Which Martin Dreadnought

prlgmnr · April 2020

Having trawled the collective opinions of the internet at large I've come to the conclusion that forward shifted bracing is a plus, the deep V neck wouldn't suit me, so I'm probably looking at the "reimagined" d28, hd28 or a post-2013 d18.

As I just play by myself (even when not confined to the house by lockdown) is the D18 probably my best bet?

Is there a UK built alternative I should turn my ears towards?

stickyfiddle · April 2020

First decision should be mahogany vs rosewood - that's your D18 vs everything else criteria.

I haven't tried the reminagined ones but FWIW I loved the D28 I played in Guitar Village about 6 years ago, and I currently have a 2000-ish HD28 which is the second-best acoustic I've ever played (best was a late-40's D18..)

Epsilon · April 2020

UK alternative would be an Atkin. Check the D37 (D28) and Essential D (D18). Really superb dreads.

ICBM · April 2020

If you want a Martin, buy a Martin. No other, no matter how good, sounds the same.

I do find the D-18 slightly more satisfying to play by myself - it has a warmer tone and seems to project the sound 'around' the guitar more, whereas the 28 tends to project it out 'forwards' more, so it can sound a little boomy and muffled to the player, even though it's punchier if you're listening to someone else play it - if that makes sense.

That said I haven't played more than a couple of these new varieties which I just lose track of...

icu81b4 · April 2020

Martin DR Centennial - I bought one of these quite recently for recording - Very happy with it.

markj · April 2020

Here's a link to the HD28 I bought earlier in the year, Absolutely superb guitar. https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/171803/advice-needed-on-martin-d28-hd28-standard-or-reimagined-pics-as-requested#latest

prlgmnr · April 2020

icu81b4 said:

Martin DR Centennial

GuitarGuitar have a pretty tempting ex-demo deal on one of these...

icu81b4 · April 2020

I think it was the lack of appointments (bling) that put some people off it, but to me it was the sound I was after.

prlgmnr · April 2020

I like a satin finish so it's right up my street.

Andy79 · April 2020

Agree that if Martin is in your head then it must be a Martin. The HD 28 is so good I think if you played one off against a D18, which is superb also, it would win out. It’s incredible

Also worth a mention is the HD28vs. Modified V neck though so maybe not suitable

Brize · April 2020

I believe that the only difference between the D-28 and HD-28 now is the vintage aesthetic of the HD model, but I stand to be corrected. You really need to play a D-18 compared to one of the 28 models to decide between rosewood and mahogany. I have both but marginally prefer mahogany.

Andy79 · April 2020

The HD is scalloped

Brize · April 2020

Andy79 said:

Agree that if Martin is in your head then it must be a Martin. The HD 28 is so good I think if you played one off against a D18, which is superb also, it would win out. It’s incredible

Also worth a mention is the HD28vs. Modified V neck though so maybe not suitable

I find the modified V neck far more manageable on the 1 11/16" nut width of the HD-28V than on guitars with 1 3/4" nut widths.

Brize · April 2020

Andy79 said:

The HD is scalloped

As yes, that's the difference - thanks.

Andy79 · April 2020

Brize said:

Andy79 said:

Agree that if Martin is in your head then it must be a Martin. The HD 28 is so good I think if you played one off against a D18, which is superb also, it would win out. It’s incredible

Also worth a mention is the HD28vs. Modified V neck though so maybe not suitable

I find the modified V neck far more manageable on the 1 11/16" nut width of the HD-28V than on guitars with 1 3/4" nut widths.

The HD28v has 11/16 the vs has 3/4

KKJale · April 2020

Took a young relative Martin-shopping last year. Unexpectedly, given his style and usual woody preferences, a bog-standard D18 on their wall annihilated every rosewood dread we tried in the shop - exceptional guitar, absolutely lovely. So as ever, try before you buy. Not easy in These Times™ of course.

