that.

Bottom line is this is a no frills, workhorse guitar that can stand up to whatever challenge you throw at it. I find that I am continually challenging mayself to play more and better because this is such a good sounding and feeling guitar. I had a Yairi Alvarex YD-90 for years and was fine with it, but it never had a connection with me. Last year I decided that I would do what I had always wanted to do - buy a Martin. I looked at lots of them (D, 000, OM, etc.) and lots of other brands and acoustic electrics. I kept coming back to this style of dreadnought. I finally sold the YD-90 to help fund the new one. I have not been dissappointed. I have no intention of ever getting rid of this guitar, although I am thinking about buying another Martin. Any guitar that keeps you wanting to play and discover is a great guitar. I don't worry about the sound any more, just my playing.

2005 model- you know the spec. Molded 640 case which provided excellent protection for its trip from USA to UK.Purchased from acoustic axis virginia for very competitive price. Beautiful finish, unfussy but classic style.

I play a mixture of musical styles mainly employing a flatpick style. This guitar gives a full rich sound particularly with open chords towards the headstock. I have tried several hd28's but disagree with most reviews in that the treble could be more crisp. Having said this the overall sound is awesome.

Factory set up was fine but action a tad high for my preference. A quick shave off the saddle and hey presto! perfect. Beautiful bookmatching not a flaw to be found. Was advertised as having bone nut and saddle but is in fact corian- a bit miserly of martin given the overall craftmanship of the guitar.Neck as flat as a pancake and extremely easy to play.

Appears hardy enough to withstand coinstant gigging but I have only had it for 2 weeks. Everybody comments on the sound.Would have appreciated 2nd strap button.

Not applicable.

Been playing for 20 years. Previously owned les paul custom, les paul studio/ ibanez and washburn acoustics. Acoustic wise this blows anything I have played out of the water.Had set my heart on a Gibson acoustic but once I played them alongside the hd28 there was no competition. Would definitely replace if lost or damaged after initial heartbreak of course. This guitar makes you want to just pick it up and play. Without doubt it makes you sound better than you are.

2004 Martin HD 28

Features: Rosewood back and sides with herringbone trim. Features as per Martin guitars, Nazareth PA.

10: Fantastic tone. I own a taylor 510 and Gibson Songwriter and the martin is the best sounding guitar with a rich base tone. Great booming sound when you want her to. Nothing compares to the sound of a Martin guitar. This sound is what every other guitar company sets out to emulate and capture.

High from the factory but a setup lowered the action and with that she is a dream to play.

10: This guitar is meant to last a lifetime. That's the reason why it costs so much. Very dependable and sounds great in a recording studio.

Very professional, very responsive to emails.

Been playing for 10 years. I own a taylor 510, 3 Gibson jumbos, a Gibson Songwriter, Tacoma DF-21, Tacoma DM1812 and a Larrivee D-03 and aMartin D-35 (2004) and the Martins and Gibsons ar the best guitars. Trust me. Gibson jumbos have their place but nothing, nothing is as good as a Martin HD-28. If you're serious about music, trust me you will not be disheartened with this purchase.

They are already well stated so I won?t bore you.

I would have to reiterate some of the reactions previously stated such as ?Oh My God?, ?The Sound is Magic?, etc? Most balance I?ve ever run a thumb across on a dreadnaught. Some complain that the HD-28 and D-28?s are boomy. Well, yes, they can be. That doesn?t have to be a bad thing though. There are times when that will express a run on a song best. I find that this box is so responsive that I can finger style it with bare nubs and pull gorgeous complex lows, mids, and highs from it. On the other hand, if I?m feeling some attitude, this baby has all the power you could ask for with a heavy pick. Very full sounding even with light strings. I?ve experimented with both lights and mediums and find that the guitar is more versatile with lights. I will say though that as far as rhythm and flat-picking goes, mediums are best. With mediums, it sounds like an atomic bomb going off when you attack a G cord. The D-18 and D-18Vs are nice and have good cut being mahogany, however, they sounded empty compared to the HD-28. I realize that the D-18 is a bit more popular for flat-picking because of the more trebly highs that can cut through the mix. For me ? loud for loud sake is not enough. The HD-28 has enough cut, but is superior to my ear as far as sweetness of tone and color. It deserves a 10 no question.

Setup was perfect. Fit and Finish was perfect ? beautiful for a simply appointed guitar.

Stay?s in tune great. Seems to be built strong and should handle a lifetime of playing.

Limited Lifetime warranty. Haven't had to deal with them.

I?ve been playing 32 years. I?ve owned an embarrassing number of acoustic guitars, always looking for the right one. Martin 00015S, (great guitar) Martin D35 (should have kept it), Guild D25, Guild D40 (my sons now), Larrivee OM-O5, Tacoma Dr12, Tacoma L09 Alverez D44. It was previously said that if you could have only one guitar, the HD-28 would be the right choice. I agree! It is the right one. I would have more than one acoustic like maybe a D-18, but in order for the HD-28 to reach its full potential in tone, it should be played a lot. For that reason and the fact that my wife doesn?t like my GAS, I probably won?t own another.

I know that many high-end builders have made incredible copies of the prewar D-28. I?ve played many of them and was very impressed. However, they are not Martins. Martin started it all and invented the dreadnaught. They have the longest lineage as the inventors and builders of acoustic guitars. Its not the name that justifies it, it is the sound and workmanship that they have created.

yer standard martin 28 model. traditional with the white binding and the herringbone inlay down the back of the body. made in the 2000s sometime i believe. indian rosewood sides with a capitvating piece of spruce on top. plastic nut and so-so tuners stick out amongst the perfectionist hand-built quality of the rest of the guitar. plastic molded martin case included. the 28 model martin is by no means about the "features" this guitar is plain jane in a sense but very much high class at the same time. it has simple appropriations rooted in a lot of history and well-done. as mentioned earlier, i would trade the beautiful herringbone inlay and the binding in a heart beat for a finer nut and tuner heads. and otherwise higher rating has to be knocked down for these gripes.

my lord! this is a magic guitar. when i brought it home and strummed out a beck song for my roomates it captivated the whole room with just three chords. huge sound with a focus on the bottom end. these guitars can get loud if you let them. it sounds best in the open positions of the neck toward the headstock and tends to lose intonation as you head toward the soundhole. lately i've been playing fiddle tunes fingerstyle and dropping the low e to d. the guitar handles this reasonably well, but even with the heaviset strings martin allows on the model (medium gauge) there's still some intonation issues. don't take this wrong though- this guitar has a fantastic sound and is incredibly balanced and toneful all over the fretboard. the fact of the matter is plainly this- 28 models have a beautifully clear and punchy bass end with a chimey top and this otherwise unimaginably sweet sound is attained on some areas of the fret board by sacrificing performance at other spots. if you want to sling your fingers all over a fret board with perfect intonation and easy string bending, this might not be yer box. but if yer willing to let go of some versatility in exchange for some sounds that may well resemble the voice of god then give this old standard a try sometime.

setup was impressive. if you get one of these from a shop, it's likely a martin licensed one that probably is run/owned by lutiers good enough to make fine violins and they are going to setup the guitar right. it may not be to yer exact specifications, but it'll be a good job. an irony of owning such a guitar is that you get nervous whenever you move and need to find a good luthier to work on it.

this guitar is synonymous with the idea of quality to me. like all acoustics, to sound good, its gotta have light bracing on it to let the fine wood do its thing, so this detracts from the durability in the sense that you can't knock it around with as much disregard as you would that old fender acoustic. but i've banged it around a fair amount and it feels as though a happy medium was reached in building a box that vibrates and projects but has enough wood left in it to take a few hits. only one strap button at the bottom so you have to pull an elvis and tie a rope to the headstock. martin will void the warranty if the install of a second strap button at the neck joint is not done right, so keep that in mind. hell yes i'd gig this one without a backup. what am i going to do, play this enchanting piece of wood and then get out some stale sounding box. no way. if it broke in the middle of a gig do some acapella or something and fix it up for the next one. or, if you win the lottery sometime, buy two.

luckily, i haven't had to deal with martin directly, but i trust this legacy owned, PA company enough to give them a strong benefit of the doubt.

i've been playing guitar for five years or so and not so much the last two. previously i used a pawn-shop grade acoustic from the seventies and a mexican strat through a tech 21 for playing and gigging. now i play fiddle tunes arranged for fingerstyle and beck songs when i get the chance on this beautiful dreadnought that a very generous friend gave to me for christmas two years ago. if it were lost/stolen i'd be a sad, sad little boy for a long time. i don't have the money to replace an instrument of this caliber. but if i did, i'd love another martin dreadnought, though i would seriously consider some of the modified fingerstyle/blues models they have. i love this guitar primarily because it was a gift from a close friend but also because it makes beautiful sounds. this guitar won't let you play anything that's not up to par. it literally tells you "no way man, that whole thing you just did was lame" and makes you play it till you get it right. if i could wish anything done to it i would put on a nut that is of the quality of the rest of the guitar and maybe try and have a luthier fix it up so that it accepts the drop d even better than it already does. if yer in this price range for handmade guitars pickup one of these martins. they're venerable for good reason.

2003 Made here in PA USA ... See Rest of Reviews or Martin Site for Specs ... Sita Spruce Top with Scaloped bracing, Indian Rosewood Back & Sides, Ebony Fretboard. Nice Herringbone Binding... Siple Ring Rosette. Molded Plastic Case... Non Electronics...

I play a Mix of Music ... Primarily Blues, Bluegrass and Folk... Flatpick and Fingerstyle ... While I have only had this Beauty for a Couple of Months it's sound is just as good as it gets ... Warm and Rich ... Can make one smile and cry at the same time. Overtones at the low end can be overpowering if you are an indiscriminate pounder, but hey this is what Martin is all about ... Deep, Rich, Round Sound ... Fits 90% if what I do Perfectly

Really not anything to Complain about, Perfect as nearly all Martins Are ... Book Matching is Flawless ... Setup was Perfect... Action was a bit lower than the most Martins I've seen ... Plays well...

About the Only Demerit I can find is that when you Hold the Top up to the Light and Stare up the Bidge, you can see signs of Tight Riples, Obviously signs of the O'l Planer used in the Manufacturing Process... I looked at nearly a Hundred guitars and they all have this sign of the Modern Machine Age...

This Guitar is built like a Tank ... I have seen a lot of 20 Year Old HD 28's around ... I suspect that it will treat you as well as you treat it. Again No Complaints. For you Power Players out there, Martin Pick Guards and Finish will show your rath ...

