Martin HD28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

Newer version of the D28 with a few slightly different features, such as scalloped bracing and a Zig Zag back inlay strip.

Overall User Ratings

Overall:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10

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"My all-time favorite dreadnaught"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Quality:
The quality of the guitars being made today are much better than those of the 80's like mine. Action is better (lower), the bridge saddle is thick allowing better intonation adjustment, and also higher, which brings out more sound. I've had no work done to mine in 23 years, and it still plays as well as it did when brand new -- with the exception of being due for some fret work thanks to being played.

Value:
The only guitars I like as much as mine are either priceless vintage guitars or else very expensive guitars, like Koa Taylors and custom guitars. There are excellent guitars at less than half the price, but none I like nearly as much.

Desirability:
If I found a better guitar I could afford, I'd buy it in a flash.

Sound:
I've played mine regularly, in the home and on stage, since I got it new in 1982. Great sound to begin with, and it's mellowed a bit with age (or perhaps I have) and sounds even better now. The scalloped bracing gives this guitar much more life than a D18, D28, or D35, as it allows the top to vibrate much more freely. It's a much louder guitar than any other dreadnaught in its price rage or below. This is a great guitar for people who want a single guitar to use for both fingerpicking and flatpicking, lead and rhythm. Deep, resonant tone really holds a tune together for rhythm playing, especially helpful when there's no bass player. The best part is how lively it sounds when fingerpicked with bare fingers -- you don't need plastic fingerpicks with this baby. Yet the sound still holds together excellently for deep, hard strumming. Alternate tunings come to life. There's gold inside these guitars, all you have to do is let it out. Sounds great recorded with SM57 and mixer preamps (you can hear my recordings at learjeff.com for a clue). For recordings, a low mid EQ scoop is necessary even more than most dreadnaughts, due to the full bottom end. Best with 80/20 strings -- sounds too brassy with phosphor bronze. However, phosphor bronze strings can help on stage. It mikes easily for acoustic gigs. It's probably not the best guitar (not bright & tinny enough) for classic rock band use alongside electrics.

Overall:
My son will inherit this guitar.

13 of 13 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"My favorite for over 20 years."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Feature:
Not really applicable, but I love rosewood back & sides, spruce top, and ebony fingerboard (which will last longer than any other common wood). I've played the heck out of mine for two decades.

Quality:
I've tried a number lately in stores, and they're all remarkably similar. This is one of the few guitars (like Taylors) that you can buy sight unseen.

Value:
Other than a couple much more expensive Taylor models, I haven't ever played a guitar I like better.

Desirability:
Every musician I play with covets my guitar, except for a few who like a much brighter ("tinglier") sound like the Martin O series, or people who have "super premium" guitars like top of the line Taylors.

Sound:
Deep and clear sound, crisp and responsive. Records well, with proper mike placement (typical for dreadnoughts -- otherwise boomy at 150 Hz). Had it since I bought it new in 1981, and the ones they're building today are improved in several ways, especially the bridge saddle. The sound is especially responsive to finger-picking, thanks to the scalloped X bracing. Yet it's solid enough to handle VERY hard plectrum picking or strumming. If you want one guitar for both purposes, this is your baby. If you can afford two premium guitars, you might want a D28 or HD28 for plectrum, and a Taylor or Bourgeoise for fingerpicking.

Overall:
If I had it to do over again, 10 times out of 10 I'd buy this same guitar. If it was stolen or destroyed, I'd go right out and get one just like it, only the wood wouldn't have that nice aged color and finish "checking" that people love -- on the other hand, the newer ones have better action, intonation, and slightly bigger sound thanks to improvements in bridge and saddle.

16 of 16 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"The best value acoustic made."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
The manufacturing is without question of the very finest quality and standards. Simplicity and elegance reign king here.

Quality:
The simplest, finest guitar standards

Value:
You can't beat this price and you can pay a lot more.

Desirability:
This is it: THE acoustic standard.