ICBM · April 2020

KKJale said:

Took a young relative Martin-shopping last year. Unexpectedly, given his style and usual woody preferences, a bog-standard D18 on their wall annihilated every rosewood dread we tried in the shop - exceptional guitar, absolutely lovely. So as ever, try before you buy. Not easy in These Times™ of course.

Sometimes you just get one like that, even though modern Martins are quite consistent. The trick is to never try to second guess yourself at that point - buy *that* guitar before you change your mind...

KKJale · April 2020

Oh he did, I made sure of that.

Brize · April 2020

Andy79 said:

Brize said:

Andy79 said:

Agree that if Martin is in your head then it must be a Martin. The HD 28 is so good I think if you played one off against a D18, which is superb also, it would win out. It’s incredible

Also worth a mention is the HD28vs. Modified V neck though so maybe not suitable

I find the modified V neck far more manageable on the 1 11/16" nut width of the HD-28V than on guitars with 1 3/4" nut widths.

The HD28v has 11/16 the vs has 3/4

Yep, I've had both but moved on the VS for the aforementioned reason.

FunkyGibbon · April 2020

I spent several years trying to find the guitar in my head, believing it to be an HD28. I played loads of guitars in all sorts of shops, including some by boutique luthiers. Whatever I tried, rosewood just didn’t work for me...In the end I identified the sound as ‘mahogany’. In 2010 I picked up a 00-15, ker-ching!

So then I was off on another quest for a D18. In 2012 I visited Denmark Street and played a D18V and a new 2012 D18 which was significantly better. I spent ages trying to persuade myself it wasn’t because it was cheaper, but the 2012 changes to the build were significant.

That left me confused so I left and dropped in on a secondhand guitar shop on D Street. They had a D18-GE in. Oh, wow! That was it. A few months later, I bought one.

What’s weird is that, when I play, everyone likes the 00-15, but the D18-GE with a Baggs Lyric gets mixed reviews. I love it and it *is* the guitar in my head.

Just over a year ago I picked up an OM28-RetroE, wow! Over the last year the 00-15 gets a lot of play at home as does the OM28 at church.

My point is this, there isn’t a right or perfect guitar which beats all comers in absolute terms, It really is in the ear of the listener or the guitar in your head. Although the guitar in my head is mahogany and I thought rosewood sounded ’wrong’ what I discovered is that both bring their own special contribution to the sound.

I would suggest you keep playing lots of instruments until you play the one that won’t let you leave until you buy it...

stickyfiddle · April 2020

FunkyGibbon said:

My point is this, there isn’t a right or perfect guitar which beats all comers in absolute terms, It really is in the ear of the listener or the guitar in your head. Although the guitar in my head is mahogany and I thought rosewood sounded ’wrong’ what I discovered is that both bring their own special contribution to the sound.

I would suggest you keep playing lots of instruments until you play the one that won’t let you leave until you buy it...

Agree with all of this. I bought a Dove over the D28 I mentioned earlier, because it was the better guitar, but it wasn't the sound in my head, hence switching that for an HD28 a couple of years on.

I see myself with a trio of acoustics eventually - something small and 00-ish, and something Gibson and probably mahogany flavoured.

bandmaster188 · April 2020

Of all the Martin’s I’ve tried and owned (only a few) I always lean towards mahogany. Just seems to be a warmer rounder sound to my ears.

pjf · April 2020

ICBM said:

If you want a Martin, buy a Martin. No other, no matter how good, sounds the same.

I do find the D-18 slightly more satisfying to play by myself - it has a warmer tone and seems to project the sound 'around' the guitar more, whereas the 28 tends to project it out 'forwards' more, so it can sound a little boomy and muffled to the player, even though it's punchier if you're listening to someone else play it - if that makes sense.

That said I haven't played more than a couple of these new varieties which I just lose track of...

Martins do have a very distinctive sound. I imagine it’s no mistake that you wrote “the same” and not “as good”. Totally agree with this description of the mahogany D18 vs the EIR 28, 35, HD28 etc.

