As unbelievable as it may seem, the Martin Guitars D-28 has been in production for almost a century, during which it has remained virtually unchanged and continues to embody the very essence of what makes a traditional steel-string acoustic guitar with its characteristic dreadnought shape. Now, the master luthiers at Martin have "reimagined" this timeless classic by adding a few enhancements without changing the guitar's signature sound, with its well-rounded bass response, understated mids, and shimmering high end. On the contrary, the guitar's top now features Martin's new "forward shifted bracing", which improves the guitar's resonance. At the same time, the D-28's slimmer neck profile and narrower nut provide the more contemporary level of playing comfort for which many guitarists have been waiting.
Martin's current D-28 model brings with it all of the attributes that made the sound of its legendary ancestor so popular: Back and sides made from solid East Indian rosewood together with a sitka spruce top and an ebony fingerboard that complete the guitar's vintage look with their distinctive, contrasting colours. The D-28 has always enjoyed a reputation as an instrument that sounds outstanding and is comfortable to play, and Martin Guitars has enhanced the latter aspect further with this model by adding a new "low oval" neck profile and a nut width of 44.5mm (1.75"). The D-28 additionally features an ebony bridge with a compensated bone saddle for accurate intonation, and the headstock is adorned with a set of open-gear nickel machine heads complete with butterbean-style buttons, thus combining reliable tuning stability with great looks.
Thanks to its direct response, excellent clarity across the frequency spectrum, and of course the impressive level of volume generated by its dreadnought shape, Martin's "Reimagined" D-28 is eminently equipped to cover a lot of ground, from full-sounding chordal rhythms through to intricate and dynamic picked passages and for Folk, Rock, and Pop music. Professional and semi-professional players alike can thus enjoy a well-balanced sound and an excellent level of playing comfort - as well as the assurance that comes with one of the most legendary acoustic guitar brands of all time. It goes without saying that a Martin D-28 has never been cheap, but this current model once again emphasises the excellent build quality that players can expect from a "Made in USA" Martin, which makes this a guitar for life.
Martin Guitars was founded in 1833 and is thus one of the most long-established brands in the history of the acoustic guitar. Several of Martin’s developments – including the dreadnought shape, robust X-bracing, the placement of the neck-to-body transition at the 14th fret (as opposed to the 12th fret as found on classical guitars), and the use of steel strings – have now become staples of modern guitar construction that countless other manufacturers have since adopted. To put it another way: Music today would sound very different had it not been for C.F. Martin & Co.
The list of artists who have played a Martin D-28 reads like a "Who's Who" of Rock and Pop music history and includes such luminaries as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Nirvana, Neil Young, Oasis, and Led Zeppelin - ample testament to how flexible this guitar is and to the impact it has made since it was first launched almost a century ago. The current "Reimagined" model represents a worthy continuation of the D-28's tradition, and its added enhancements pave the way for this guitar to continue writing music history in the hands of a whole new generation of players. For safe storage and transport, the Martin D-28 is also supplied with a high-quality hardshell case.