Sound:
It has a midrange that is warm and resonant. The sound quality is superb, both natural and when miced.

Support:
I had a hairline crack (humdity issues here in the northeast US) appear on the pin bridge that required a warranty (cosmetic) repair. The Martin authorized luthier CAME TO MY HOUSE to get the guitar and to return it. Awesome. I have never seen service this good.

Overall:
This one is a keeper. Did more to reinvigorate my playing than anything I've seen or done in the last 15 years. You will not be able to put this guitar down once you start getting the lush lyrical quality of its sound in your ears.

5 of 5 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"There is a reason they have the reputation."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Ease of Use:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Feature:
i guess if you wanted a pickup there would be something to improve on.

Quality:
Again a truly beautiful guitar in appreance and playability. It is a joy to have in ones hands.

Value:
I felt i got a good deal when i bought it. I would say the quality and tone is great and how do you put a price on it.

Desirability:
If you play it and close your eyes and listen to it and feel the resonance you will be hooked.

Sound:
Beautiful balanced tone that improves with age. I have gont through a lot of guitars and primaraly used acoustics for practice this one opened my eyes it is truly a responsive guitar. I wish i would have sprung for one a long time ago. I wasted a lot of time being a dumbass. (the others are just a good syndrome in my view they arent)

Ease of Use:
See above.

Support:
I would expect it to be good but have never needed any.

Overall:
Great guitars only get better with age.

4 of 4 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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Martin HD28 Acoustic Customer Review

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Sound:
I really did not know that much about Martins except from reading stuff on their website. I had been playing a Fender DG22 for about 3 years and had gotten good enough to justify getting a finer instrument. Although I had not played much, I'm a natural musician and know tone. I started trying out Martins in some stores trying to figure out what the differences were in the models and comparing them to Taylors and Gibsons, etc. One day I was holding a D28 and the store guy was holding an HD28 and he strummed it. The D28 I was holding started to resonate. And the look on the store guy's face was astonishment at how good the HD28 sounded. I could tell he was shocked. I guess with all his experience, he had never looked closely at Martins. And here is a guy who had been working there for years. I could just feel the thing in my gut. There was definitely something visceral in the sound of the HD28. But it was marked up and had been handled alot by customers. I gave it a few days and went to other stores and tried out RainSongs and some other guitars priced around the HD28. The sound of the HD28 was haunting me, however. I found myself standing, finally, in a different store with an HD28 again in my hands, and this one had been built 2 years before but not handled much. It was perfect, even with the old strings and having set in a case or high up on a display wall for all that time. I was not imagining things. The sound was there just like in the other one days before. By then I understood the scalloped bracing and all that and had learned about the reputation of the HD28. When I realized that I was talking out loud to the guitar as if it were alive I bought it right there.

6 of 6 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"deep,rich.lushious tone, the best guitar I own!"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
I own a martin 00028ec, a martin D1-12,a 1977 guild D-50,a taylor 910, a big baby taylor,and a rainsong carbon graphite guitar and finally a martin HD-28. They line up as follows.
#1 martin HD-28
#2 martin 00028-ec
#3 martin D1-12(twelve string)
#4 rainsong DR-1100
#5 taylor 910-D
#6 taylor (big baby)
#7 guild D-50 (needs some work)
And there you have it! and martins HD-28 is clearly the winner in terms of sound,tone beauty,and outstanding depth.Had i known this earlier i would now own but one single guitar---a martin HD-28.
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Martin HD28 Acoustic Customer Review

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Sound:
This guitar rings like heaven's bells - loud and even. Once you have played one, you will either own one, or will always want to.