I own 4 other Martins ... Have never had a Problem ... I've called & Emailed the Company to get Info and they are always prompt, friendly and helpful. What I find Fascinating is that a Company that produces so many guitars really has not lost track of the Customer (It's strange in this day in age but I think they actually like Us!)

I've been playing on and off for 20 years ... I own a flock of other Martins (80's Vintage D18, 90's Vintage 000-21 and a 2004 000-15), I recently acquired a CA Vintage AE (a break from tradition, look for a review in the upcoming weeks). I've owned a lot of other brands, the only thing consitant is that I seem to keep only Martins.

If your only going to Have One Guitar, the HD28 is the Way to Go ... Versatile Sound (the D18 is a lot cleaner sounding but you miss the Depth that Rosewood can provide), You can get an amazing array of Sounds from this Instrument ... Warm and Rich ... Rewards Touch and Chord Voicing Varity with beautiful sound.

If it where Stolen or Lost ... I would replace in an Instant.

I suppose the choice of tonewoods is a feature, but seriously, it's an acoustic. Don't get fewer features than this. I like the rosewood and ebony, herringbone trim is nice looking, but not useful. This is a '93 with black pickguard (which I like better than tortoise).

Sound is way up there with the best I have heard. I'm no expert in terms of acoustic guitar vintage, but I like what I hear. I nearly took a Martin D-18 instead of this one just because it was cheaper, but I could easily hear the harmonics and richness in the HD-28. Incidentally, I got this from a guy who only deals Martins on the side, so you don't get to play 10 of them side-by-side. Long story short, this is like a benchmark of great acoustic tone. It's a dreadnought, so the tone is scooped somewhat, but it gives off the biggest bass while retaining clear trebles. There is loads of harmonic richness that sort of screams quality. The neck is fairly chunky with a deep taper. I only use mediums, DR Rare Phosphor to be exact. No other strings sounded quite right. I had a K& K Western installed and put ebony bridge pins on it which look classier. I don't play a heck of alot of acoustic, but I plan on playing more since I own such a pleasing instrument. I've had it for 5 years, and I have only heard a similar or better tone out of a few other guitars (in the same price range BTW). The Taylor 710 was pretty close, and some smaller size Karol guitars sounded mighty fine. I'm convinced that I have an heirloom on my hands. You can't get sick of the sound becaus it's like a Steinway -just clean and balanced, powerful when needed, responsive, and well built.

Can't say. I didn't get it new, but it's just holding up to the meduim strings. Anything bigger and I'm sure there would be cracking. I'm happy with the looks, and the original owner (supposed to be a blind country artist in Hamilton) took care of it, so there' only normal wear on the lacquer.

I think this should last forever unless someone drops something heavy on it. You have to take care of this calibre instrument like it was a child, which is a rag, but you get used to it. You should see the difference in action between the winter and summer months! I need to refine my climate control skills...

Won't say it's a great value, but you get what you pay for, and it's a top notch investment if you like good guitar tone. If you can't hear the difference, go get a Tak or something made of plywood. Not gonna say this is the finest guitar in the world -I'm fully aware that many handmade guitars have gone above & beyond the Martin sound- but you couldn't knock the tone of a HD-28. It may not be for you, but this is a top quality dreadnought tone, slightly improved on the D-28 witht he scalloped bracing (methinks).

2004 made in good old usa.at the martin factory..its your standard dreadnaught ...and a hard shell martin case included you know the specs if ypu are reading this spruce top rosewood bck and sides...it has a laquer finish..i like it alot not to thick like some other guitars....great looking guitars overall...neck is perfect low profile easy to play for long periods just enjoyable!

OH MY GOD!! man i was lost till i played this martin ..i was wasting my time with larrivees and yamahas, taylors not that there not good guitars but i heard the exact sound i have been wanting in a guitar for years...i played 4 other hd 28s and 2 d 28 before i bought this one they are not all alike..action is perfect for me low..tone is deep lets just say every rock song i every heard came to me the first 4 hours i played and then i wrote a song and the guitar was harmonizing with me ,when i was singing ,no i am not stoned...bassy booming down right loud and perfect you can play soft and loud and hear all diffrent sounds tones its a very bassy guitars sings with you!...i cryed the first day i played her all day...and i have owned alot of guitars i wish i had not wasted years playing other lesser guitars...no dislikes i am in love with this guitar...i play rock n roll ,country, punk ,alterative....it rocks!!!

factory set up was perfect for me low...no pick up i will mic it for gigs...bookmated perfectly....finish is perfect..

yes this guitar is meant to be played live i cant wait to gig with it...it seems built like a tank....also have a back up for broken strings during your set...if you play hard like me..

limited lifetime ...dont know never dealt with them...

20 years playing...i own a fender strat plus, larrivve om o9, om 03r..used to own a taylor 410...yamaha fg 340 345....and a few others i forget...if this martin was stolen i would cry and the start search again for the right hd 28....i love the sound of this guitar it is the sound of most if not all acoustic great rock songs...it blows me away all i can say is play a few and you mite feel the same way...rock on!!

Made in 2004, and in the USA. Standard Dreadnought design, tortoise shell pickguard, herringbone binding around top. Solid Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, Ebony fingerboard and bridge, Mahonghony neck, zig zag inlay strip running down back, all acoustic with no electronics of factory pickup system. Chrome plated Martin/Shaller tuning keys. See the Martin web page for exact details. There are no other features that are needed on an acoustic guitar. Unless you want a cut away body style. I wanted a classic steel string design with the best possible woods, tone, and action. That is why I chose this guitar, my first Martin. Oh yeah, it comes with a nice plastic molded case.

My music style varies. This guitar will be used for roots, blues, folk, rock, and any other genre that can be played on an acoustic. I have not used the guitar outside my home, and use my Ovation acoustic for live situations. This guitar is incredible. It is very full, from deep driving bass notes, to very smooth treble, without coming close to being shrill sounding. When picked it is clear, very rich sounding. When strummed the sound is very even with just the right amount of percussive sounds added to the actual musical notes. I like everything about the sound of this instrument. Very refined and full. Probably the best sounding acoustic that I have ever played.

The only real problem that I have with my purchase is the action. I haven't played much acoustic guitar lately, so my hands and fingers have gotten acustomed to the electric guitar. This HD-28 could use some minor set up changes. Mainly the height of the strings. The intonation is perfect. I will have it lowered as soon as I can stand to separate myself from the guitar since the procedure will probably take a couple of days at the shop. The wood selection on this guitar is superb. The rosewood is very rich looking with dark black streaks running through the grain. The spruce top is beautiful and there is a lot of "silk" (waves in the wood grain running opposite the straight grain) that makes the top almost look like miniature flame that you see in electric guitars made of maple. The top and sides are bookmatched superbly. The back has two very nice pieces that are mirror images of each other. All of the wood grain on this guitar is very nice and has interesting patterns to them. I can find zero flaws with this guitar, but would enjoy the action set a bit lower.

This guitar is solid but should be handled with care. It is a high end acoustic instument so don't leave it lying around on the front porch. It will serve me well playing any venue. You just have to respect it for what it is, a precision instrument.

I hear that they are fantastic. I haven't used their service yet, but my friend just had his 25 year old D-28 worked on. The neck had to be reset and the neck joint shaved. All completely free of course and the Luthier was paid in full by C.F. IV. How can you complain about that. Lifetime warrented. The guitar plays better and sounds better that it did before the surgery. Don't let just anyone remove the neck on your Martin. Choose a qualified Luthier.

I've been playing for over 30 years. I own an Ovation Patriot, a Fender USA Stratocaster, an Ibanez AS120 (335 clone), and use Fender a Deluxe Reverb II amplifier, and a Princeton amplifiers. This guitar is one of the best models made. I'd compare it to any other make or model. It just rings with tone and is inspiring to play. I miss not playing it and must play it every day. I now only play the electric guitar at the gig. I grab my Martin when at home. It is like holding a grand piano under your arm. If you need a good acoustic, don't compromise. Save your money and get a Martin. They wrote the book on acoustic guitars. Even their low end models sound better than most other brands that are moderately or expensively priced. Don't cheat yourself. Save and get the Martin. They are pricey, but once you own one you will understand why. Tone.

Dark mahogany...repeat DARK! neck looks beautiful and requires simple "once over" wipe with polishing cloth...fingerboard is DARK ebony. Excellent feel fast smooth! Low frets much preferred to higher frets..better for bending. Herringbone inlay on the top...zig zag purfling on the back...simple and very nice! Endpin is removable (Thank you Chris!!) Bridgepins are up a little high because it is easier to change the strings (WOW! smacks side of head). If thats not acceptable buy Carricos pins or tusq. The case is 640 hard shell grass-green crushed.

Deep and full with modifications (I could care less) mentioned above will resound a little more. I love this guitar!!!!!!

As mentioned the neck is fast CLEAN always. Body will require wipedown with warm damp cloth when needed. Polish with Virtuoso. I use Nu Finish no rubbing 10 seconds max. Oh! if you are using a stap, the strings of the nut are far enough away from the headstock, so the lace slides right through to loop. Again nice touch Martin! And, WHEW! that rosewood aroma maybe 50 year strong :)

I'm a bedroom fretwiddler, so this one stays in the room with perfect humidity 45-55% constantly.

Lifetime warranty... just don't go reaming holes in the bridge and all that jazz--my advise.

I've been playing for 19 years my main acoustic before this was a Gibson J-160e. I bought this from samedaymusic.com nervously, but saved only hundreds, and it's flawless period. The high bridge pins mentioned above take a little getting used to...I bought some Carricos pins which look pretty, require no reaming, but in the long run I'll stick with the stock ones--without reaming the holes in any case! Originally, I looked over other makes Goodall, Santa Cruz, Collings but opted for Martin because of the lower frets. This is my first high end guitar--my first Martin, and it delivers the tone and depth that I want from an acoustic be it for recording or bedroom twiddling. It looks TEN-SQUARED! Yeah! this and a deserted isle--Castaway... give me the Martin!

Absolutely beautiful woods.The rosewood is as warm as any vintage rosewood dread, solid mahogany neck and ebony bridge and fingerboard.If the D-28 is the standard by which all others are measured, the HD-28 is defintely way over the top.Its vintage features, herringbone trim, pearl dot inlays on the figerboard, gorgeous nitrocellulose gloss finish, gotah tuning machines, tortise shell pick guard and my personaly added mother of pearl string pin and end pin set.

The HD-28 is warm, full, articulate and has the most balanced tone of any guitar I have owned.This guitar is truly a finger AND flat pickers delight in my opinion.I like everything about this guitar, dislike nothing about it.Martin's QC with the advent of CNC machines and new technologies is still the best in the business and the tone is the best overall of any brand I have owned or currently own.

