Alternatives to Martin D28?

daveyh · December 2021

I have a LAG J200 copy that punches far far above its weight, but recently I’ve been dabbling with bluegrass and it’s limitations are showing up, both in sound and playability. Obviously I’d like a D28 but finances don’t allow, so what are the alternatives? Anything from budget guitar for a better bluegrass vibe, up to around £1k?

Mellish · December 2021

Have a look at the Eastman range, the E8D for example

Jimbro66 · December 2021

I once tried a couple of Blueridge dreadnoughts and they were surprisingly good for the price. Maybe worth trying if you can. Hobgoblin and others stock them.

Lewy · December 2021

Blueridge is a popular budget brand among bluegrassers. I’m not too familiar with the brand but you see a lot of them in the picking sessions around bluegrass festivals.

earwighoney · December 2021

Mellish said:

Have a look at the Eastman range, the E8D for example

There's one for sale in the forum here for an excellent price.

richman6100 · December 2021

Eastman dreadnoughts are definitely worth considering. I'd add Furch too, if you can find one within budget. I have an Auden Colton, which is excellent for the money - equal to the Martin I put it up against and significantly cheaper. There are many great brands out there with less prestige than Martin, which will get you close sound wise. Not knocking Martin, I love them, but I've been genuinely impressed by how good some cheaper brands can be. Before lockdown, I played a Sigma dreadnought that was as good as the majority of Martins in the same shop. Not sure if it was a one-off - other Sigmas were less impressive - but this one was really special.

Tannin · December 2021

D-28 is a hard one to substitute for. The other top makers tend to aim for something a bit different, more distinctively their own, or (in the case of some of the smaller ones) go for what they think the D-28 ought to be assuming budget isn't an issue. So you tend to get something beautifully made at around the same price or a bit less which is a different style of guitar, or else you get "better than D-28 at twice the price".

Given that we don't want to get close to Martin prices, that only leaves the made-in-China stuff, and a few others of similar ilk. As always, the answer is to play as many as you can and see what you like. But I would start with Sigma. Sigma's management seems to keep its finger on the pulse and all the ones I've played have been good examples of their kind.

crunchman · December 2021

Furch make some very good Martin inspired instruments, and come in a lot cheaper than a Martin. To get the classic spruce/rosewood combo ungder £1k you might need to go second hand.

Another option would be a late 70s / early 80s Japanese made Martin copy. There were a lot of them around at the time, and they were generally quite decent guitars.

bertie · December 2021

crunchman said:

Another option would be a late 70s / early 80s Japanese made Martin copy. There were a lot of them around at the time, and they were generally quite decent guitars.

Tama IIRC had quite a good rep, and an old art teacher had a Levin that was pretty decent

Lewy · December 2021

crunchman said:

Another option would be a late 70s / early 80s Japanese made Martin copy. There were a lot of them around at the time, and they were generally quite decent guitars.

Good shout. A friend of mine has an Aria D-28-a-like and it's an absolute cannon.

BillDL · December 2021

@Tannin mentioned Sigma as a brand to consider and perhaps start with. Given that Sigma used to be a subsidiary of Martin (in a similar way as Epiphone is to Gibson and Squier is to Fender), most of their guitars follow the similar size, style and adornment features as the Martin range, and include the Martin style numbers in their own model numbers (eg. 15, 18, 28, 41, 45, etc). Their model numbers are fairly easy to follow if you don't see something listed in the specifications.

I currently own dreadnought and OM sized Sigma guitars and I am very happy with them. They each cost around £400 but in terms of build quality and sound I think they are a match with most other guitars I have played in the £700 to £800 price bracket. The more expensive ones will no doubt "punch well above their weight" too (I generally don't use clichés).

As far as I know, ALL Sigma guitars have a solid wooden soundboard. References to "solid" are to whether the back and sides are laminated wood. They should all have bone nuts and saddles regardless of price point.