2 of 2 people (100%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"This guitars compels you to play"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
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I've been playing acoustic and electric guitar for over 30 years and now squareneck dobro. The HD-28 compels me to play better and longer. I've been recording with it for some time and it is a recording engineers dream. Flat EQ and it sounds like music from the angels. If you're in the market for a great guitar but aren't willing to plunk down more than $2K, I'd take a very close look at the HD-28. You won't be sorry.
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"Looks/sounds great"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
Martin has repeatedly been in the forefront of quality instruments. They finally quit spraying the clear finish over the edge of the pick guard. Years ago their equation was: One hot car+one guitar+finish over edge of pick guard+plastic expands in heat=one split top. They now put finish on first...then the pick guard. Martins have always sounded good, even with the split.
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"38 years old, still going strong ! :>)"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
Guitar has been shipped from Virgin Islands to Nashville and back, then to mainland. Played three-month gig in Nashville, had Drambuie spilled on it by calypsonian in VI,lived on a sailboat for years, and is lovely sounding, if slightly beat-looking, today. Currently on loan to a good friend who is learning guitar. Gorgeous bass.
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"sweeeet............"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
I BOUGHT MINE 20YRS. AGO, TO THIS DAY IT IS ONE OF THE BEST GUITARS I OWN . IT SOUNDS BETTER TODAY I THINK THAN IT DID THE DAY I BOUGHT IT .... I BOUGHT A TAYLOR 914C IN 98 A VERY NICE GUITAR TO COMPAIR THE TWO THE TAYLOR A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT IN 20YRS,I DON'T THINK IT WILL SOUND BETTER THAN THE MARTIN!!!
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Martin HD28 Acoustic Customer Review

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
I'm 43 years old and have been playing since I was 13. I've had several different guitars through the years and have had one Guild D-25 for the last 23 years. But I have to admit to the fact that even after trying out Gipson's and Taylor's the HD28 vintage series is the best acoustic guitar I have ever played. It's more than a pleasure to play it to its inspirational I found myself playing it everyday so if you're looking for the best this is where to start and were to stop.
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"It is what a steel-string guitar should be: period."

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
I bought my HD-28 in 1976, the first year they were made. I've played hundreds of guitars since and but I haven't found one that compares. It just keeps getting better.
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"Worth having if you like good instuments"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
I have owned one since 1977 and it has always been excellent from day one in sound and quality. Real nice sound especially for Bluegrass and it has excellent volume
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"don't play it, or you'll buy it"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
 
 
 
This guitar is so well made that it speaks for itself. Playability, tone, and craftsmanship are unmatched. Blows other acoustics out of the water. What are you waiting for? Go out and try one. Just be prepared to buy it!
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"superb quality but not bright like a Taylor"

Overall:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
 
 
 
bought one and love it but bass overbearing with treble left a little weak - if you like brightness in your picking, etc. look for the 000 series or go to a Taylor - wish i had purchased the 600 series Taylor
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"Great Guitar"

Overall:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Features:
* * * * * * * . . . 7 out of 10
Quality:
* * * * * * * * * * 10 out of 10
Value:
* * * * * * * * . . 8 out of 10
I Want It:
* * * * * * . . . . 6 out of 10
Sound:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
Support:
* * * * * * * * * . 9 out of 10
 
 
 
Sound:
I made four seperate trips to the store over several months. Each time I played many high-end guitars and the HD-28 consistantly had the best sound and most even tone of anything I played. This trip I bought it.

5 of 27 people (18.52%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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"Good Crapper for the $"

Overall:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Features:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Quality:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Value:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
I Want It:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Sound:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
Support:
* . . . . . . . . . 1 out of 10
 
 
 
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Feature:
By now all I do is take dumps in it.

Quality:
the neck is at a 90 degree angle hows that quality?

Value:
it makes a good toilet for the price. but if you dont take of the strings it can pinch your ass.

Desirability:
i guess it looked ok ontill i took a dump in it.

Sound:
they are trying 2 rip you off!! If you hit the strings you don't hear a sound!! Pouring a drink is louder.

Support:
The neck is at a F@#!ing 90 degree angle but the company refused to refund it and said it should play fine.

Overall:
it has a 90 degree angle neck and you can crap in it.

2 of 28 people (7.14%) found this review helpful. Did you?

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