Setup was dead on.Neck was adjusted to the normally high Martin standard,easy to play.Action was medium high and killer for me,was very surprised and had only very minor tweaking done to hit my personal playing prefernces and comfort zones.The finish is awesome, love the way this guitar looks.The spruce top is perfectly book matched and has a nice characteristic of the golden wood already.Just had her since April, she plays so beautiful with Martin Med. Phospher Bronzes and Daddario lights.

This guitar is far beyond the lesser acoustics and is a no brainer for live playing without a back up.The construction and materials are the finest in the business and I believe this guitar will outlive me by many many years.If you are looking a versatile and dependable dread, this would be my very top recommadation to anyone serious about acoustic guitar playing.

Martin has the best support of any manufactured goods company and very defintely guitar company out there.Any hype is far out weighed by thier attention to detail, answers to questions and shipping policies and standards.They have instilled confidence in many concerned callers and customers, I am very pleased with thier customer service.

33 years of playing guitar and I honestly love this guitar more than any I have owned or currently own.Have other Martins, Taylor and Larrivee guitars.Love thr tone feel and vintage vibe,,hate nothing about this axe.This guitar was far better tone and feel wise than comparably priced Taylors,Gibsons, Guilds and Gibsons I played.Would replace this guitar for sure.

Features: 1987 14-fret dreadnaught. Solid spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides (confirmed with Martin by phone), mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridgeplate. Polished gloss top. Schaller tuners. Original hard-shell case. Adjustable truss rod, which supposedly was incorporated into all Martin guitars in the mid 1980s. As with all HD-28's, small maple bridgeplate and scalloped bracing.

Actually sounds like the inside of a piano when you put your ear against the top bout and hit the low E string. The best resonance and sustain I've ever heard in a guitar. This is a guitar with rich harmonics, especially for bass and mid-range. Perhaps not the guitar to own if you're looking for a lot of treble when strumming. It also has the best sound I have ever heard for fingerpicking--the treble and bass are VERY well defined.

I can't comment on the factory set up, because this is a used guitar. However, the tolerances appear to be extremely close on all joints. I've found no flaws on the guitar except for some lacquer checking--this is my biggest critique of the guitar. I've also notice some slight upwarp on the top behind the bridge--I understand this is normal to some degree. The previous owner wasn't sure if the action was outside of factory specs, so I contacted an authorized repair shop and provided 12th fret measurements-the repair person considered the measurements to be within factory specs.

I haven't had this guitar very long, so I can't say how it will hold up first-hand. However, since the guitar is almost 20 years old and still in very good shape, I imagine it should hold up fine. The finish, strap buttons, tuners are all still in pretty amazing condition. The internal braces are snug. Overall, the guitar shows almost no wear at all. There is some very minor picguard wear and top wear right near the soundhole, but this is to be expected. The herringbone binding is still in perfect shape.

I have contacted the folks at Martin and they have been very helpful with my questions concerning this guitar

I've been playing for 18 years, and have only owned Yamaha guitars prior to this, although I've played lots of different brands at music stores. I would buy this guitar again without question if it were stolen or lost. I especially like the guitar because it has just what I was looking for: a "herringbone" D-28 with Brazilian rosewood and an adjustable truss rod to save on repair costs. The best of all worlds! Looks like a jewelbox as a friend said when he saw this. I compared this against less expensive Martins, as well as Taylors, Gibsons, Yamahas, Fenders, Seagulls, etc. The HD-28 had the clearest tone and most complex harmonics. Because this guitar was built during the 80s and has Brazilian rosewood, it must have been a custom order.

2003 model HD-28 with new problender dual pickup.

Seriously folks...this is the nicest acoustic tone I've heard in a guitar. I have a D-28. Used to have a D-15. I've played a Larrivee
JV-10E, which sounds and plays great, but the HD-28 blows it away in
my opinion. The closest was the HD-35. But it wasn't as balanced as the HD-28.

The action is like all Martin acoustics...tight at first, but loosens
up quickly. The factory did a good job setting it up. No flaws at all
in the beautiful finish. The only thing I don't care for on the HD, are the three separate white rings around the sound hole. Just a preference thing, so I won't downgrade it.

Just got it so time will tell. My D-15 and D-28 were tough as mules though. Don't expect this one to be any less.

Always been great, but maybe it's because I patronize a local retailer.

Been playing for 20 yrs. I also own a Custom Legend Ovation, a Fender
double-fat Strat electric, and a Brian Moore electric. For the first time, I feel this could be the last guitar that I buy. I'm that happy with it. I'd definitely replace it if it were stolen or lost, etc. Don't nobody hate my HD-28!

Made in 2003 in Nazareth, PA. The herringbone D-28 style. Sitka spurce top, solid rosewood back and sides, and a fat mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard. Zigzag backstrip and Martin tuners.

I play a lot of classic rock and modern rock. It suits everything perfectly. I have never played an acoustic that's sounds this good. This guitar sings and projects better then any other acoustic I've played. At times, it is a bit boomy, but if can learn to control this beast, the rewards are amazing...

The guitar was set up perfectly, with no buzz when I purchased it. The strings were a little dead when I first played, but I fixed that when I took it home and let it's true colors show.

Aside from some fingerprints, the finish was flawless.

I like fat necks, I own a Les Paul, but this neck is pretty fat. It takes a little getting used to. If you play a Taylor and the HD28 side by side, the action on the Taylor is better and easier, but the tone wasn't there...

So far this guitar seems really durable. I would take it to a gig, but I fear that my precious would be stolen, therefore, I will only be using this guitar in house, practice, and studio...

Don't know, I've never dealt with them. But it comes with a lifetime warranty...:-)

I've been playing off and on for about 10 years... I own quite a few guitars, but this is my first acoustic. At first I played a Martin D15, D16, D18, D28, Taylor 410CE, 810 and a Guild D50. At first I went home with the Martin D15, which is a really nice guitar(Bang for the buck), but something was missing after I took it home and played it for a little over two weeks. Has a nice sound and I absolutely LOVED THE SMELl, but I was looking for something more. I returned it and test drove the other Martins in the room. Is saw the HD28 sitting up high on the wall, and the sales person let me play it. Hit the first E and C chord and I was in LOVE!!! I haggled about the price and got it well bellow the marked value... The sales guy was very cooperative. If this guitar was lost or stolen......well...it wouldn't be pretty...

This is a Martin HD 28 I purchased new in December of 1997. It has all the features of the HD 28 so you already know this. Nothing fancy, a real tried and true design with the intention of producing a great sound for a very long time. I guess I should say here that the scalloped bracing in the HD 28 really does make a difference and these sound better than the D 28s by a long shot, perhaps the best soudning of all the Martins really. Came with anice polyurethane case which is holding up very well.

Not all HD 28s sound the same. Please do yourself a favor and play a bunch of them before you buy. When you find the right one you will have the best guitar you can get your hands on. From the moment I touched it, this guitar has been magical. That does sound silly but it is the truth. This is the one you cannot put down, you want to play and play and play. It does everthing very well. Some have a pretty high action and are tough to play but his one is real nice. Still harder to play than Taylors and the like but the rewards are much greater. The sound is unbeatable, no more no less. Play it softly, hit it hard, you get true and fantastic sound.

From the factory this guitar was set up great and played great. Not all of them are like that I must say, but this one was perfect.

Yes this will last forever because I will take care of it and it was built for the long run. I am sort of amazed at a problem I had with the neck but it was taken care of by the folks at Martin. See the customer support section.

About 6 months after I got the guitar the neck warped very badly in several directions. It was like nothing I had ever seen. So it went back to the store where I bought it and they sent it back to Martin. Of course they did not send it when they said they did but that is not a reflection on Martin. When the factory got it they were very good, talked to me on the phone about progress and estimated time for repairs. They did an fabulous job of removing the neck and putting on a new one. The finish is flawless and you cannot tell that any of this happened. I have the guitar now almost 7 years and there has never been any problem since this neck thing. I have been to the factory 4 times on the tour and find the folks there are real nice and pretty committed to their work. I am not sure about how Martin handles repairs nowadays but this factory repair was a very good experience.

Have a couple of electrics but this is the Martin page so: I also own a 2 year old Martin D 12-28 which is the best 12 string I have ever found, the Martin DXK 2 for a decent sound around the campfireand beach, and a 1972 Guild D25 that is a nice old friend but is falling apart. Been playing for 34 years and as far as acoustics go the HD 28 is the best I think you can get for the money. Have played lots and lots of guitars and this is very hard to beat. More expensive does not mean a better sound. I would fall into a deep depression if this was stolen but I would try to find another one as soon as possible. It is not that easy to find as not all of these HD 28s sound the same. Other than the great sound my favorite feature is to stick my face in the soundhole and smell that rosewood back, not as pungent as the day I bought it but still a great smell.

I bought this guitar new in 1977. I believe they just came out in 1976. It hsa Indian Rosewood sides and back and spruce top. Scalloped braces, herringbone trim.

Big, bright accoustic sound. Nice tone. Intonation is good, but could be a little better.

Action was a little high for me, so I lowered the saddle slightly. Otherwise perfect everywhere.

Must be built like a tank. I quit playing for 20 years and it sat in a case. I didn't even ease the tension on the strings for a good part of that time. I started playing again a few months ago and it still plays very well. It's never been adjusted, but it could probably stand a very slight adjustment by a professional. Must use only medium or lighter guage strings due to scalloped braces. Only negative, it has a couple finish checks near the sound hole which showed up within a year or so of being new. Martin said this is normal, and they're not very noticible and have no effect on anything.

Has a lifetime warranty and never have had to do anything other than I've called them a couple times about questions and they were as good to deal with as I would expect.

Played about 12 years before I had to quit, 20 years later and I'm back at it. I'm very attached to the guitar. Could have easily sold it and came close, but glad I didn't.

See reviews below and http://www.martinguitar.com. IMHO, a rosewood box is the way to go. The herringbone trim is a nice extra. I looked at a HD-28V as well, but didn't like the Waverly tuners and the "carved" bridge. I had trouble with a D-18VS bridge, and didn't want to go through that hassle again. What the HD-28 is doesn't have, you don't need.

This guitar has got chutzpah. And soul. Words cannot describe. I played other Martins, Taylors, Santa Cruz, Tippin, Collings, nothing except maybe a Santa Cruz Pre-War D came close. My advice: DO NOT BUY A MARTIN OVER THE INTERNET. You must play it first. When you feel the sound resonating in the pit of your stomach, then you know you have a good one. There are plenty of "dead" Martins out there. Some got it, some ain't.

Set up nicely with medium gauge strings. It doesn't play as well as say, a Taylor, but it sounds a helluva lot better! I can't put it down.

