Which Martin Dreadnaught

[Kozmo]

I am starting the quest for a Martin Dread. I will likely have to special order the guiitar from a local dealer who discounts Martins 40%. I will have a budget of up $3,000.00 give or take a couple hundred. What sounds good to me in print is the HD28VE. (Already has pup, vintage bracing etc.) Not exactly sure how the different D's stack up. Of coarse great tone is the 1st consideratrion. Volume is another. Not as concerned with fancy trim. Playablilty is up there of coarse. And plugged in sound as well. I would reaaly appreciate comparisons between the various Martin Dreads from those who have experiance with them. D-28, Hd-28, D-35, D-41, HDV28, HD28VE etc. Thanks for any help with my search.

[rjoxyz]

I have an HD-28 and love it. It has the "Martin tone" in spades. I played an HD-28V at the time I bought it and found the V to be a little bassier (compared to the 4 HD-28's I selected from) and maybe a bit louder. I picked the HD-28 as the bottom end was more than adequate but a bit cleaner across the mids and treble. The V model seemed a bit too dominant in the bottom and a little more on the "muddy" side.

 

I found the D-35 to be close in tone to the HD-28.

[kwakatak]

I once tried a D-28, HD-28V and an HD-35 all on the same occasion. The D-28 was nice but paled in comparison to the HD-28V. Then I played the HD-35 and in turn it was just about that far above the HD-28V.

 

I think I may have found my personal Holy Grail in that HD-35.

[min7b5]

Personally I think my D18GE is the mother of all dreads. Huge sounding, with great clarity. When I picked it out I was also looking at Collings, Bourgeois, Cruz... but I think Martin finally realized it was being out-Martined...

 

Anyway, if it was me, I would only something that ends with a V, GE, or Marquees... to insure the forward shifted and scalloped X brace. What

[DonK]

Keep in mind that the vintage-syle neckshapes (modified V) on the V, GE, etc. are considerably different than the standard low-profile, so make sure you've tried both locally before you special order.

 

I'll stay out of the tone discussion, since I think it's entirely subjective.

[WaveRay]

Min and Donk have good advise. Don't forget to check out the hog dreads. I have a 28V and get compliments on it in a room full of Martins, so there are great ones out there. I am currently browsing around for a hog dread to go along with the V and am having a ball playing guitars. What I think I know now. The sitka works on EIR dreads but for hog, I'm going to go with Adi. Seems to bring out "woodiness" of the hog. Ilove Martins but have to say they really have some competition to the 18 series dreads. The bouregous (sp), the ScGC's, the Collings D1A's are monsters! I played a D-18GE yesterday but it was in a tent at Merlefest, so I couldn't really hear it. I still want to ly one in a nice, quiet room.

Anyway, if you already checked them all out and decided on the models you listed, this is all for not. Just play as many of the models you're considering and wait for one to go home with you. You will probably not have a choice when you find it.

 

Have fun

 

Ray

[Freeman Keller]

Find Maury's Music and hunt around for the video/audio clips - they have most current Martins for your listening pleasure. I have a link to some other sound clips on a different PC - I'll add them to the thread tomorrow.

 

What Don says about the neck profile +

[min7b5]

 

Keep in mind that the vintage-syle neckshapes (modified V) on the V, GE, etc. are considerably different than the standard low-profile....

 

 

Don makes a great point here.

 

The GE

[d28andm1911a1]

If you are looking for a Martin Dred then why would you get anything other than a D-28. I mean it is "THE" dred that all other guitars are judged by.

[min7b5]

 

If you are looking for a Martin Dred then why would you get anything other than a D-28. I mean it is "THE" dred that all other guitars are judged by.

 

 

Which D-28? I personally don

[Freeman Keller]

Podium audio clips

 

http://www.thepodium.com/t-soundsamples.aspx

 

Maury's clips

 

http://www.maurysmusic.com/martin_guitar_video_clips

[Jessz1]

I tried numerous Martin Dreds and ended up finding a used D-41SP. I played it along with two HD28's and a D-35. Sounded damn neer the same as the 28's The 35 had slightly less bass and seemed a little more airy. The 41 is what I ended up with. Got a good deal on it and it even has a little bling.

[d28andm1911a1]

Which D-28? I personally don

[Queequeg]

 

If you are looking for a Martin Dred then why would you get anything other than a D-28. I mean it is "THE" dred that all other guitars are judged by.

