The Martin D-28 one of the most iconic and best known guitars. It has been used on countless recordings, and many musicians swear by this acoustic guitar. This Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought review has a look at this guitar.
The instrument is made by the Martin Guitar Company, which is an established brand. They’re famous for their exceptional acoustic guitars. The Martin D-28 gives you everything that you need in an acoustic guitar.
If you’re an intermediate or advanced player looking for a high-quality acoustic guitar, then this instrument is the one you want to buy. Let’s have an in-depth look at this guitar to see what it can provide for you.
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
If you like what you see in this Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar review, you can order the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar on Sweetwater.
The guitar is actually named after the dreadnought battleship design. It was Martin that designed the dreadnought larger-body guitar in 1916. This is the standard model that many acoustic guitars are designed from.
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Review: About the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought
The instrument will cost you a lot of money, but it’s well worth the price tag. It’s one of the most popular Martin guitars, and for a good reason. This acoustic produces a rich and vibrant tone no matter what you’re playing.
This is an instrument that you can rely on time and time again. There isn’t much that this guitar can’t do. The newer models feature a few changes, but the guitar still gives you that classic D-28 sound.
The guitar is suitable for different styles such as rock, jazz, blues, country, and fingerpicking. It’s got the tone that you want from an acoustic guitar, and it’s an instrument that won’t leave you wanting more or frustrated with your sound.
If you’re in an “unplugged” situation, the Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar gives you the volume and tone that you need to be heard. This instrument has enough volume, even without amplification, to fill a small room.
Body
The tone of the guitar comes from the solid sitka spruce top. The sides of the instrument are made with East Indian rosewood, which provides a rich tone. These tonewoods give this guitar excellent projection and loudness.
It has a forward shifted bracing pattern, which helps bring out the resonance of this instrument. The body of the guitar is well put together, and this helps give this instrument a solid and dependable tone.
Neck
The neck of the D-28 is a modern low oval with a high-performance taper. This keeps your hand comfortable while you’re playing up and down the neck. It’s got a 16″ radius and a 25.4″ scale length. It comes with 20 frets.
The neck is ideal for playing chords. There’s no cutaway, so it’s harder to access the higher frets for free-flowing solos. For fingerpicking and a lot of chord strumming, this guitar excels at all of that.
Pickup
While the guitar doesn’t ship with a pickup system, there are many pickups on the market that are suitable for this guitar. I recommend a soundhole pickup, as they’re easy to use.
Other Parts
This instrument has two strap buttons, a tortoiseshell pickguard, and open-gear tuners, which helped stabilize the tuning. You also get a high-quality rosewood bridge, a bone nut, and a bone saddle. It ships with a hardshell case.
Pros & Cons
✅ Amazing tone
✅ Solid construction
✅ Easy to play
✅ Hardshell case
❌ Expensive
❌ No pickup
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Review: My Experience with the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought
I’ve played a few Martins in my lifetime, including the Martin D-28. This guitar is a joy to play right out of the box. It’s a guitar that’s capable of producing whatever sound you have in your head. You get your money’s worth here.
Order the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
If you like what you see in this Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar review, you can order the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar on Sweetwater.
The first thing you’ll notice is how well the D-28 is put together. It’s a solid dreadnought that you can depend upon time and time again. This instrument requires no setup out of the box and is comfortable to play.
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Review: The Sound
The sound of the D-8 is amazing. It excels no matter what tones you’re trying to get out of it. You’ll be able to play rich-sounding chords that have excellent resonance. Single-note lines are also nice and clear on this Martin.
The guitar is loud and has a huge projection for an acoustic. You’ll fall in love with the tone of this guitar the moment that you play it. If you want a great-sounding acoustic guitar for many applications, the D-28 is it.
You may want to get a pickup for it, as it doesn’t have one installed for you to record or play live. A soundhole pickup is best, as this won’t require any modification to the guitar.
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Review: The Body
The body of the Martin D-28 is nothing special. There’s nothing special about it, but it doesn’t need any fancy extras. The guitar is made with solid wood, and it’s this wood that gives the guitar its superior tone.
You get a great bass end with his guitar, so all your bass lines will resonate as you play. This is the signature sound of the D-28, and it’s because of the combination of Indian rosewood and the solid sitka spruce top.
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Review: Extras
The guitar has standard Martin machine heads. These are high quality, and the guitar will stay in tune for a long time. The bridge is rosewood, and it’s got a nice white trim and stripe down the back to round out the look.
You get two standard strap buttons with the guitar, a tortoiseshell pickguard, and it ships with a high-quality hardshell case to protect your investment.
Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Warranty
Martin has a limited lifetime warranty. You can register your guitar through their website. It’s a good idea that you do this once you purchase the guitar. The store you purchase from may also offer a warranty on the guitar you buy.
Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions people ask about the Martin D-28 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar. This should help you decide whether or not this guitar is for you.
Why Is the D-28 So Expensive?
Martin guitars are premier instruments. They’re made by hand using premier quality materials. They’re considered to be one of the top acoustic guitar manufacturers in the world. Their guitars have excellent tone and reliability.
The D-28 is one of their showcase instruments that has a rich history behind it. This is why the guitar costs quite a bit. Despite that cost, it’s well worth the investment, as the guitar plays well and sounds amazing.
Is This Guitar Beginner Friendly?
The Martin D-28 is an intermediate and advanced guitar. I think beginners would be better off buying something else, as the guitar is quite expensive, which may limit your budget.
Order the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
If you like what you see in this Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar review, you can order the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar on Amazon.
Another factor to consider is that you may not know what you like as a beginner, and buying this guitar could be a bad investment. I’d try several lower-cost guitars and play those until you feel like you know what you want in a guitar.
How Can I Make My D-28 Sound Better?
The Martin D-28 Dreadnought is an amazing-sounding guitar that plays well, but it doesn’t come with a pickup. You may want to add one if you plan to record or play live. This allows you to add effects and other things to your sound.
Make sure you use fresh strings, as this can improve the tone by a great deal. Aim for a string change at least once a month. If you use coated strings, a change every three months is ideal.
See More: Best Yamaha Acoustic Guitars Buyer’s Guide
Does My Guitar Need a Setup?
The D-28 should sound fine right out of the box. The instrument still may not play to your liking. Take it to a guitar tech to have the action adjusted and for any other tweaks that will make the guitar play to your preferences.
Make sure you play the guitar for a bit once you get it back to determine if the action and everything work for you. A good guitar tech can get the guitar playing the way you want, so don’t neglect this step.
Where to Buy the Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought
There are a few places online where you can buy a Martin D-28 Dreadnought. Here are the places where I like to shop for musical equipment.
Amazon
Amazon is one of the better places online to shop. They have a huge selection, fast shipping, and I like the reviews of guitars on the site. Amazon makes it easy to shop for guitars with minimal hassles.
Order Online
Sweetwater and Guitarcenter are two alternatives to Amazon. They both have a huge selection of Martin guitars, other guitars, and music accessories. These companies ship fast and have great customer service, so give them a try.
Your Local Store
Your local music store may have Martin D-8 in stock, so you may want to check out the guitar there. The problem is that the store may not have the guitar in stock, so you’ll have to wait for it to arrive.
Conclusion
This concludes my Martin D-28 Standard Dreadnought review. This is an excellent guitar for an intermediate to advanced guitar player. It doesn’t come with a pickup but has great projection and superior sound. It’s a clear winner for many styles.
Please like, share, and comment on this article. What do you think about Martin guitars? We welcome your feedback at any time. Now, go and play that brand new Martin. You’ve earned it.
