The Martin D-28 is a
dreadnought-style acoustic
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected strin ...
made by
C. F. Martin & Company of
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Nazareth is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. The borough's population was 6,053 at the 2020 census. Nazareth is part of the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, which had a population of 861,899 and was the 68th most populous metropoli ...
.
History
This guitar is a dreadnought design, a naval term adopted and used by many to describe its larger body dimensions, hence the "D" designation. When first created, the dreadnought guitar was seen as less favorable to the standard, smaller-sized guitars of its time. Sales finally started to take off in 1935, "when they were given a single illustration on page 12 in the company's catalog, opposite a Hawaiian model." The ad read:
:"This is the famous 'Dreadnaught' bass guitar, originated by Martin in 1917 and now modernized for the plectrum style of playing. The extra wide and very deep body produces a tone of great power and smoothness, especially fine for broadcasting or recording. Rosewood body, spruce top, ivoroid edges, re-enforced mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge, wide frets, polished lacquer finish. Dark top on special order at no extra charge."
Introduced by Martin in 1931, the D-28 is prized for its booming projection and high quality tone. The first batch went wholly to the Chicago Musical Instrument Company, although this "exclusive" deal didn't last for long.
Originally built around the Martin D-14 Fret platform, early examples included exotic tone woods, such as
Brazilian Rosewood
''Dalbergia nigra'', commonly known as the Bahia rosewood, jacarandá-da-Bahia, Brazilian rosewood, Rio rosewood, jacarandá-do-brasil, pianowood, caviúna, graúna, jacarandá-una or obuina is a species of legume in the family Fabaceae.
Descri ...
, which is no longer available in large quantities due to deforestation and subsequent treaty controls. Original D-28 guitars also used standard materials no longer found in current production models. For example, they had a distinct "herringbone" pattern that lined the top of the guitar. However, this touch was discontinued in 1946, as the German-made materials were no longer available post-World War II.
Also the "diamonds and squares" fretboard inlays were reduced to plain dot styling around this time.
D-28s were so popular at one point during the 1950s, that customers were waiting two years or more for one.
Current models
Starting with the 2017 D-28's Martin has switched to forward shifted X-bracing, a revised neck pattern termed High Performance Taper with Modified Low Oval profile with 1-3/4” ebony fret board width at the bone nut, 2-1/8” at the 12th fret. The previous black pickguard is now faux tortoise shell and the former enclosed tuning machines are now open gear. Aging toner is applied to the Sitka Spruce tops before application of the nitrocellulose lacquer finish.
The modern D-28 standard series is made of several high quality tone woods, including solid Sitka Spruce tops, Indian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fret board, ebony bridge, and maple bridge plate. It uses the classic non scalloped X bracing pattern prior to 2017 pioneered by Martin, along with an ebony bridge and fret board.
Much of the construction is still done by hand although in recent years Martin has adopted computer controlled CNC machines to fashion the guitar's neck, and employs automated buffing and polishing machines, while maintaining the overall quality of the finished product.
As of 2020, a base model has a list price of $3,599 U.S. Martin dealers usually offer discounts off the list prices. Older models made in the 1940s, 1950s and pre-1969 D-28s can command far greater prices.
Variations
The D-28 has been made in several variations over the years, including:
* HD-28: Has scalloped braces,
said to give the guitar a more "open" sound than a D-28. Also features the herringbone (or "pre-war") top border and a zigzag, or "zipper" backstrip.
* HD-28V: This variation resembles the original pre-war model and features both chrome butter-bean tuners and herringbone bindings around the aged-toned top. The X of its scalloped bracing pattern is shifted forward (toward the sound hole) by approximately one inch, making the lower bout top vibrate more freely/responsive, and resulting in a very potent and bass-rich guitar.
* D28E: A very limited run version of the D-28 with special pickups placed at the end of the fretboard and near the bridge. While not generally well received, it is considered a collectors item.
* D12-28: A 12-string version, otherwise the same as its brother the D-28.
Notable users have included
Johnny Cash,
Eric Clapton,
Chris Cornell
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,
Nick Drake,
Slim Dusty
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,
Bob Dylan
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,
Ramblin' Jack Elliott
Ramblin' Jack Elliott (born Elliot Charles Adnopoz; August 1, 1931) is an American folk singer and songwriter.
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Elliott was born in 1931 in Brooklyn, New York, United States, the son of Florence (Rieger) and Abraham Adnopoz, a ...
,
Lester Flatt,
John Frusciante
John Anthony Frusciante (; born March 5, 1970) is an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers across three stints since 1988. He has released 11 solo albums and 7 EPs, ranging in style from acoustic guitar to e ...
,
Noel Gallagher
Noel Thomas David Gallagher (born 29 May 1967) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. He was the chief songwriter, lead guitarist, and co-lead vocalist of the rock band Oasis until their split in 2009. After leaving Oasis, he formed ...
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Jerry Garcia,
Dick Gaughan
Richard Peter Gaughan (born 17 May 1948) is a Scottish musician, singer and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs. He is regarded as one of Scotland's leading singer-songwriters.
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Gaughan was born in Glasgow's Roy ...
,
Michael Hedges
Michael Alden Hedges (December 31, 1953 – December 2, 1997) was an American acoustic guitarist and songwriter.
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The son of Thayne Alden Hedges and Ruth Evelyn Hedges Ipsen, Michael Hedges was born in Sacramento, California. His l ...
,
Scott Hutchison
Scott John Hutchison (20 November 1981 – 9 May 2018) was a Scottish singer, songwriter, guitarist and artist. He was the founding member and primary songwriter of the indie rock band Frightened Rabbit, with whom he recorded five studio albums ...