I'm not going to bang it around, and I'm going to keep it well humidified. This is a silly question...

Dunno.

This is my fourth Martin in 25 years of playing, so far I think it is the best guitar I've owned. To reiterate: not all Martins are created equal. Play as many as possible until you find the one that "speaks".

2003 Martin HD-28 made right here in the USA. Pennsylvania to be exact. D-14 Fret, Solid Sitka Spruce Top. Solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides...go to www.martinguitar.com for all the specs. Everything is great. For the price a bone nut and saddle would have been nice. The herringbone trim looks amazing. This baby is a real classic.

I play mostly rock and this guitar is perfect for me. It is extremely loud. I wanted something that had great bass response while mainting nice clear highs. This is the guitar that has the perfect sound for me. (Be aware that the strings on the guitar make a huge difference in sound. For example, when I put Elixirs on the guitar sounds very bright...when I use the Martin SP's it is much bassier. Make sure you know what the music shop has put on the guitar you are playing.) I narrowed my search down to the HD-28 and the Taylor 814CE. In the end, the Taylor just didn't have the bass response I wanted. My advice...if you are a strummer get a nice Martin. The Taylors are made more for the finger pickers. I love the sound of my HD-28! Another quick word of advice...I played three different HD-28s. The one that I ended up getting sounded way better than the other two. Take your time when shopping. Play everything. I can not express my feelings on that enough. Play everything and make the right decision for you. Because if you are like me and have to sacrifice many other things to afford this type of guitar you don't want to make a mistake.

This guitar was set-up perfect for me from the factory. I like my action low. The action is low and I do not get any buzzing. PERFECT! One of the other HDs that I played had high action. That could have been corrected later, but it was a turn off right away. All the woods are beautiful!

It is a Martin...yes it will last.

N/A

I have been playing 11 years. I own a a Seagull and a Fender. I also own a Gibson SG. If this guitar were stolen I would cry like a baby. I would then track down the culprit and put them in a world of pain. This really is the guitar I have been waiting through all the years I have been playing. I can't say enough good things about it.

Standard HD-28 features: Solid Sitka Spruce top, Solid Indian Rosewood sides & back, Solid Mahogany low-profile neck, Solid Ebony fingerboard and bridge, Herringbone top trim, scalloped X-bracing, Schaller tuners, Gloss finish, Martin Hardshell case.
Over the years I've owned/own a Martin D-15, Martin D-18, Martin D-28, Taylor 810, Gibson J-45 and this is easily the best sounding of them all. While the Taylor is probably the fanciest of them all, I've come to the conclusion that Taylor's strong suit is marketing and their guitars are simply overpriced.
The Martin HD-28 isn't too fancy nor too understated. In my opinion, it's what an acoustic guitar should look and sound like.

Soundwise the HD-28 is outstanding and definitely a noticable difference when compared to the standard D-28. It has great projection and very even bass, mids and treble.

The factory set-up was perfect, which isn't always the case. Action wise, Taylor guitars have about the lowest action of most any acoustic guitar around, but that isn't always the best thing for the sound. Martin strikes the proper balance between playability and tone.

I've never had a problem with any of my Martin's, but I've only had this one a few months.

Never had any dealings with Martin customer support.

I've been playing for 16 years and this is the best all around guitar I've ever owned. Easily worth the price upgrade from the standard D-28. I will probably replace the saddle and nut with bone and the bridge pins with ebony (fossilized Ivory is just too much). In short, this guitar has everything I want in an acoustic.

Mine is a 1990 Martin HD-28p, bought new. Custom options include large Martin headstock logo, pearl inlayed initials, gold schaller tuners, pearl string pegs, and real bone in the nut and bridge (installed after purchase). Sitka spruce top, rosewood sides, ebony fingerboard, scalloped bracing, moulded case.

I was a University student when I bought this guitar. I had owned 3 mid-grade acoustics and several electrics when I stumbled across a dealer going out of business. I played a couple of D 28's, a D-35, and was about to leave the store, when he handed me his own personalized HD 28. Well, you know what happened next...I was ruined to go back to my old acoustic. The HD had volume, balance, comfort...not to sound weepy, but it truly was an emotional experience. He had good relations with Martin, and was able to offer me a very customized guitar for less than list price. My supportive parents fronted the cash, and I paid them off years later...they understood the investment inherent in a Martin, and are both big music fans.

There was a problem, and the dealer phoned me before I took delivery. After the customization, it was discovered that the gold schaller tuners were a different configuration than the stock tuners. They called to get permission to fill and redrill new holes, and gave me a generous rebate. Classy, I thought. The action was spot-on, great intonation, silky finish, perfect bookmatching, and beautiful inlay work. In the 14 years since, everything is still perfect, with the exception of laquer checking which was entirely my fault--I lent the guitar to someone who didn't understand humidity and temperature changes. He was horrified, but it was my fault for not explaining these things to him. Caveat Lendor.

These guitars have a very thin top and light, scalloped bracing. You can't expect them to withstand abuse like a Fender Telecaster. They make terrible footstools, and don't enjoy being dropped. I live in Quebec, and we have nasty humidity and temperature swells...the Martin does respond to those changes, and one must take care to minimize them and allow the guitar to acclimate to the ambient temperature. However, 14 years in this Province have produced no unexpected damage, and the sound in the last 5 years has really started to shine. I can't quantify it, but these things can have a long break-in time. A 10+ year old Martin is just starting to sound terrifyingly good.

I've had the occasion to call Martin to get recommendations for simple things like a strap button install, bridge pin fitting, etc. They're excellent, and understand the trepidation a Martin owner has in entrusting their guitar to someone.

I've played for 21 years. I own a Fender strat plus deluxe, a deluxe Nashville Telecaster, Delta Blues 15" amp, various gear and effects. I have owned lots of other guitars, but have whittled my collection down to my favourites. The Martin is a classic, a keeper. You'll own one your whole life, if it's the right one. Since buying it, I haven't played an acoustic I liked more. And there's something special about handing it over to someone who's never played or seen one up close before...I remember the feeling very well.

2003 Model. I'll assume you all know or have allready read the other reviews and know what its made of, etc. Don't let looks deceive you! It may be somewhat simple in regards to appointments, but it doesn't need them. I'll gladly trade all the glitz and glamour for the sound and playability of this instrument. The features are all on the inside! I do agree that it deserves a bone nut and saddle and ebony bridge and endpins. I feel this axe should come equipped that way, but will just add them myself. I'll add the ebony bridge and endpins first, then later the bone nut and saddle. I don't want to mess with the nut yet, its too new!!!

It sounds incredible. It sounds like a guitar. I could lower the action a bit and probably better accomodate my fingerstyle playing, but thats why I own more than one. This instrument, though it will deliver somewhat with fingerstyle, is definately meant to be played with a pick and will take all you can give it and gives it right back. In my opinion, its worth the extra money to get the HD versus the D. The exciting part is its only gonna get better with time.

Perfect from the factory, if you plan to leave it alone and use it for what it was intened for. Perfect string height at the nut side. Factory specs on the saddle side (12th fret). I would have to lower the saddle if I planned to use it mostly for fingerstyle. But I don't plan to. The neck is incredible. Does seem that they put little extra time into the HD's. There is not a hump or bump anywhere on the neck. Frets and neck perfectly level. So easy to fit you hand around it, like a glove.
Martin's finishes are beautiful, but tender. Definately can't bump it or remove a flake of dirt with your pick or fingernail or your gonna have an indention in the finish. My guitars are bought to play so that doesn't bother me. I think it is just one part of the formula that equals a great guitar. Just keep it clean, cause it will likely show if you don't. After time, it will take on a dull look if you don't keep it clean, then only a thorough cleaning and polishing will revive it. This is true for all Martins, but I don't see that as a problem cause they should all be kept clean.

This guitar is the standard around which many wish they could copy. Time has proven it will hold up. Yes, it will probably lose some of its finish if your aggressive or sweat on it a lot, but what is loses there it will gain back in character. Again, I bought it to use and learned a long time ago that if you use them its gonna show.

I've dealt with Martin a few times, and overall they are fair. Have not always gotten my way, but can't win em' all. Wish it was easier to talk to somebody in tech support area. The email method hasn't yielded good results for me. Seems Martin has stuck to their guns in regards to guitar build/quality, but lack a bit in the 'personable' area. Guess what I'm saying is that such a traditional guitar maker does not have a traditional customer support approach. Bottom line, sometimes I need to talk to somebody.

I own three Martins now. The HD28, an SPD16 for the mohogany flavor, and a Cowboy III as a collector for my little girl. I want two more guitars before I quit. I want the Martin Eric Clapton signature guitar for fingerstyle, and maybe someday a custom built fingerstyle guitar. In my opinion, other than some custom builders, Martin has no competition. It was and still is the standard, traditional guitar company, with the most natural sound and feel available. Gibson is a choice if you don't like Martin. Gibson is also one of the 'originals', therefore they have a sound and feel that some love. But if your into high tech modern technology then get a computer. Before you sink a ton of money into one of those overpriced high tech super adjustable modern era neck guitars, please give Martin a chance. Stick to the basics and the rewards will be great. Don't spend a bundle on one of those high priced production guitars and expect to get what your gonna get out of the Martin. The Martin is in a class of its own in the studio, too. Believe me, we've tried em' all, and you just can't get something out of something that doesn't have it in there to begin with. I tried the Taylor guitar, and luckily and thanks to ebay, I was able to get a fair price out of it and replace it with the HD28. (It didn't take long to figure out that I had paid 2400.00 for a 1200.00 guitar.) They were supposed to be the competition and they are the buzz word these days. They would be okay and the obvious choice for a stage guitar if they weren't overpriced. But you can buy from another manufacturer for less than half the price and get the same results. I realize this may not be true for everyone, but I'd say it is in most cases. Bottom line, if your in doubt, just stick with the Martin. It will come to you in time.

The big three, Ebony, Spruce and Rosewood. Distinctive herringbone trim and you can't ask (or need)more. I've owned it since '93 and it's my only acoustic guitar. Since that time I've had it refretted and added a bone nut and saddle.

In buying a Martin one learns that not all are created equal in Martin land. This is true with all brands even if the Taylor salesman disagrees. The guitar I own was so distinctive I traded a D-41 (which wasn't)for it, on the spot...even! Being a true Martin's Martin, there is no sound like it and to even get close, other makers charge $1,000 or more than the going price for an HD-28.

