Martin D-28 Reviews6 Found On 2006-09-05, Guitarist Wannabee gave this Martin Acoustic Guitar a 5...(12509)
History: Hobby hacker since the 70's
Purchase: Bought brand new it at Caruso's music in downtown Groton, CT in 1972 for $375 with a Guild hardshell case (I thought it was tougher than the Martin case and since I was a sailor at the time I knew it was going to take a beating).
Pros: When I first bought it, I was going almost strictly on the rave reviews of all the guys I knew that actually could play guitar (I was hoping that a new Martin D-28 would magically instill a little Stephen Stills into my anemic attempts at music - not in the cards, although my mis-fingered chords did ring through with a truth and clarity that only a Martin could provide).
The beautifull tone, clarity and easy playability were an inspiration that kept me striving to learn more and more about the craft and I think that is what I appreciate the most about this fine instrument.
After 34 years, it just keeps getting better and better - the longer it lives, the more tone knowledge it acquires.
Cons: I think the only thing I have ever disliked about this instrument is the responsibility it put squarely on my shoulders to preserve, use and appreciate it to the best of my inadequate ability.
I worry about it getting stolen or being damaged, it's been around so long it's like an old friend that I would miss dearly if they were no longer around.
Quality: The construction is absolutely flawless. I picked through about 15 other D-28's to get this particular one and believe me, this is a piece of art created by a master craftsman. I have never had a single thing go wrong since I have owned it and it has moved with me all over the USA and was with me aboard the USS Enterprise until 1975 during the Vietnam war.
It plays and sounds better now than it ever has. Summary: Not the fanciest Martin, but it's the best one I own!
Search for more Martin Acoustic Guitar reviews and comparisons On 2003-12-17, David Hidalgo gave this Martin Acoustic Guitar a 5...(6935)
Purchase: The story of this guitar goes back to 1975 when my favorite traveling companion, a 1940's vintage,LG-2 Gibson was stolen out of my Bus on a foggy, depressing evening in San Francisco.
I was heartbroken and without much forethought I replaced it with a brand- new, shiny and very, very expensive Guild dreadnought. I was on the rebound so to speak.
Friends, that Guild spent the next ten years in its' case because It (with no fault of the folks at Guild) and I just weren't meant for each other. Kind of like a whirl-wind, Las Vegas romance. You wake up next to that Special Woman (that you met three hours previously) and, yes she's attractive and has a great body, but you've got nothing in common, and you will never under no circumstances ever mix Tequila and
an unknown frothy, green liquid together again.
The Martin came into my possession when a luthier friend in Santa Monica told me that someone had consigned an old D-28 with him and would I be interested in trading my Guild? Its' lacquer was dull, but the neck was fairly straight and I was told that this particular Martin had spent time as a studio instrument. I picked it up and strumnmed a Gmaj chord; what a voice. It rang, it was like a chance meeting of an old friend that you haven't seen in years. I guess the Guild was worth, maybe $1500.00 in 1983 and I've never regretted the trade.
Pros: What's not to like about an old guitar? Sure it's not as pretty as the newest D-45 for $15K, but then again I don't have to treat it like a museum piece.
Cons: Occasionally, the ancient Grovers slip, and she goes out of tune when I'm trying to channel some obscure Mississippi John Hurt tune, but the same thing happens to me when I forget where I put my keys.
Quality: Vintage Martin. A different feel than a contemporary guitar, even a new D-28. Summary: The market in vintage guitars has skyrocketed to a point that their value as collectibes overshadow what they were manufactured for in the first place, to be played. Not to disappear in some climate controlled wherehouse in London or Tokyo.
I remember hearing an old 78, years ago, of Huddie Leadetter (Leadbelly) playing his version of "Midnight Special". He was playing an old Stella 12-string which had an action that could make your fingers bleed, and what we'd consider a plywood guitar. It goes to show you that in the hands of a virtuoso, it's the man not the instrument.
Search for more Martin Acoustic Guitar reviews and comparisons On 2003-12-08, Lynch gave this Martin Acoustic Guitar a 5...(6745)
Purchase: I purchased my D-28 from a local guitar shop who mainly sold Martin and Taylor guitars. I had tried my friends Martin guitars and had always liked the construction and tone quality. I paid $1650 and later saw it retailed for $2400.
Pros: I like to play blue grass and fingerpick- the D-28 has a rich tone and a nice projection which sounds great with other string instuments.
Cons: It was easy to dislike the sound of the
D-28 at first play, but the more I played it and broke it in, the better it sounded. I guess that's not necessarily a dislike.
