Sigma SDR28H

Just an update to Steves review. He mentions his model has no triangular taper at the rear of the headstock,and his also has the extra logo under the 'Sigma' inlay.
Both of these features are on later models,but as of yet I'm still searching for a date for the changes.

Sigma version of the Martin D28 the 'H' refers to the herringbone perfuling around the body of the guitar. Early Martin D28s used to have this until they had supply problems. This one was made in Taiwan, I cannot tell if the top is a one or two piece, but it is not laminated. Thge sides seem to be solid rosewood. It is in 'as new' condition and is a real credit to the previous owner. The blue book says that this should have scalloped bracing but I don't think it has. The tuning pegs are unbranded, but seem to be of a very high quality. This guitar has the 'Sigma & Co' script writing on the head, but underneath is the 'C F Martin & Co' script writing, both in a descrete mother of pearl inlay - I've never seen that before.
The Original Martin D28 has a slightly different neck - where it meets the headstock the martin has a triangular taper, this dosn't.

This is where the guitar scores most highly. The sound is unbelievable. The guitar came to me unstrung but with a new set of nondescript medium gague (13s) strings. I put these on and was blown away by a) the incredible volume and b) the quality of the sound. Not really being able to believe my own ears, I took it the same night to a local music session( Mainly English, Scottish & Irish Traditional tunes and songs) I managed to play the first couple of tunes before the guitar was prised from my grasp as everyone wanted to 'have a go'. The verdict was a unanimous 'One of the best guitars I have heard / played'. So I am well chuffed. I might try some lighter strings though.

Finish is superb. These seems to be some sort of cloth that has been stuck over the cross bracing under the face, I don't know if this is normal or not but it seems OK

The guitar is about 20 years olsd and has stood up to things OK til now, so I would imagine that it would be OK.

Too early to say really, but I am impressed up to now.

Never had any dealings with them

Been playing 40 years, own Yamaha + tenor banjo

I would definatly replace it with another if stolen or lost

The sound The Sound The Sound.

Bought this guitar in 1992(think it was introduced in '91),and it's been played equally as much as the Yamahas I own.
It has 22 frets,with the neck joining the body at the 14th. The neck has a nice 'v' shape to it,and from my point of view is very easy to play.(Good feel,and nice and slick).
Body shape is standard dreadnought,and tuners seem to be just generic,individual chrome type,but they tune fine,and are smooth in operation.
The only usual fault,is a lack of a strap button at the neck side of the body,but that's all.

Now to the sound quality. For me,it's been absolutely fine. I prefer to use 009"-010" guage strings,and with these fitted,it has a very neutral and mellow tone. Having said that,when it had 012" or 013" guage fitted,it really did sing out loud. With the heavier strings,it sounded as good as any top quality acoustics I've played,but heavy strings don't suit me personally.
Overall,after trying different guage strings,I can't fault the timbre of this guitar.

From new,the set-up wasn't too bad at all,and for most inexperienced players,would have been fine,but for my own reasons,I needed to change strings,and tweak the truss rod a bit,just to lower the action to where I like it.
The finish in my view,is beautiful for such a cost effective guitar. Fair enough,it's never going to be as good as a top of the range Martin etc,but it looks and feels like a really good quality guitar,with some nice and simple detailing around the sound hole,and herringbone trim round the body. The body is bound front and rear,whereas the fretboard is left plain. Pickguard is tortoise shell effect,and the position markers are a snowflake design.

Tough enough for anything. What else can I say.

As tough as an acoustic can get I should have thought.

Never needed any customer support,so can't comment really.

Been playing since chilhood(now 40 y.o). At present own Fender USA Strat,and Fender USA Tele,2 Yamaha acoustics,this Sigma(obviously),and a 1927 uke/banjo.
If this guitar were lost,I'd try and replace it with the same,but only if I could find one fairly easily/quickly.As good as it is,it's not a collectors item.
Did I compare it with other makes at the time,yes,but please don't ask me to remember which ones(too long ago now).

I've included a link below,to show you a farly close up photo of this guitar.


http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TQCJAqgXtZeb5H7O7otxJhsngieptzRd9CkeQlKS1XeQvk7n8r6HT7*Edpxs6AXzyJ59wbrhLMWbHMBzvVGf7!Hl7lTBf!8pEnTJH8hxOmLb1hk0KESVew/SDR28-H.jpg

This guitar was probably made in 1995, maybe, in Korea. The date is a guess b/c it was a gift from someone. It has a solid top for sure, and I'm reasonably sure that the back and sides are solid as well. It has an after-market under-saddle pickup. No controls. Beautiful glossy finish that fingerprints wipe right off of. Dreadnought shape-standard Martin size. Corrisponds to the HD-28. Standard tuners & bridge. Neck has pretty small frets for an acoustic and is ebony (I think- maybe just dark rosewood). Rosewood back and sides. I got it with the standard Martin hardshell case. Could use an onboard EQ, but that would mean cutting a hole in the side which is BAD. Otherwise same features as any acoustic (non-cutaway).

Sounds GREAT. Easily compares with mid-level Martins- probably about as good as a D-28. Not quite HD-28 level but close. I use external EQ to take the edge off the VERY bright pickup, as well as delay (BOSS DD-5), reverb (Electro-Harmonix Holy Grail), and sometimes a Wah/Volume (Morley). Wah is rare but funky. Had problems with feedback, but a "feedback buster" sound hole plug took care of it. The tone is excellent. I have never seen another like it (Sigma has changed hands so many times so models & quality vary widely). Acoustically this guitar is SO nice, full of bass and treble. It just sounds great. I play acoustic stuff (with this guitar, duh) like Dave matthews, Dispatch, O.A.R., etc. Also lots of christian music.

Action is a little bit sketchy. A TINY bit of buzz when I'm sloppy but it has nice and low action for some lead playing. Finish is beatiful & and glossy.

I use it live all the time. Solid guitar. Fingerprints wipe right off the gloss finish. Few scratches on back from a belt buckle when I was young and stupid. Solid buttons top & bottom. I use it all the time, no backup.

I have hardly ever been able to even hear of another sigma guitar- no website, no phone #. Martin seems pretty nice and they're the parent company. Never needed it so this is all speculation.

I have been playing for more than a few years. I also play a Fender Nashville Power Tele and a Godin Flat Five X (both with acoustic pickups). If it were stolen or lost, I couldn't replace it because I have never seen another one. All other Sigmas I have played are crap, but I've heard of other good ones. I'd probably go for a Martin 15 Series to replace it, or maybe a taylor. Or a Gibson Chet SST (gotta love dave). I love this guitar though. It's one of those rare guitars that is not readily availible. DO NOT BUY A SIGMA GUITAR BASED ON THIS REVIEW. Most of the ones I'v played are horrible, like a sonata or a squier. Mine is the man, though.