,
Ben Howard
Benjamin John Howard (born 24 April 1987) is an English singer-songwriter, musician and composer. His self-released debut EP ''Games in the Dark'' (2008) was followed by two more EPs, '' These Waters'' (2009) and '' Old Pine'' (2010). Signed t ...
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Kansas
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John Lennon
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,
Chris Martin
Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer-songwriter and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay. Born in Exeter, Devon, he went to Uni ...
,
John Martyn
Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), known professionally as John Martyn, was a Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums, and received frequent critical acclaim. ...
,
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer, songwriter and musician who gained worldwide fame with the Beatles, for whom he played bass guitar and shared primary songwriting and lead vocal duties with John Lennon. One ...
,
Marcus Mumford
Marcus Oliver Johnstone Mumford (born 31 January 1987) is a British singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the lead singer of the band folk band Mumford & Sons. He also plays a number of instruments with the group ...
,
Harry Nilsson
Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994), sometimes credited as Nilsson, was an American singer-songwriter who reached the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. His work is characterized by pioneering vocal ov ...
,
Jimmy Page,
Brad Paisley
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,
Nancy Wilson,
Lindsey Buckingham
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,
Tom Paxton
Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer-songwriter who has had a music career spanning more than fifty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. ,
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...
,
John Prine
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,
Tony Rice
David Anthony Rice (June 8, 1951 – December 25, 2020), known professionally as Tony Rice, was an American guitarist and bluegrass musician. He was an influential acoustic guitar player in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and a ...
,
Judee Sill
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,
The Supernaturals
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,
Van Morrison
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As a teenager in t ...
,
Joni Mitchell,
Sturgill Simpson,
Hank Snow
Clarence Eugene "Hank" Snow (May 9, 1914 – December 20, 1999) was a Canadian-American country music artist. Most popular in the 1950s, he had a career that spanned more than 50 years, he recorded 140 albums and charted more than 85 singles on ...
,
Stephen Stills,
Charles Thompson IV,
Clarence White
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,
Hank Williams,
Steve Winwood,
Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow (born May 31, 1938) is an American singer and songwriter who found fame for being in the 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. Yarrow co-wrote (with Leonard Lipton) one of the group's best known hits, " Puff, the Magic Dragon". H ...
and
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young (born November 12, 1945) is a Canadian-American singer and songwriter. After embarking on a music career in Winnipeg in the 1960s, Young moved to Los Angeles, joining Buffalo Springfield with Stephen Stills, Richie Fur ...
.
Guitar specs
*Model: D-28
*Construction: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
*Body Size: D-14 Fret
*Top: Solid Sitka Spruce or Adirondack red spruce
*Rosette: Style 28
*Top Bracing Pattern: Standard ''X''
*Top Braces: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16"
*Back Material: Solid East Indian Rosewood
*Back Purfling: Style 28
*Side Material: Solid East Indian Rosewood
*Endpiece: White Boltaron
*Endpiece Inlay: Black/White Boltaron
*Binding: White Boltaron
*Top Inlay Style: Multiple Black/White Boltaron
*Side Inlay: none
*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"
*Fingerboard Position Inlays: Style 28
*Fingerboard Binding: none
*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
*Recommended Strings: Martin SP Lifespan Phosphor Bronze Medium Gauge (MSP7200)
*Bridge & End Pins: White w/ Black Dots
*Pickguard: Black
References
{{reflist, refs=
[{{cite book , last1=Johnston , first1=Richard , title=Martin Guitars: A History , year=2008 , publisher=Hal Leonard Books , location=New York , isbn=978-0-634-03785-6 , page=84 , edition=1st]
[{{cite web , url=http://www.themomi.org/museum/articles/Dreadnoughts/Frets_Mart_Dread_Story.html , title=The Martin Dreadnought Story , first=Richard , last=Bamman , date=May 1988 , website=The Museum of Musical Instruments]
[{{cite book , last1=Johnston , first1=Richard , title=Martin Guitars: A History , year=2008 , publisher=Hal Leonard Books , location=New York , isbn=978-0-634-03785-6 , page=91 , edition=1st]
[{{cite book , last1=Johnston , first1=Richard , title=Martin Guitars: A History , year=2008 , publisher=Hal Leonard Books , location=New York , isbn=978-0-634-03785-6 , page=107 , edition=1st]
[{{cite web , url=http://manchestermusicmill.wordpress.com/2013/11/21/d-28-or-hd-28-what-are-the-differences/ , title=D-28 or HD-28? What are the differences? , date=November 21, 2018 , website=Manchester Music Mill]
[{{cite book , last1=Johnston , first1=Richard , title=Martin Guitars: A History , year=2008 , publisher=Hal Leonard Books , location=New York , isbn=978-0-634-03785-6 , page=129 , edition=1st]
[{{cite book , last1=Johnston , first1=Richard , title=Martin Guitars: A History , year=2008 , publisher=Hal Leonard Books , location=New York , isbn=978-0-634-03785-6 , page=100 , edition=1st]
[{{cite web , url=http://www.martinguitar.com/model/item/194-d12-28.html , title=D12-28 , website=Martin Guitar , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116020527/http://www.martinguitar.com/model/item/194-d12-28.html , archive-date=January 16, 2015]
[{{cite web , url=https://www.martinguitar.com/model/item/204-d-28.html , title=D-28 , website=Martin Guitar , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150115074928/https://www.martinguitar.com/model/item/204-d-28.html , archive-date=January 15, 2015]
[{{cite web , url=http://thrasherswheat.org/sound.htm , title=Neil Young's Sound: Guitars, Amps, and Equipment , website=Thrasher's Wheat]
[{{cite web , url=http://dylanchords.info/professors/dylans_guitars.htm , title=Dylan's Guitars , first=Eyolf , last=Østrem , website=Dylanchords]
Acoustic guitars
The Beatles' musical instruments
Products introduced in 1930