Martin has produced quality workmanship since the very poor work they produced in the 70's and hardly ever is there a knock on the finished product from a contruction standpoint and mine is no exception. I was surprised that my guitar needed a fret job so soon and perhaps a harder gauge steel could be used to remedy that.
The herringbone trim is perfect and if you've seen other guitars with this feature it's not always a pretty sight. The tuners are like new and have never required any attention. The top is aging gracefully and it has turned from an almost white sheen to an aged slightly golden hue.

Take care of your HD-28 and it will take care of you. This guitar has never been played outdoors and as a result there is no finish checking (superficial cracking)on the guitar at all. I keep a hygrometer in the case and make adjustments as needed through the seasons. Having said all that, the guitar would be in perfect condition if only my wife hadn't knocked over my electric guitar into the Martin. I have a small deep ding in the outer binding, but we're still in love.

I made the mistake of getting a guitar tech to adjust the neck for me and after he did, the guitar wasn't the same tone monster I had come to know and love. I took it to two other techs and Martin payed the bill for me each time, even though the warranty excludes such service. Ultimately when I found the right man for the job, Martin payed for the set-up part of my refret job, as worn out frets are not covered under any warranty.

I've been playing acoustic guitar for 27 years. I've owned a Gibson J-45(circa 1966), an ovation(what was I thinking), an Alvarez-Yairi, and a Martin D-41. This past week I made my first foray into electric land with a PRS McCarty.
If my Martin were lost or stolen it would be like losing something you know you can't replace. In it's own right it will never be made again. Guitars are unique in that regard and it's part of thier mystique. If I were to lose it I would be once again on the long journey to find that one out there that sings my song and is waiting for me somewhere, to come take it home, as it was the day I walked into Ciderville Music. I would mourn the loss of my old friend.

HD-28 is basically THE Martin. Not any fancy stuff. Compared to the
D-28 it was the sound that made me spend more cash.

Oh my god. I've been playing mostly classic nylon guitar for the last couple of years, but i knew i would by a western again. I had it home for a couple of days and put a new set of string on it yesterdad. Well i could nut stop playing and my fingers are totally torn apart, and all i'm waiting for is to get back home and play this thing again.
This is what i been waiting for. Awesome. Clear distinctive treble and loud bas. Got to get used to fingerpick a steel string guitar again.

Action was very pleasing from the factory though i might consider a trip to the luthier after a while.
I've seen that some people has changed the sadle and other stuff. Might consider this when i know the guitar better.
But generaly speaking everything is Okay.

Well owning this guitar for 3 days don't give much clue about it.
It seems, though, extremely well build.

Hm can't answer that. Martin has a limited life time waranty

I've been playing guitar for 25 years now. Nothing pro, but consider my self an advanced amateur. ( Just love it ). Have been playing a lot of classical lately, but have an old affection for country blues.
So investigation a lot of options i've decided this baby was the one that i needed. So i handed out the cash. ( In europe american guitar are about twice as expensive as in the US ).
Do i regret it ?, no not for a moment. This is what i've been looking for.

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.

It has all the features mentioned in the other reviews. Not a fancy-looking guitar, but is beautiful in its simplicity.

Playing guitar has been a lifelong hobby--mostly folk music. I use a soft pick and also do a little finger picking. I've always used light gauge strings, but I'm getting used to the factory-installed mediums. It has a wonderful sound compared to the other models I tried.

The guitar came set up low, the way I like it. There's just a little buzzing caused by lack of callouses on my fingers and lack of practice in such a long time.
It came without a scratch on it--not even on the pick guard.

I haven't had it long enough to comment on its durability, but it appears to be extremely well made.

It comes with the lifetime limited warranty.

I've played guitar for about 30 years, but was never more than an amateur...I've always wanted a Martin but never could afford one. Although I haven't played in years, I decided it was time to get a Martin. I went to some shops in my area and tried out different Martin models. I was having a hard time deciding which one I liked best. I had not tried the HD28 because it was more money than I wanted to spend. But then I thought I'd try one just for the heck of it. And the minute I played it, I knew it was the one I wanted. So I ended up spending more than I'd planned, but so far I'm very happy with it.
If it were lost or stolen, I'd go back and try out different models again, just to make sure I'd want to buy this model again...

I wish it came with goldtone tuners. And I'm not overly fond of the white trim; a cream color would look nicer. But then, I bought it for the sound rather than looks.

Made in 2001 in good ol' USA
Rosewood back and sides, spruce top, ebony fingerboard and bridge
Mahogany neck
Dreadnought style
Herringbone prufling (hence the "H" in HD-28)
Martin enclosed tuners
Nice features for this class/level of guitar. However, it would have been nice if Martin would have inlcuded a bone nut and saddle. Come on guys, you make a SUPERB instrument. Why not spring for a few simple extras instead of using plastic??

I've played rock and blues for 30 years and have recently been exploring bluegrass. IMHO, this is THE BEST acoustic guitar for bluegrass. I've been playing a Takamine F-340 for years and this simply puts it to shame. The guitar is very well balanced from the lows to the highs, without the over-"boominess" of the D-35. The rosewood, however, gives it a very rich bottom end. Nice. If you're into bluegrass and are looking for an axe, take very close look (and listen) at this bad boy.

I purchased this instrument over the Internet after having played a similar one in a music store. I know . . .sounds scary purchasing over the Internet. However, I saved over $500 considering the purchase price, no sales tax, and free shipping over any local music store offer. It was inspected/setup by a roving Martin rep who happened to be in the shop the week my guitar was to be shipped. They even included a checkout sheet signed by the Martin rep. Action was perfect; top is bookmatched perfectly; in short, setup was perfect.

Because I've just purachsed the instrument, I can't really provide a rating in this category. However, it appears to be made of some very good hardware and is finished superbly. It should be very durable. I would use this guitar live and in recording sessions without question. I'd probably use a backup guitar just because of the "string-breaking" gremlin we all know and love.

In researching this purchase, I contacted many of the top names: Martin, Bourgeois, Santa Cruz, Taylor, etc. Martin was the only one that didn't give me at least somewhat of a sales pitch. After all, it is a Martin. The Martin folks were very helpful and even encouraged me to try other manufacturers! How's that for confidence in your guitars? My experience so far has been great. Hopefully I won't have to make a warranty call to them.

Other musical instruments I own: Gibson L-6 sb electric, Kentucky F-5 mandolin, Regal dobro, Takamine F-340 acoustic, Cremona SV-320 fiddle. The Martin HD-28 is probably the finest (and most expensive) instrument of the lot. I bought this guitar purely for the sound that comes out of it. I'm not into fancy inlay work and purfling. That stuff is nice, if you like spending that kind of money, but it doesn't make the instrument sound any better.

Made 1999 - Nazareth PA
Everything is factory spec
Spruce top (I look forward to it getting the aged golden look)
Rosewood Sides & Back
Mahogany Neck
All woods are solid
Came with molded Martin case (SKB I believe)

Equipped with after-market Dean Markley Sweet Spot pickup (nice pickup!)

I play folk, country & blues. This thing sounded straight out of the box like a 30 year-old D-28. This guitar has the most balance range of any guitar I have ever played. I wouldn't change a thing about it.

It was set up and ready to go. No flaws of any kind. I found it odd, however, that after about 2 or 3 months, the neck needed to be adjusted. I developed a noticable bow. With Martin's new adustable truss, I was able to do it myself, and it didn't take much at all to bring it in line. That was over 2 years ago and it hasn't moved. The neck is straight as an arrow and the action is perfect. In fact, the action is so good I had a luthier measure the string height and duplicate it on my other Martin.

I buy Martins because I can depend on them, and I have no question they will hold over time. And if they don't the lifetime warranty is honored.

I have contacted Martin a few times for trival questions about this guitar, and many times in the past for instrument appraisal, warranty repair, etc, and they have been very helpful and easy to deal with.

You will never regret having bought this guitar

1986 made in Nazareth, PA.
Purchased used, pickup already installed, I have no idea what kind. I can say that it has volume, bass, treble pots (not faders) mounted near neck joint.
Finish is cracking, but some say that adds tone. A previous owner put a Yamaha logo sticker on it (don't ask me why), and you can still see the residue in certain light, but that's obviously specific to my guitar.

Fabulous sound. I've never played a guitar that I liked better. Deep, booming bass (especially with medium strings), but the trebles aren't lost. I play a little bit of everything, and the guitar is very versatile. Goes from bluegrass to blues to rock (nice, chunky power chords) easily.

I have no idea how this came out of the shop. I bought it in 1999, when it was 13 years old. The only manufacturing flaw was that the binding was starting to separate from the body below the sound hole. I'm not the original owner, so I can't use the Lifetime Warranty, but a repair guy told me how to fix it, and it's almost as good as new.

I have never broken a string while playing. This guitar never goes out of tune (original tuners). I tend to wear down the finish when playing, but regulare polishing with Martin Guitar Polish shines it up nicely. I would take this guitar anywhere and not worry about it performing. I might worry about something happening to it, but never that it would break without being subjected to unreasonable trauma.

Never contacted Martin. Never had to have it repaired (save aforementioned self repair).

I have been playing for almost 6 years. This guitar was probably too nice for me to have this soon, but it really makes you want to keep playing. I would definitely replace it if it were lost, stolen, or damaged (after I cried a lot). Again, I have never played a guitar that I liked better, and I like to go to guitar stores and play the expensive Taylors, Gibsons and vintage instruments. Even new Martins don't sound as good as this guitar. Definitely worth the cost!!

My guitar is a 1996 hd-28 dreadnaught. It has the same features as the other HD-28's featured in these reviews. I have added a Martin thin line pick to play live. The thin neck is super and the ebony fretboard plays like butter. The standard tuners work well for me. They stay in tune and thats all I want.

The sound is simply the best acoustic guitar I have ever owned or heard. I play mainly live, in church, so I need a powerful sound...full and resonant. I play it with a Crate 60 watt amp and the thin line pick up I had installed after I got it really sounds great and Im somewhat picky. Trebles are high and the bass is booming. I have no dislikes at all! I play with markley bronze 11's

Action was improved after my guy at the music shop installed the thinline pick up. He also lowered the action and the results are unbelievable. lightning quick!! not a buzz to be found. These are incredibly machined guitars. The finish is good. The guitar is relatively light compared to other dreadnaughts. The neck is thin which works well for me. When you play it you know you're playing a SPECIAL guitar and not just another acoustic

I own a Martin 00028-EC and a Gibson j160E and this HD-28 is THE best of the lot, period. The clapton plays good but lacks the big deep resonant sound I need, but after all it's an auditoriam guitar. The J160e? Forget it....not in the same league with the Martin's!!!

Hav'nt had to use them so far.