 

So you prefer the standard D28 to the HD28 with scalloped bracing?

Isn't it so, that when the D28 became the standard, it actually had this bracing and herringbone trim?

[rjoxyz]

So you prefer the standard D28 to the HD28 with scalloped bracing? Isn't it so, that when the D28 became the standard, it actually had this bracing and herringbone trim?

 

By George (or maybe C.F.), I think you've got it!

[min7b5]

 

The GEs CWs etc won't sound like a vintage 28 in 30 yrs. Standard 28 and keep it till it's vintage. A 28 is for keeping. My D-28 is 31 yrs old, one neck reset (warranty) and one refret.

 

 

That's great for you. My GE sounds stunning right now, and I don't know if I'll still be here in thirty years, so that's a good thing:)

[BrainChild]

I have quite a few Martin models and have played more than I can count. What you find is they all have the Martin character, however each guitar has it's own personallity, even in the same series. I have played vintage models that sounded terrible, and new models that sounded excellent, and vice versa. So I definitely prefer to play a guitar before I buy it. Granted ordering a new Martin will get you a nice guitar and set you back a few G's but if you shop around you can find an excellent 28 for half of your budget. Buying a high end model you sometimes find yourself so worried about scratches and humidity, etc. it becomes a piece you won't play as much. I find my go to guitars my D-18 and D-28, while my vintage and 40 series stay cased. They play and sound great and can both be replaced easy enough. Martins don't devaluate much unless you purchase new and if you buy used you can always get your money back and move to another one if you find one that improves on what you have.

[markwayne]

 

I have quite a few Martin models and have played more than I can count. What you find is they all have the Martin character, however each guitar has it's own personallity, even in the same series. I have played vintage models that sounded terrible, and new models that sounded excellent, and vice versa. So I definitely prefer to play a guitar before I buy it.

 

 

This used to be even more true than today. Martin has made significant strides in consistency lately, but there is still a much wider margin within a given model than, say, a Taylor. The bad ones that make there way out of the Martin factory these days, however, are still pretty nice. The great ones? Well, they can leave you speechless.

 

If you have a very clear idea of what you are looking for, you can always call Maury and ask him to take a drive down to the factory and look over current stock and pick you out one based on your needs.

 

Wayne

[Kozmo]

Thanks so much for the input. I need to find and compare the different neck shapes. Maybe during this evaluation period 1 will stand out. The big problem I have had in the past with auditioning Martins is that they invariably have dead strings on them. I don't really have the time or inclination to restring guitars for the shops involved, so it is a point of frustration. The neck shape IS something that won't rely on fresh strings. I was looking for a non Dreadnaught shape a few years ago. I ended up with a Breedlove C22 Master Class for my finger picking guitar. What I want in the new Martin is to take everything I can thow at it and not choke. To be able to dig in and not find the bottom of the guitar. To have a powerful yet clear bass (not honky), and to have that special Martin crispy Hi E string that is so Martin. A great neck, playablility, Volume, complex overtones and a great sound plugged in. I don't want much do I?? I am thankful for your opinions as this will likely be my last great guitar puchase. I don't want to blow it.

(I know, how can you blow it with a new Martin in the house,but I just want to make the best decision)

[d28andm1911a1]

 

Isn't it so, that when the D28 became the standard, it actually had this bracing and herringbone trim

 

 

D28s from pre war were close to that. D28s from 45-70 had modern bracing and are a fine standard to match. (70s had the heavy bridge plate)

 

No mater what your 28 won't be that way till it has some years on it.

 

[Tony Burns]

If you like the rosewood sound - I favor the HD-28

If you favor the Mahogany sound D-18v ( v neck ) or the D-18GE ( a killer )

 

Most folks dont like the V neck of the D-18v , but it is alot different of a guitar from the D-18 , i think its a little richer in tone - if you can put up with the V neck - I happen to love the V neck on my OM-28v , but its hard for me to play on an extended time period

 

Try an OM Body they are very different in sound and smaller (easier to handle ) you lose a lttle in volume - but everybody has dreads - be different -

The Om 28v or Om21 special might be good ones for you !

 

Thou you already know this , its your money so buy what impresses you the most when you check them out , inlay and fancy work doesnt make any guitar sound better !