The anniversary models ave nitrocellulose lacquer. I believe they use an ultraviolet-cured lacquer for the upper range guitars of style 40 and above and very thinly applied polyurethane lacquer for styles lower than that. The lower range guitars use man-made "Micarta" for the fretboards. To me it looks and feels very much like dense unfigured ebony, but I have no idea whether it behaves like wood during a refret. I'm pretty sure it won't affect the tone of the guitar in any perceptible way to the human ear when compared with rosewood or real ebony. Most of the lower range guitars also use a wood called Tilia for the backs and sides. This is generally referred to as Lime (not the citrus tree) or Basswood. On my dark sunburst OM sized guitar with Tilia back and sides the wood is dark and as a nice figuring that resembles rosewood to some extent and certainly doesn't look out of place on a good quality guitar.

Sigma Model Numbers Explained (valid at 2015) Starting from Left to Right

Wood quality:
S = All-solid model Solid top, solid back and sides
Nothing = laminated

Body size:
D = Dreadnought
OM = Orchestra Model 1-3/4" nut width
000 = Auditorium 1-11/16" nut width
00 = Small body
G = Grand OM
J = Jumbo
T = Travel Guitar
B = Bass
C = Classical Guitar
U = Ukulele

Material:
MR = Madagascar Rosewood
R = Indian Rosewood
M = Mahogany
T = Tilia (Lime or basswood)
K = Koa
A = Maple

Special Features:
C = Cutaway
E = Electric pickup
12 = 12-String

Series:
SE = SE-Series Satin finish, Sigma electronics (not mentioned in model name, eg. DME)
ST = ST-Series Satin finish
1ST = 1-Series Gloss finish
4 = 4-Series Vintage toner
15 = 15-Series All-Mahogany
18 - 45 = Ornamentation level Standard series, Vintage series

Features:
H = Herringbone
V = Vintage style
S = Short neck (Neck-body joint at 12th fret rather than 14th)
5 = 5-String bass
F = Fretless
E = Electronics
YEARS = Anniversary model
LE = Limited Edition
L = Lefthand

Finish:
- = Natural finish
+ = ??? (possibly refers to "Micarta" fretboard)
SB = Sunburst
BR = Brownburst
BK = Black

Looking ONLY at the "28" styling Sigma models from their "Standard series" you have these:

SDR-28 - RRP $1,210 on USA market just over £900 here, but reduced at the moment in most stores.
(Sitka Spruce top, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge, bone nut and saddle, 44.5mm nut width, Grover tuners, tinted "aged" lacquer, with softshell case).
https://www.sigma-guitars.com/guitars/standard-series/sdr-28/

SOMR-28 - The OM sized/shaped version of the above dreadnought for about the same price.
https://www.sigma-guitars.com/guitars/standard-series/somr-28/

It then drops to the "Tilia" and "Micarta" versions in the "28" styling:

DT-28H - RRP in USA market $730:
https://www.sigma-guitars.com/guitars/standard-series/dt-28h/

DTC-28HE - RRP in USA 930 - Cutaway electric version of above:
https://www.sigma-guitars.com/guitars/standard-series/dtc-28he/

000T-28S - RRP in USA $790 probably around £600 here - 000-12th fret sized/shaped version of the above
https://www.sigma-guitars.com/guitars/standard-series/000t-28s/

If you don't want to pin yourself down to ONLY the Martin type of "28" styling, there are a lot more dreadnoughts to consider in the Sigma range and they are widely available fromUK retailers, although supply chain issues may mean the stores don't have all the models to try.

fatherchewielewie · December 2021

Eastman..... I just bought an E1D this week and I'm staggered at how much guitar I got for £467. I like my Taylors (I have GA3 and a GA8) but I've had my hands on plenty of Martins, Guilds, Larrys and the like and that E1D would hang with any of them.

Teacherphil · December 2021

I have a blueridge 000 and it's great for the money. Basically a Chinese martin copy. If I remember the ones to buy are the 3 digit models. 140, 160 and 180 are solid rosewood dreadnoughts. The 180 is more bling than the 160 then 140.
The 2 digit models are only solid tops.