Been playing 25 years. I have owned a lot of guitars (just ask my wife) and this one was a real suprise. It was my first Martin and now I know what all the Martin hoopla is all about. They really do have they're own sound. Clean,crisp, deep acoustic sound. Yes if it was stolen or lost I'de have to replace it cause I would know any replacement would be a step down. To my ear this one is the BEST!

2001, Nazareth, PA
2001, 14 fret Dreadnaught
solid Sitka spruce
sides and back solid Indian Rosewood
top, sides, and back gloss finish
enclosed tuners say Martin
ebony bridge and fretboard
mahogany satin finshed neck
GEIB-style case
plain Jane, beautiful in its simplicity

Mostly flatpick blues, country-rock (in the tradition of Sweetheart of the Rodeo), R&B
Sound is rich, full across all strings. Separation and projection is perfect.
Like the challenge of bringing out the capability of the guitar, any shortcomings due to guitarist

The usual high Martin set up (am having action lowered in addition to ebony bridge pins, end pin and bone saddle)
Top is bookmatched perfectly
No overglue
Can smell the rosewood across the room
Set up guy says it's one of the best new HD28s he's seen in a while
Finish is thin, but allows all kinds of overtones, I need shades to look at it

Have played it out several times with banjos, fiddles, mandolins,stand up basses. Always does what I need it to-from a booming bass to subtle rhythm.
Hardware is excellent
Finish, though light, is durable.
Depend on it like a good boat in rough seas.
Nevr take a back up

Martin very helpful in determining what work requires authorized repairperson.
Under warranty, but hopefully will never have to deal with them on any substantive kind of work.
Limited lifetime warranty

Over 20 years.
Had late 50's Gibson J-45
Currently have Martin D-16 RGT
No
Buy same or one of the Pearlys (D-40 on up)
Sound above all; hate nothing.
The graceful finish, oohs and ahhs from others
As I said, lowered action, ebony bridge pins, and end pin
Most expensive guitar I've owned, best player I've owned. I ain't Clarence White/Tony Rice, but boy can this thing cut the mustard!

MY guitar was built in 1994. The "features" have been stated enough in the other reviews here.

As a Dreadnaught you might think this guitar somewhat limited but MY HD28 is quite balanced in sound, more than other HD'S I've played. Given that fact I find MY guitar to be quite versatile. I need to be able to play Bluegrass, Folk,Fingerstyle, and a host of other "Acoustic" styles. The only dislike I can find in the guitar is (and this is quite common) the "Low G" fretted note "wolfs" a bit causing the note to NOT sustain as long as others and I ALMOST didn't buy the guitar as a result but the balance in sound was so compeling that I relented.(And didn't regret it). As the instrument "ages" so does the sound growing more rich and full with the passage of time. Be patient, play your guitar and it will grow with you.

Setup from the factory was typical Martin, good setup but a bit high. I had the guitar setup closer to what MY setup needs are and replaced the nut and saddle with a bone setup and the bridge pins with ebony. Those factors caused a marked increase in sustain and tone complexity. Martin could probably do that but the price of the instrument would, no doubt, increase. Do it yourself. You won't regret it! Wood selection is impeccable. MY top has more "silk" (mandullary rays) than a lot of tops I've seen on HD'S and that, probably, accounts for the balance of My HD.

I am a professional musician and teacher so this instrument (along with my others) are tools not toys and with a little common sense care will last a lifetime plus the life time of whomever inherits them. They pay my bills so they have to be able to withstand hard work. I own two Martins, this one and a D16M. They have never disappointed me.

Martin customer support is outstanding. VERY professional, helpful and friendly. Any MINOR repairs that My guitar(s) have ever needed have been handled by my setup man. He is Martin certified which helps. Limited lifetime warranty to the origial owner.

Everything has been said above. If stolen I would have to get another because of My occupation and it would be a Martin of the same model or, perhaps the Vintage series. Other guitar makers make GREAT instruments to be sure and if you are shopping try them all. Martin happens to make the best guitar for MY needs. Your needs and sound preferences may be different.

Solid Spruce top, Solid East Indian Rosewood back and sides, Solid Mahogany neck, Ebony bridge and fretboard. Herringbone trim.

The sound of this guitar is changing everyday. It is typically Martin, heavier on the bass side and mid's, light on the treble. I enjoy the sound although it does not sound the best of my guitars.

All seems to be assembled well, finish on the neck has a spot that looks like the guitar was placed on a stand or something during the finishing process and has an artificial looking mark on the neck. I'm surprised it made it past the Martin inspectors. When will Martin do away with the chessy plastic bridge and end pins and put some ebony or fossilized ivory type? For a guitar that sells for this much you'd think they could do better. These pins or CHEAP, CHEAP, CHEAP looking and sounding. Buy some ebony ones from any mail order place and improve the sound of your guitar if you have one of these with Martin pins still on the guitar.

Can't say for sure but I'm hoping this is a nice guitar fro my grand kids.

Had a glitch with my guitar. The registration form in my case was for a different serial number. Martin contacted the person that registered with my serial number (they didn't know) and corrected the documentation so that we are both warrantied with the proper serial numbers. So based on that I'd say they're alright.

So far so good and getting better. Doesn't sound as good as my Taylor 810 (made from the same type of woods) but is still a very nice guitar that plays better than most. I Use medium strings and my hands don't get tired even after several hours of playing. This is my seventh solid wood guitar from different and each has a sound as unique as the makers.

If you want to contact me about this guitar please write to me directly at: rmorris@jcc.mepcom.army.mil and/or include your e-mail address in the body of your message. Harmony Central adds some No SPAM crap to their messages and it wipes out the senders return e-mail address.

Made in 1981 - Made in Nazareth - I don't need to describe it
I bought it in 1982 on a business trip to USA - I live in Germany
Features - Standard Martin

I love it's warmth. I play all styles, solo, duo, four piece, and a rock band and have used it with them all.
Folk, blues, rock. Finger picking
I fell in love with the guitar when I first played it and have never fallen out of love with it.
Any one who has one or has played one knows that you can't describe the sound. You feel it.

The action was high and I got used to playing it high.
Sixteen years later I had the guitar cleaned and reworked by a guitar maker in Bremen - Karsten Gorbig - I got a new guitar back - action lower, and fell in love with it even more.

I play it live,and at home.
Some scratches but after 20 years I guess it would have some.

Never dealt with the company - never needed to

I have been playing as a hobby / semi hobby some 30 years - 2o with this Martin.
I bought a Fishman Rare Earth humbucker two years ago which I play through a Trace Eliot 35 watt Acoustic amp then slaved up through the PA if I'm working in a bigger room/bar/concert or with my other three friends. It booms a bit when trying to record it.I prefer if possible to play it with no amplification in small rooms. The warmth of the sound becomes meditation especially if I'm playin in Dropped D or DADGAD tunings. I sometimes push it through a Lexicon Hall.
If I lost it I would be heartbroken - Whatever it cost I would replace it straight away. Its part of my life and taught me to play and inspired me to make music.
When I first touched this guitar I played one chord only - G - and knew this was fo me. Played it for an hour or so before I handed over the money - but I knew first up it was the one.

1998 HD-28, spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck... just like all the rest posted here. Thermo-plastic case with their logo formed in the top. No pick up, it doesn't need one. It has all the features it needs, just wish Martin had used some different stuff
which I'll cover later.

Sound is the reason you buy Martin Guitars. Classic! I guess I consider myself and electric blues player. I grew up listening to just about any kind of music you can imagine...including bluegrass. About a year ago a friend turned me on to bluegrass playing. The acoustic guitar I had, I thought sounded good, but was uninspiring.
Now I'm inspired! The HD-28 sounds like a good guitar should. The
tone is great. It's strong in bass and has good balance. When not trying my novice attempts at hardcore flatpicking I will fingerpick some but mostly do a hybrid thing with a flatpick and as many fingers as I can manage. This acoustic will suit the dreadnaught demands for anyone. Better bridge saddle, nut & bridge pin material would improve the sound, so its not perfect stock... but its close!

I bought this guitar nused. My boss bought it about a year or so ago from a really good Martin dealer, had some action work done, then never played it. I pealed the protective plastic off the pickguard yesterday. The finish is perfect. The set up from the factory was fair. The new set up is fair. I prefer somewhere in between. No flaws that I've found. Here again wishing for a better nut and because of sting bending I would like a slightly largrer (taller) frets. Finsh and finish get 9's and the action gets a 7.

Haven't had it long enough to judge reliability. I have noticed the
finish seems a little tender. Soft clothing seems to leave very fine
scratches (you've gotta look really close to see them) but I would expect the finish to be more laquer-like the some of the more durable
finished used now days. Just guessing.

I have no idea. Never contacted them. For what it's worth.. Martin's
website has a serial number decoder if you want to determine the age of your guitar. That's nice.

I've been playing 27 years. Currently own a 1997 PRS McCarty (imo,PRS does the best set necks in the business), 1985 Alvarez Yairi (plays great, very stable, sounds ok), In the process of building a thinline tele thing. If something happened to my HD-28 I would likely buy another or one of the similar offering from Santa Cruz (another good neck) or someone similar. So long as it has that old D-28 sound, you know.

I believe this to be a 1999 or 2000. I bought it in spring 2000. I got it through a catalogue, and it came UPS.It was wrapped in plastic
in the case. The case was set on a hard piece of cardboard and that was also covered in a thick plastic and inside of another shipping box. THE THING WAS EVEN IN TUNE!!! when I opened the box. The Guitar is a 14 fret neck, with solid Indian Rosewood back and sides, a solid Spruce top and Herringbone inlay. The only drawback I think would be the plastic pins. I felt for a upper level guitar that it would be bone.

The sound is unmistakably Martin. I've tried a wide variety of strings and guages and find it doesn't like the brighter strings as much as some of the more mellow strings.I've also noticed the light strings tend to lose the high end when I play with more power. the balance is better with medium strings. But, I love the sound that comes from this guitar. My style is Bluegrass/country Gospel.This is THE guitar.

The finish on this was beautiful, the bookmatched topis impeckable.The boys at the factory really do a great job. I could find NO flaws in the finish or any run over with the glueing on the braces,,, it's just beautiful.
The action however, I think could be better. I played one in the local music store that was great, however this one seems to be high. I believe it's to accomidate medium guage strings, but I have short fingers and with the wider neck, medium gets a little tough on the hands during power picking.

This is the only guitar I take to jobs. There is no need for a backup.
This is a Martin. I believe its built to last. I've seen many Martins at Bluegrass festivals that are 50 years old and more.
I do believe the finish is a little fragile. I see many guitars with finish cracks from heat and cold and many others that the finish is wearing off. But personally, I think it adds character to the guitar

I believe the warranty is only as good as the representative. The company has a lifetime warranty on this guitar, but the average Joe won't want to lose his guitar for however long it takes to send it off to get fixed, so they go to AL's bait and luthier shop. The company is great tho and will try their best to help.