I owned a custom HD28v for a number of years and it was superb. OP, you may not like the V neck but HD28 would be my choice were I in your position.

crunchman · April 2020

Personally I love the V neck, with 1 11/16" nut width, but that's quite a hard combination to find these days.

Based recent experience, I'd go for an Atkin. I've got an HD28V that I thought I'd never sell, but I'm seriously considering selling it to fund an Atkin. That's partly because I'm coming to the position where I am now preferring mahogany back and sides. The Atkin Essential D is a stunning guitar, and better than any Martin I've played in that price range.

Andy79 · April 2020

My 0-15 has a 11/16 V and I do agree it is an exceptionally comfortable neck.

Don’t get stressed over things. This is a good problem to have.

ICBM · April 2020

I’ve only played one Atkin, and based on that experience I wouldn’t buy one at all, especially not considering the price.

Brize · April 2020

crunchman said:

Personally I love the V neck, with 1 11/16" nut width, but that's quite a hard combination to find these days.

Based recent experience, I'd go for an Atkin. I've got an HD28V that I thought I'd never sell, but I'm seriously considering selling it to fund an Atkin. That's partly because I'm coming to the position where I am now preferring mahogany back and sides. The Atkin Essential D is a stunning guitar, and better than any Martin I've played in that price range.

Don't sell the HD-28V - you'll regret it!

crunchman · April 2020

Brize said:

crunchman said:

Personally I love the V neck, with 1 11/16" nut width, but that's quite a hard combination to find these days.

Based recent experience, I'd go for an Atkin. I've got an HD28V that I thought I'd never sell, but I'm seriously considering selling it to fund an Atkin. That's partly because I'm coming to the position where I am now preferring mahogany back and sides. The Atkin Essential D is a stunning guitar, and better than any Martin I've played in that price range.

Don't sell the HD-28V - you'll regret it!

I'm not sure at this point.

It's been my main live acoustic for 10 years or more, as it has a Fishman blender pickup that sounds pretty good. I just never play it at home though. I have a Stonebridge (Furch) OM that is much more comfortable to sit on the sofa with than a dreadnought. My wife bought me a Fender Acoustasonic a couple of weeks ago. With the flexibility that gives, I'll probably

use that live more than the Martin going forwards.

I am leaning towards a guitar with mahogany back and sides though. If I do get another acoustic, I'd probably get an Atkin. I'd have to sell the Martin (or an electric) to fund it though.

Brize · April 2020

crunchman said:

Brize said:

crunchman said:

Personally I love the V neck, with 1 11/16" nut width, but that's quite a hard combination to find these days.

Based recent experience, I'd go for an Atkin. I've got an HD28V that I thought I'd never sell, but I'm seriously considering selling it to fund an Atkin. That's partly because I'm coming to the position where I am now preferring mahogany back and sides. The Atkin Essential D is a stunning guitar, and better than any Martin I've played in that price range.

Don't sell the HD-28V - you'll regret it!

I'm not sure at this point.

It's been my main live acoustic for 10 years or more, as it has a Fishman blender pickup that sounds pretty good. I just never play it at home though. I have a Stonebridge (Furch) OM that is much more comfortable to sit on the sofa with than a dreadnought. My wife bought me a Fender Acoustasonic a couple of weeks ago. With the flexibility that gives, I'll probably
use that live more than the Martin going forwards.

I am leaning towards a guitar with mahogany back and sides though. If I do get another acoustic, I'd probably get an Atkin. I'd have to sell the Martin (or an electric) to fund it though.

Awesome wife - printed out and pinned to the fridge.

Andy79 · April 2020

https://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/product/pxp200319357385002-4585809--martin-1999-hd-28-pre-owned-668918

Trude · April 2020

I had an Atkin J45 with rosewood back and sides, but I found the bass too prominent and sludgy when recording. I settled on a recent D18 and am much happier. It's powerful but has more focus. I also much prefer the wider 1.75" nut.

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories

In this Discussion

Become a Subscriber!

Which Martin Dreadnought

Comments