WindmillGuitars · December 2021

@daveyh If I can help with an Eastman feel free to drop me a line. I have some nice Dreads in stock - including the E3De electro which is amazing value.

roberty · December 2021

D16? I found a 1997 one for not much money, it sounds wonderful and weighs nothing at all

earwighoney · December 2021

Tannin said:

D-28 is a hard one to substitute for. The other top makers tend to aim for something a bit different, more distinctively their own, or (in the case of some of the smaller ones) go for what they think the D-28 ought to be assuming budget isn't an issue.

Agree about this. IMO, the straight braced D28's do not really have any counterparts.

Lewy said:

Blueridge is a popular budget brand among bluegrassers. I’m not too familiar with the brand but you see a lot of them in the picking sessions around bluegrass festivals.

Recording King as well, I'm fairly sure they are built in the same factory as Sigma guitars. I think the Red Spruce RK's are very good value for what they are but I'd try one in a shop first.

There's a Swedish bluegrass guitarist on YT who posts up videos playing his RK's, and they perform very well, especially compared to his Martin guitars.

RickLucas · December 2021

I have a Blueridge BR160, like an HD28. New price about £800 I think. It holds its own against my D18.

brojangles · December 2021

What Mellish said. Eastman E8D is like an HD28 at a third of the price.

daveyh · December 2021

Getting some brilliant suggestions here, cheers guys

BigPaulie · December 2021

All the usual caveats apply here (Try before you buy. Guitars are variable - even 2 examples of the same model. One man's meat is another's poison etc. etc. etc...)

That said, here are some guitars that you may find within your budget that have a similar makeup to a D28.

I've added comments to some of them (cos that's what we do on forums, isn't it? However, YMMV)

Sigma SDR28 (Tried one in Merchant City Music and it was totally dead. Sounded muffled and quiet. None of the richness and vibrancy you'd hope for in a Rosewood dread. They're also made in the Cort factory in China which may or may not present an issue for you).

Blueridge BR160 and 160a. These look interesting, but the newer ones have "Santos" rosewood (pao ferro) back and sides, which isn't a rosewood at all.

Recording King RD328. Haven't tried one, but Patrick Lundgren and JP Cormier make them sound amazing.

Yamaha LL16. This isn't a straight copy of a D28, but the value is incredible, and they do produce the odd example that is a total cannon (check JP Cormier's review).

Furch Vintage 1 D SR. Good luck finding one under £1k, but if you do, get it.

Alvarez MD70BG. I'm informed that there are several of these (and the MDR70SB) coming into GuitarGuitar in the next few weeks, so you may be able to try them out, depending on your location. They look like well made guitars at good value.

Martin D-16RGT. See Furch Vintage 1 D SR.

BigPaulie · December 2021

earwighoney said:

Recording King as well, I'm fairly sure they are built in the same factory as Sigma guitars. I think the Red Spruce RK's are very good value for what they are but I'd try one in a shop first.

That's interesting. I haven't been able to find out where these are made. The fact that so many brands who source MIC guitars shroud the factory location in secrecy seems very suspicious. At least you know where your Eastman, Yamaha, Epiphone, Guild MIC guitar comes from.

Do you have a source for this info I could look at? Cos anything built in the Cort factory is a "no go" for me.

BigPaulie · December 2021

Teacherphil said:

I have a blueridge 000 and it's great for the money. Basically a Chinese martin copy. If I remember the ones to buy are the 3 digit models. 140, 160 and 180 are solid rosewood dreadnoughts. The 180 is more bling than the 160 then 140.
The 2 digit models are only solid tops.

140 has solid mahogany.
160 and 180 are now Santos rosewood (pao ferro) b&s.

Tannin · December 2021

As I recall, Sigma no longer do anything in actual rosewood on the grounds that verifying it as properly sourced is just too hard. (There is an interview with the Sigma CEO somewhere which touches on this in passing.)

BigPaulie · December 2021

Tannin said:

As I recall, Sigma no longer do anything in actual rosewood on the grounds that verifying it as properly sourced is just too hard. (There is an interview with the Sigma CEO somewhere which touches on this in passing.)