I have been playing for close to forty years, this is my first Martin. It was worth the wait. I own a 74 Telecaster, a Peavey Amp,
a 1935 Dobro, a 1923 Gibson mandolin, a couple banjos etc, etc,
I wish i could have found in my area this guitar with a smaller neck, only for playing comfort.If it were lost or stolen, I would get another. I think the thing I love the most about this guitar is the prestige. I'm a pretty good picker but it seems that I had to try just that much harder before someone would notice. Now I can walk in and automatically get respect just by opening the case. Unless you experience this, you may not believe it, but it's true. They just know you mean buisness when you have this.

I purchased this guitar new in Feb. of 1995. This model has long been the most popular in the Martin line. It has an Indian rosewood body, solid sitka spruce top,an unbound ebony fretboard and Schaller tuners. The finish on mine is gloss nitrocellulose and the mahogany neck has a gloss finish as well. It has the modern "low profile" neck with a 1 11/16" nut width. It came with the standard factory case.

I had previously owned a 1969 D35 with a 3 piece Brazillian Rosewood back. In a period of great financial stress I sold the guitar and, literally, cried as the new owner drove away. Better times arrived, yet I never really believed I would find a guitar that would match the D35's tone. I was wrong. My new Martin had a tone that not only had all the bottom end of the Brazillian, but a much better(clearer,brighter) treble. Overall, I would rate it superior to the '69 D35. It is a very versatile instrument that responds well to both flatpick and fingerpicking styles. I have no problem generating a lot of volume when I need it or appreciating the quiet, subtle tones it is capable of. The sound is the HD 28's best feature, in my opinion.

Action was set up a bit high for my taste, but it was easily corrected. The back/sides/top were perfectly bookmatched and the top shows a lot of "meduliary rays". There was one small finish "bump" on the neck that has since played away. I think that the factory bridge pins are cheap and should be of a better quality in this price range.I will replace them and perhaps the nut and bridge as well.The heel cap is cheap looking. Fit of all parts is excellent. In a period of insanity, I ordered and paid a huge sum for a custom built ,12 fret D from a very well respected luthier. After waiting 8 months, the guitar arrived. In comparison to my Martin, I was underwhelmed. I understand that hand made guitars have "character flaws". I still think that the Martin is superior. But for the cheap parts mentioned, I would have rated it higher.

After nearly 6 years of daily playing, it has no cracks or physical deformaties. The frets have worn some and the fretboard shows a bit of wear in the 1st position. Hardware is as new, the finish is perfect except for a small ding my son made in the top. I am not a professional musician, but I have played it "out" quite a bit. I have no reason to think it unreliable. I currently have no other backup.( I sold my custom D, at a profit!)

I have never had to call customer support, so I cannot comment or rate.

I have been playing since 1963. I have owned several guitars including a Yamaha classical, Harmony classical, Gibson 335 TD, Danelectro electric, 1969 Martin D35, Fender standard American Strat, the custom 12-Fret D and my HD 28. The only thing I would change on the HD 28 is that I would prefer a 1 3/4" nut width. That can be ordered custom, but not "off the rack". If it were lost or stolen I would purchase another Martin, but I might look at a used model with the 1 3/4" nut. I have looked at new HD 28's and they do not seem to have as high a quality of Rosewood as mine...but that may just be my own prejudice showing. I love the sound that has only improved over the 6 years that I have owned it and the workmanship. I hate the tuners and will replace them and bridge pins/nut/saddle someday. My favotite feature is simply the tone. It is perfect, as far as I am concerned.I have compared it to Taylors which, while they are wonderful feeling instruments, do not sound as good to my ears as Martins. I have also tried Larivee's, Gibsons and Guilds. None compare, for me. If I could have the wider nut width, it would be perfect. For the type of music I play (Bluegrass, folk rock, blues, Celtic, some fingerstyle)the HD 28 is a good "all around" instrument.

Made in good old Nazareth, PA in January 1996. I bought it four months later right out of the box. I don't remember what I actually paid for it. I traded a 1983 D-35 and (I think)about $500 cash. Solid rosewood back and sides, solid sitka spruce top with herringbone trim and scalloped braces. Can't say there's anything outstanding about the features, it's a Martin Dreadnought...that pretty well sums it up.

They say a Martin doesn't get its full voice until it has been played about 10 years. Well I can't wait until this baby grows up, because the tone and timbre are already outstanding after only four years. It sounded better in the store than the D-45 I compared it to, and it's much better than the D-35 I traded. The D-35 had a very boomy bass, a subdued midrange, and a mellow treble. The HD-28 has a much more balanced sound. The bass is loud and strong but not at all boomy. The mids are sharp and clear and the high end really sparkles. I play a mixed bag of acoustic music...some folk, bluegrass, blues, rock and whatever else I find interesting. I find the Martin tone not only suitable for all of it, but really easy to listen to for long periods of time. I'd say if you're into modern country, you won't be that satisfied with this guitar unless you fit it with a pickup and then EQ a sharper high end into it. Martins just don't have that sharp high-end bite that's popular today. I tend to be a purist about such things. I prefer to mike the guitar rather than take its virginity away by installing a pickup where God and C. F. Martin never intended! For my taste the HD-28 has a rich full sound that I don't feel needs improving.

Action, fit, and finish were flawless from the factory. Martins tend to be set with a higher action (in my opinion) than would have to be. But, when you consider they are intended (at least the Dreadnoughts are)to be used as a rhythm instrument for vocal accompaniment, it makes sense to have the action slightly higher.

I've been playing Martins for 20 years, and I've never had one fail under any circumstances. They are built rugged as hell and made to be played. Just watch the heat and humidity that you subject them to. And, of course, watch out for airport baggage handlers who can somehow destroy anything! Backup at a gig? Nah...just have an extra set of strings handy. That's all I've ever had break on a Martin.

Lifetime warranty. Never had to deal with the factory on this guitar, but I have on a couple of my others. Anytime I've called they made me feel like I was part of their family. I hope the stay in business another 170 years!

I've been playing for about 35 years. I used to think Gibson was good, until I bought two duds in a row from them and finally tried a Martin. I've owned a D-18 and D-35, both purchased new, and a 1939 OOO-18 bought used. The OOO-18 was in a class by itself, but the HD-28 is by far the best sounding and best playing Dreadnought I've owned. I intend to take this one with me to my grave. If it were ever stolen or destroyed ( I doubt ever lost) I'd attempt to replace it with another one.

My HD-28 was made in 1993. It is made in the USA. It is a standard drednought with solid sitka spruce top. The neck is one piece mahogany, back and sides of Indian Rosewood, and the fret board is ebony. It has a 25.4" scale length. The tuners are made by Schaller. The H stands for herringbone trim around the top. It also has scalloped braces. It came with a Martin thermoplastic hardshell case.

The sound is great. When I solo I usually finger pick and when I play in groups I play rhythm. I play a variety of Rock and folk. I go through a Carvin AG100 acoustic amp or plug direct into the PA. I use a Fishmen under the saddle pickup.
I would describe the sound as a deep and full sound. It has a lot of sustain in the low end with out being boomy. It sounds great unplugged or in front of a mike but sounds like any other acoustic with the pickup.

The action was to low when I got the guitar and I would get buzz when I strummed hard so I shimed it up. It makes it a little hard to play up past the 10th fret. I also had to raise the D and G strings at the nut.
The bookmatching on the top is great. It has some bear claw in it that makes it look like it is not bookmatched but I like it. The finish on the bass side of the neck has been flaking off and there is a worn spot from my hand on the back of the neck. After I had the guitar for 6 months the bridge started to pull off. I had it repaired at Player Music in Texas for about $30. I've never had any more problems.

Other than the bridge pulling loose I've had no major problems with this guitar. I play it a lot. I lead worship with it at my church every week plus I play in a band. I've also traveled with it to Europe and Africa. I did not get along well with thermoplastic case in traveling. It started to not fit right when it was closed and the top was not arched so it did not give much protection from things like kids standing on it. (It does happen now and again) Last year I bought a Geib style case from Martin for $150. It a five ply arched top wooden case and it works great. Its the case I used to take my guitar to Africa. The Schaller tuners are great. I have never done anything to them and they seem to hold solid.

Martin has been very friendly when I have talked to them and will answer any questions you have. My guitar was not under warranty when I had work done on it.

I have been playing for 24 years. My other guitars are a Baby Taylor, a Yamaha 365sII acoustic, a Guild B30 acoustic bass and a Electra Omega electric. I don't know if I would buy another HD-28 if it were stolen. To me there is something special about this one and another HD-28 would feel like a copy. I would look into some other brands like Collins, or Taylor. I would get a guitar with mahogany back and sides if I buy another one. What I love about my guitar is that it inspires me to play and write music. I looks great too. I hated the original case and it is a little hard to play some chords up the neck. My favorite feature is the bear claw top. I compared this guitar to lots of other guitars. Santa Cruz, Taylor, Breedlove, Larivee, Gibson, Guild, Louden, Goodall ect.. I wish I had played a Collings first. The reason I bought this one was that it sounded great and my wife loved it. I've had many people tell me that its the best sounding guitar they have ever heard.

BOUGHT NEW 6/2/99.IT HAS SOLID WOOD ALL AROUND. TOP IS SITKA SPRUCE,BACK AND SIDES IS EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD,NECK IS MAHOGONY WITH SATIN FINISH WITH EBONY FRETBOARD.HAS HERRINGBONE AROUND BINDING WITH SCALLOPED BRACING.

THIS GUITAR HAS THE BEST ACOUSTIC SOUND I'VE EVER HEARD. IT'S SUCH A WARM GUITAR WITH AWESOME BASS RESPONSE AND CLEAR TREBLE RESPONSE.IT'S GREAT FOR THE FINGER STYLE I PLAY LIKE KENNY LOGGINS, JAMES TAYLOR, AND ALSO THE FLAT PICKING STUFF I PLAY, CLAPTON,BEATLES,PINK FLOYD. IT IS SO RICH AND RESONANT I CAN PLAY ALL DAY. THE GUITAR EVEN SMELLS NICE, IT'S GOT THAT REAL WOOD SCENT.

THE SET UP WAS GREAT. THE ACTION WAS PERFECT FOR AN ACOUSTIC. IT CAME WITH MEDIUM GUAGE STRINGS WHICH TOOK ME TIME GETTING USED TO BUT THE TONE IS INDEED SUPERIOR, I'LL DEFINITELY STICK WITH THEM AND BUILD UP MY STRENGTH. IT DOES BUZ A BIT ON THE A STRING BUT ALL NEW GUITARS WILL HAVE SOME BUZZING AND I'LL GET IT SET UP SOON ANYWAY SO I AM NOT CONCERNED.THE FRETS ARE FLAWLESS,THE FINISH IS SUPERB,THE WOODWORK IS EXCELLANT.