Quality: The body is very solid and feels a little heavier than other guitars I've played- I enjoy that aspect of it. Good quality and well constructed. Summary: This guitar was definitely out of my price range, but I quickly forgot about the $$ and began enjoying the rich tones and nice feel of the D-28.
Search for more Martin Acoustic Guitar reviews and comparisons On 2003-02-22, Joshua Allen gave this Martin Acoustic Guitar a 5...(4429)
Purchase: My dad picked it up in the city a few years ago for about $1500. When I first started playing guitar, this is what I played, and I was lucky. I might not have a great electric guitar, yet, but how many people can say they have a great acoustic like this.
Pros: First of all, it's a Martin, which says something all by itself. Secondly, it's one of the best models Martin has ever made. It has a good age on it (about 7 years) and the older it gets, the better it sounds. The fretboard is great, the body is great, it tunes easily. What can I say? As far as acoustics go, it's one of the best.
Cons: Nothing really; everything is great. The only thing I don't like about is that it's hard to play Van Halen on this while I'm waiting for a new electric, but that can't really count as a valid dislike. :)
Quality: It's great. From all the acoustics I've played, this one makes them look bad. Summary: The bottom line is that if you want a good acoustic, you should buy it. Since it cost a bit much, might not be for some of you. Mine cost $1500, but I've been offered anywhere from $3-4000 for it. I love it, I'll never sell it, it's great for what it is.
Search for more Martin Acoustic Guitar reviews and comparisons On 2002-05-10, Quid gave this Martin Acoustic Guitar a 5...(2111)
Purchase: I saved up money for this guitar for a number of years. I finally bit the bullet and purchased it, site unseen, from an on-line music catalogue. The Reason? Well, the sound is legendary. I know people who have had them forever and they just get better with age. I paid about $1,800 (included hardshell case)
Pros: This guitar has a nice balanced, sturdy feel. I've played other "cheaper" acoustics (laminates, non-solid, etc) and was never really happy with their loss of tone in the high notes, chunkiness on the low end, and buzz-outs with age. The D-28 has none of these problems. I can fingerpick, pick-strum, or hammer away, and it performs exceptionally.
Cons: There is nothing that I can say that I dislike about this unit. It is very handsome, though not as "pretty" as a higher end D-45 model. I really don't care what the unit looks like, I'm only concerned with the sound.
Quality: Construction: Solid Spruce top wood, Solid Rosewood back and side wood, Ebony fingerboard (very nice feel) and glossy body finish. Summary: Save your pennies and buy this guitar. You will be very happy with it. I installed an L.R. Baggs i-beam active pickup system (under bridge, very non-intrusive) and use the guitar exclusively for recording or live performance.
Search for more Martin Acoustic Guitar reviews and comparisons On 2001-12-03, Rick W St Pete Florida gave this Martin Acoustic Guitar a 5...(1003)
Purchase: LOCAL SAM ASH STORE $1700 OUT THE DOOR WITH OHS. NEW 2001 . I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR A NICE D-28 FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS ,SEEMS MOST OF THE NICE ONES PEOPLE KEEP TO THEMSELVES
AND THE DIFFERANCE FROM ONE TO ANOTHER IS SIGNIFICANT! UNLIKE THE LESS EXPENSIVE D-1
[D-1'S SEEM TO SOUND PRETTY MUCH THE SAME
AND MINE IS STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE'S].
BUT I WANTED A D-28 SINCE I WAS A KID NEARLY 40 YRS AGO AND I REMEMBER WHAT THEY LOOKED AND SOUNDED LIKE IN THE 60'S
TIGHT GRAIN ON TOP AND DEEP DARK FIGURED ROSEWOOD BACK AND THE MARTIN TONE.
Pros: CLASSIC LOOK AND SOUND THE STANDARD FOR ALL DREADNAUGHTS [HIGH QUALITY WOODS ON THIS ONE]
Cons: CAME WITH MARTIN STRINGS SP+
THEY ARE NOT AS SONIC AS ADAMAS AND DE'ADERIO'S XL'S ? SPELLING I DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THE SPELLING THEY SOUND GOOD AND THEIR OTHER STRINGS [NON-XL'S} SEEM PRONE TO COROSION. THE HARD SHELL CASE OPENS ALL THE WAY THE STRAP TO HOLD IT UP SLIPPED OUT.. NOT AS EASY TO PLAY AS D-1 OR MY TAYLOR
Quality: EXCELLENT Summary: LOOKED FOR A LONG TIME ,IT SOUNDS GOOD NOW AND I PLAY IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, IN 5 YRS THIS WILL BE SOUNDING EVEN BETTER.
Search for more Martin Acoustic Guitar reviews and comparisons
© Chris Bereznay - Gear Review Network / MusicGearReview.com - 2000
|
|