Interesting.

Their website still specs IR and MR for the SDR35.

https://www.sigma-guitars.com/custom-guitars/custom-guitars-all-solid/sdr-35/

Tannin · December 2021

The policy may have changed, BigPaulie. The interview was (if I remember correctly) to mark their 50th anniversary, so it was a couple of years ago.

Moe_Zambeek · December 2021

Takamine make the EF-360 TT which is an all-solid spruce / rosewood dread with a thermo top, very much in a Martin vein. High quality guitars and they come with the low profile preamp so no holes cut in the shoulder. I have the 340 - the mahogany version - and to my ear it sounds great. I bought mine while looking to buy a D-18, the Tak just seemed like a great sounding guitar for considerably less money. They do however have quite chunky necks, apparently because they were designed for bluegrass players who it seems like (or did like) chunkier necks. I do struggle a bit with mine as a result, but I don't play acoustic a lot and so I struggle with any acoustic if I'm not up to speed.

Pricewise these are pretty reasonable and used ones turn up well under a grand quite often, even at dealers.

BigPaulie · December 2021

Moe_Zambeek said:

Takamine make the EF-360 TT which is an all-solid spruce / rosewood dread with a thermo top, very much in a Martin vein. High quality guitars and they come with the low profile preamp so no holes cut in the shoulder. I have the 340 - the mahogany version - and to my ear it sounds great. I bought mine while looking to buy a D-18, the Tak just seemed like a great sounding guitar for considerably less money. They do however have quite chunky necks, apparently because they were designed for bluegrass players who it seems like (or did like) chunkier necks. I do struggle a bit with mine as a result, but I don't play acoustic a lot and so I struggle with any acoustic if I'm not up to speed.

Pricewise these are pretty reasonable and used ones turn up well under a grand quite often, even at dealers.

That's a great shout

Lewy · December 2021

Great suggestions and info on this thread. Just something tangential to throw into the mix....don't think that it has to be rosewood for bluegrass. A lot of hugely important bluegrass pickers play/played a D-18. To a fixed budget, you may well find that pound for pound you can get a better bluegrass guitar with mahogany rather than rosewood. Just speaking from personal experience but having played a lot of bluegrass, on stages and sessions at bluegrass festivals etc, I'd take a (cheaper) mahogany guitar with an (more expensive) Adirondack/Red Spruce top over a (more expensive) rosewood guitar with a (more standard) sitka top any day of the week.

BigPaulie · December 2021

Lewy said:

Great suggestions and info on this thread. Just something tangential to throw into the mix....don't think that it has to be rosewood for bluegrass. A lot of hugely important bluegrass pickers play/played a D-18. To a fixed budget, you may well find that pound for pound you can get a better bluegrass guitar with mahogany rather than rosewood. Just speaking from personal experience but having played a lot of bluegrass, on stages and sessions at bluegrass festivals etc, I'd take a (cheaper) mahogany guitar with an (more expensive) Adirondack/Red Spruce top over a (more expensive) rosewood guitar with a (more standard) sitka top any day of the week.

Good advice.

Kenny Smith, Norman Blake and Ron Block have used D-18s to great effect.

Lewy · December 2021

BigPaulie said:

Lewy said:

Great suggestions and info on this thread. Just something tangential to throw into the mix....don't think that it has to be rosewood for bluegrass. A lot of hugely important bluegrass pickers play/played a D-18. To a fixed budget, you may well find that pound for pound you can get a better bluegrass guitar with mahogany rather than rosewood. Just speaking from personal experience but having played a lot of bluegrass, on stages and sessions at bluegrass festivals etc, I'd take a (cheaper) mahogany guitar with an (more expensive) Adirondack/Red Spruce top over a (more expensive) rosewood guitar with a (more standard) sitka top any day of the week.

Good advice.

Kenny Smith, Norman Blake and Ron Block have used D-18s to great effect.

Yes, all amazing. For me the quintessential bg guitar sound will always be Del McCoury and that 1936 D-18

wellsyboy · December 2021

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