THIS IS A MARTIN SO THIS IS GOING TO LAST. A CONCERN THAT THE MARTIN BROCHURE MENTIONED IS TO BE CAUTIOUS WITH THE FINISH. A STRAP ACROSS THE TOP COULD RUIN THE FINISH SO PRECAUITIONS ARE IN ORDER. OTHER THAN THAT THIS GUITAR IS BUILT SOLID. I HAVE A HUMIDIFIER FOR THE DRY WEATHER AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE WITH MY GUILD THAT GUITARS WILL CRACK IF TOO DRY.

I CONTACTED THEM USING THEIR 800 #, WHICH BY THE WAY IS RARE, AND THEY ARE SUPER. I CALLED THEM ASKING ABOUT THE STRAP AND WHICH STRAP THEY RECOMMENDED AND THEY WERE HELPFUL. I CALLED PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE ASKING THEM ABOUT DIFFERENCES IN MODELS AND THEY EXPLAINED IT TO ME.

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 17 YEARS AND I OWN A GUILD J55 12 STRINGS WHICH IS AN AWESOME GUITAR,AN OVATION BALLADEER WHICH I USE FOR GIGS,FENDER DELUXE STRAT,LES PAUL,MARSHALL,FENDER AND CARVIN AMPS.I SPENT A FEW MONTHS COMPARING THE MARTINS WITH OTHERS.I TRIED TAYLORS AND I FOUND THEM PLAYABLE BUT I FOUND THE MARTINS HAD MORE RICHNESS IN TONE.I LIKED THE WARMTH AND BOTTOM END OF THE MARTINS BETTER THAN THE TAYLORS.THE BOLT ON NECKS OF THE TAYLORS DEFINITELY EFFECTS THE TONE AND VALUE IN MY OPINION. I THINK IF I WERE GOING FOR SOMETHING FOR GIGGING I MAY HAVE WENT FOR THE TAYLORS SINCE THEY HAVE NICE FEATURES ON THEIR GUITARS.I AM STILL UNSURE IF I WANT A PICK UP IN THIS GUITAR. I WENT TOTALLY TRADITIONAL THIS TIME AROUND. I WANTED A REAL NICE ACOUSTIC WITH NOTHING BUT TONE AS ITS FEATURE AND I KNOW I MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE. I WAS LOOKING AT THE D35 AND I LIKED THE BASS RESPONSE BUT IT WAS A LITTLE TOO MUCH BASS FOR ME. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE TRIED THE HD35 BUT I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE. I ALSO TRIED THE HIGHER END STUFF LIKE THE D41 AND D45. NOW THEY HAD SOME AWESOME ABOLONE ORNAMENTATION BUT IT WAS WAY EXPENSIVE AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT I FOUND THE HD28 TONE A LITTLE LOOSER SOUNDING WHICH IS WHAT I LIKE.I LOVE THE TONE OF THIS GUITAR AND IT PLAYS NICE AS WELL. TRUE IT'S NOT AS LOW PROFILE AS A TAYLOR BUT I AM USED TO GUILDS AND GIBSONS SO FATTER NECKS DON'T BOTHER ME.I WOULD GET THIS GUITAR AGAIN IF LOST OR STOLEN. IT'S AN EXPENSIVE GUITAR BUT WHEN YOU PLAY JUNK FOR YEARS AND YOU REALIZE YOU LOSE MONEY FROM TRADING AND SELLING,YOU DON'T MIND SPENDING ON A GUITAR YOU WILL KEEP FOR GOOD.

1989, made in Nazareth Pa., Gloss Finish, Rosewood Back & Sides, Sitka Spruce Top, Mahogony neck, Rosewood Veneer on Peg Head. Schaller Tuners with Martin logo engraved. Standard Martin Black Case. I bought the guitar brand, spanking new.
In this review I set 10 as 'good as it could get' I set 1 as 'bad as it could get'

The guitar always sounded good. However, after having fossilized ivory setup on the saddle, nut and bridge pins, the sound really developed. The 'micarta' Martin used on my guitar was cheap, and muddy sounding (in my opinion) compared to the ivory.
This guitar can 'cut through'. Volume is not really a problem. Very well balanced. Very loud and open. It is a pleasure to play.
I like the way it vibrates from any sound in the room. The sound is what really sets Martins apart. In my opinion, they are the best sounding acoustic guitars for the money.

Here is where I can really gripe. The action from the factory was not good. I had string buzz. Also the strings were skewed toward the treble side of the neck, resulting in misfretting the high 'e' string off the neck if I wasn't careful. However, my ivory setup corrected all these problems. Concerning the finish. It is very bad for a 'qualilty guitar'. The finish is bad about flaking off, especially around the body and neck. For some reason, Martins made around this time seem to have finish problems. I have seen several.
I had an initial problem with the handle on the case coming off, which I fixed myself.
Martin frets are smooth and last longer than some of guitar frets I've played.

I really have not played this guitar much outside of my house. However, I have confidence in it's reliability. Also, several of my friends have martins, and all seem very durable.
Other than the finish problems, it has been a durable guitar

I used a local Martin authorized repair person in Raleigh, NC to work on my finish flaking off around my neck and fretboard area. The work was unsatisfactory! I called Martin, they were cordial and recommended I send the guitar to them. I fixed it myself. I have seen repair work from Martin which is impecable. I am skeptical of their 'authorized' repair people after my experience. I think Martin should do a better job of approving the repair centers.

Like I said, Martins are the best for the money. Even with the problems I have had, this is still my primary acoustic guitar and playing it is a dream.

This is a 1994 martin HD-28. Solid woods throughout, of course, with a Sitka top that has an amazing amount of "bear claw" in it. Beautiful Schaller tuners - the best I've ever seen on an acoustic. Martin factory case, which I've had no problems with.

I play both flat pick and finger style on this instrument, which is set up with medium strings. All the power you could ever want with flat pick, as well as subtlety. Like most Martins, the balance of tone, (low to high up on the neck) is very good. Since about '92, all Martins have a truss rod, and because of the truss rod, they went to a "Lower Profile" neck. As compared to the older Martins, it is a much more slender neck, but don't be expecting a Taylor neck - it's thicker than that. Neck is comfortable over a long playing period. The back of the neck is satin finished - nice. Balance of the guitar is finished with high-gloss lacquer - don't know if it's nitro, acrylic, etc. Sturdy, though.

Setup was OK as received, except for a shim under the bridge which I didn't want, and haven't needed (4 years). Workmanship was flawless.

Instrument will only improve with age, and given due care, (spruce is SOFT!), should last several lifetimes. I've gigged with it many times as my only instrument.

Never any problems - company people are very cordial on the phone for questions, etc. Buy from the large volume dealers - NEVER pay "factory list" for a Martin. This guitar currently lists about $2450, but if you can't get it for c. $1800, you ain't trying very hard.

If I lost this instrument, I'd go into hock to replace it immediately.

Built in 1981, Nazareth, PA. Typical dreadnaught shape, 14 frets to the body. Like all the HD-28s, solid spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides (Indian, in this case) with herringbone purfling, scalloped bracing and a small maple bridgeplate that all require use of light or medium strings.

Sound is extraordinary. Big, full, complex, with plenty of overtones. Tone has gotten better over the years, just as you would expect it to. Punchy, not a lot of sustain. Very responsive, lots of volume if you want it.

All internal build details very clean. Great housekeeping. A less than wonderful factory set up, however, with the action too high at both the bridge and nut, making this guitbox a bear to play. Easily repaired, now, with the action set low for use with light strings. Mediums caused the bridge to belly; can't have that. Frets have been terrific.Very nicely done. Ebony fretboard has work a bit under the strings, however. Fingertip divots. Odd, that. The plastic cases that came with these guitars, and I guess still do, are cheesy. Wish it was a Calton.

Works very well, have to be careful miking it, as (like all many rosewood guitars) it can get boomy...which is the reason some players prefer mahogany Martins. Finish is very high quality, but after all this time the guitar definately shows signs of use. Tuners, (I think they're Grovers) are solid, but not as sensitive to small inputs as the openback vintage tuners on my 00-21, oddly.

I've had no problem at all with this guitar that has required factory support. When I've called the factory to ask questions, they've been nicely responsive.

Been playing for 35 years. Own a 1962 Martin 00-21, a '93 Tom Anderson Droptop Classic, a Vega VIP 5-string bluegrass banjo.When I bought this box, it was the only one in the store, so I was unable to play and compare. I got very lucky indeed. It sounds as good, to my humble ears, as the Collings and Bourgeois boxes I've a/b compared it to. If it was lost or stolen? I'd cry, bigtime. Then I'd immediatly replace it.

Style 28 Herringbone 1996 USA 20 Frets Solid Top Acoustic No pickup Indian Rosewood back and sides, spruce top Gloss finish Dreadnought Enclosed Tuners P style neck

Great sound under many conditions Extremely loud Sounds best with medium strings (don't give in to lights)

This one was perfect (100%) although you should really check to make sure no problems. I have seen defects on other Martins I purchased. Be careful here.

Finish looks durable I keep it clean, should last

I think the system of warranty repair centers really stinks in my area. They are scattered all over the place. They should make relationships with large guitar dealers rather than independent repairmen working out of their houses.
Other than that they are good on the phone etc.

I've played 20 years. Other guitars. Give it an 8.5. If stolen I would be pissed. This guitar will improve every year.
Best feature is fret and fretboard, simply a pleasure to play. Worst feature is neck shape.

1997-98 model? Not quite sure. Probably a 1998. Solid Sitka Spruce top, bookmatched Indian Rosewood back and sides. Ebony fretboard. Dreadnought style. "The dreadnought", as far as most people are concerned. Comes with a hard shell case. There is a herringbone inlay around the outside of the top, thus the "H" from the HD-28 model name. Supposedly, the inlay was all done by hand. The grain of the spruce top looks incredible.

Sound is incredible. Good, deep, rich bass. The highs are extremely clear. Important if you're trying to immitate the style of Michael Hedges.

Set up perfectly. Craftmanship is excellent. No extra glue seen inside the body.

Couple of unexpexted scratches have shown up. I'm more worried about the sound than the looks, though.

Haven't had to deal with.

Overall, a great guitar. List price is like $2,700 but you'll buy it for less than half of that. That's the Martin way. The guitar's appearance is beat only by its sound.