Martin HD-28 Redesign Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

Martin looks to the future while nodding at the past with the herringbone-adorned Redesign HD-28. A thinner high performance neck makes playing a joy.

Martin HD-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

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The H is for herringbone. With its Sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood back/sides, the HD-28 sounds very similar to the D-28, but adds elegant wood trim.

What's special about this item?

Feature: What it does:
Solid spruce top Punchy, articulate and warm sound
Rosewood back and sides Warm tone with long sustain
HD zig-zag inlay strip Unique ornamentation
Standard scalloped X bracing Top vibrates freely; remains stable

The Martin HD28 is an upgraded version of the world-famous D28 acoustic guitar, with distinctive features for players seeking a unique instrument. First and foremost, you'll hear how the scalloped carve-out pattern on the internal bracing gives the HD28 a sound of its own. Beyond that, you'll appreciate a few subtle aesthetic details that give the HD28 a refined visual appeal.

Starting with Unbeatable Tonewoods

The Martin HD-28 is made with a North American Sitka spruce top. This tonewood imbues the instrument with the complex and rich tonal "snap" that have always made Martins some of the greatest acoustic guitars of all time. The top is matched with East Indian rosewood sides and back. These gorgeous woods are accented with a handsome and distinguished herringbone inlay around the HD-28's entire top, set against a white boltaron binding.

Classic Dreadnought Shape

The select hardwood neck on the HD-28 is carved to a 25.4-inch scale length with a 16-inch radius, and is set with 20 stainless steel frets. There is no cutaway, and fret access is clear up through the 14th fret. The fingerboard is made from solid black ebony and set with shiny "style 28" position inlays on six frets.

Scalloped Bracing Design on the Inside

The HD-28's top is reinforced with Standard "X" style scalloped bracing. Scalloping means that the top is able to vibrate more than a top with a traditional X-brace, giving you more overall volume and bass response. Some would describe the sound of read more a scalloped bracing as offering an overall wider tonal range, rather than a traditional bracing that offers a tighter, narrower tone.

Subtle Aesthetic Touches on the Outside

Along with the herringbone binding, a black-on-white rosette and a zig-zag back inlay strip complete the distinctive aesthetic profile of this Martin dreadnought. The tortoise pickguard perfectly matches the rosewood sides and gloss-finish spruce top. A set of chrome-enclosed tuning machines with large buttons keeps perfect intonation and string lie.

Features:

- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Black and White Rosette
- Tortoise Color Pickguard
- Scalloped 5/16-inch X-Bracing
- Solid Rosewood Sides
- 2-piece Rosewood Back
- Zig Zag Back Inlay Strip
- Ebony Fingerboard and Bridge
- White Herringbone Binding
- 1-11/16 Inches Wide at Nut
- 25.4-inch Scale Length
- 20 Frets with Clear Access Through 14th
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- Model: HD-28
- Body Size: D-14 Fret
- Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Style 28
- Top Bracing Pattern: Standard "X" Scalloped
- Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16"
- Back Material: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- Back Purfling: HD Zig-Zag
- Side Material: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- Endpiece: White Boltaron
- Endpiece Inlay: Black/White Boltaron
- Binding: White Boltaron
- Top Inlay Style: Bold Herringbone
- Back Inlay: Black/White Boltaron
- Neck Material: Select Hardwood
- Neck Shape: Low Profile
- Nut Material: Bone
- Headstock: Solid/Diamond/Square Taper
- Headplate: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Raised Gold Foil
- Heelcap: White Boltaron
- Fingerboard Material: Solid Black Ebony
- Scale Length: 25.4"
- Number of Frets Clear: 14
- Number of Frets Total: 20
- Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1-11/16"
- Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2-1/8"
- Finish Back & Sides: Polished Gloss
- Finish Top: Polished Gloss
- Finish Neck: Satin
- Bridge Material: Solid Black Ebony
- Bridge Style: Belly
- Bridge String Spacing: 2-1/8"
- Saddle: 16" Radius/Compensated/Bone
- Tuning Machines: Chrome Enclosed w/ Large Buttons
- Bridge & End Pins: White w/ Black Dots
- Pickguard: Tortoise Color
- Case: 640 Molded

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 610-759-2837

Martin HD-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

The HD28 is like a version of the D28 with a few slightly different features, such as scalloped bracing and a Zig Zag back inlay strip. Just like the D28, the HD28 has an Ebony fingerboard, solid Spruce top, solid Rosewood back and sides, white binding, and a black and white rosette. Other features include a gloss finish and a hardshell case.

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars. (291 ratings)
Submitted August 6, 2010 by a customer from gmail.com

"Holy Cow (I am from Vermont) I Finally Own One"

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
It is the best instrument I have ever owned. In the Seventies I played a Gallagher. I could not afford it at the time nor was I ready for it. It approached the sound quality of the Martin but did not have the playability. My Martin is a marvel. It is unlikely that I will ever purchase another acoustic steel string. Like my classical instrument, it literally hums against your body as you play and the tonal clarity and balance are superior to every other factory guitar I have played. As a guitarist with a classical background, intonation is very important.I cannot recall ever having a steel-string guitar that did not need further intonation work. Even after the work, the intonation was not up to my ear's standards. It is likely over time, I will find slightly out of tune spots and may have it adjusted. However, the luthier who intonated my Martin had the skill and patience to do a remarkable job. The rumor that new Martins sound like cheap guitars must have been started by a competitor. The HD 28 is remarkable in its sound and beauty.
Manufacturer Support
I have not needed to contact Martin.
The Wow Factor
Seems an odd question. I buy an instrument to buy an instrument not because it may have some other appeal. This guitar's true aesthetic is its remarkable tonal quality and ease of playability. It's simple and elegant design while important only reinforce the fact that it is a joy to play and listen to.

Musical Background:

much more than a hobby but not my profession

Musical Style:

classical, "jazz", "swing, bluegrass, traditional tunes
61 of 63 people (97%) people found this review helpful. Did you?
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