Martin Guitar HD-28

Timeless Dreadnought Icon with Vintage Heritage

The Martin HD-28 is a legendary dreadnought acoustic guitar, handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania since 1931, embodying the pinnacle of golden-era design with modern refinements. Revered by icons like Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, and Johnny Cash, it’s ideal for folk, bluegrass, country, and singer-songwriters across Australia. With a solid Sitka spruce top, East Indian rosewood back and sides, and herringbone trim, the HD-28 delivers explosive volume, nuanced harmonics, and balanced projection, making it a must-have for performers and collectors.

Exceptional Sound Quality

The HD-28’s forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing and premium tonewoods create a dynamic, vintage-inspired voice:

• Body: Dreadnought shape with a solid Sitka spruce top (aging toner for a vintage look) for bright, articulate highs and dynamic response, paired with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides for warm mids and deep lows. The scalloped bracing enhances bass response and overall balance, offering a fuller, more even tone than the standard D-28.
• Tone: Bold, powerful, and well-balanced with incredible projection and sustain, excelling in strumming, fingerpicking, and recording. The rosewood’s richness adds complexity, while the spruce ensures sparkle and volume. In 2025 models, the updated bracing delivers tighter bass and improved clarity, addressing past “boomy” concerns.
• Neck: Select hardwoods with a modified low oval profile and vintage taper for comfortable playability. The East Indian rosewood fingerboard has a 25.4″ scale, 20 frets, and Style 28 diamond/square inlays for smooth fretting.
• Bridge: East Indian rosewood with a drop-in bone saddle for precise intonation and enhanced sustain.
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear with ivoroid buttons for reliable tuning stability.
• Strings: Light-gauge phosphor bronze (e.g., Martin Authentic Acoustic SP) for balanced tone and ease of play.

A 2025 Sweetwater review praises the HD-28 as “the pinnacle of golden-era acoustic design,” noting its “vintage-inspired tone and sustain” with updated features like a reimagined neck profile and thinner fingerboard for improved comfort. Guitar World calls it a “gold standard” for dreadnoughts, highlighting the “explosive volume and nuanced harmonics.” Users on the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum report the 2025 model has tighter bass and better balance than 2024 versions, with one stating, “The 2025 HD-28 is much better—clearer single notes and less tubby bass.”

Durable and Timeless Design

• Finish: Hand-rubbed gloss nitrocellulose with aging toner on the top for a vintage patina.
• Aesthetics: Style 28 appointments include bold herringbone trim, multi-stripe rosette, and diamond/square inlays for elegant, heritage-inspired styling.
• Build Quality: Solid woods with a dovetail neck joint for optimal vibration transfer, bone nut/saddle, and premium craftsmanship for lifelong durability. Weighing approximately 4.5–5 lbs, it’s balanced for all-day play.

Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the HD-28 is built to last generations.

Key Performance Features

• Body: Dreadnought, solid Sitka spruce top (aging toner), solid East Indian rosewood back/sides
• Neck: Select hardwoods, modified low oval profile
• Fingerboard: East Indian rosewood, 25.4″ scale, 20 frets, Style 28 diamond/square inlays
• Bridge: East Indian rosewood, drop-in bone saddle
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear with ivoroid buttons
• Bracing: Forward-shifted scalloped X
• Nut/Saddle: Bone
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Notes

• No Electronics: Pure acoustic; for amplified use, consider the HD-28E variant with Fishman electronics.
• Setup Recommendation: Professional setup advised to optimize action and intonation for vintage feel. Use medium-gauge strings (e.g., 12–53) for fuller projection. Pair with Rode PodMic and RØDECaster Pro II for recording demos.
• Care Instructions: Store in a hardshell case (~$200–$300 AUD) to protect the nitro finish; maintain humidity (45–55% RH) to prevent cracking.
• Warranty: Register at martinguitar.com for support; verify purchase from authorized retailers like AudioShop Australia.
• Community Feedback: The Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum users report the 2025 HD-28 has “tighter bass and better balance” than 2024 models, with one stating, “Single notes are clearer and less tubby.” Sweetwater highlights its “vintage-inspired sustain” and updated neck profile for improved comfort.

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• Trusted by guitarists and performers at AudioShop Australia