The HD-28 from US manufacturer Martin Guitars has long since cemented its place in the company's illustrious history and, with its characteristic dreadnought design, embodies the very essence of what makes a traditional steel-string acoustic guitar. Now, the master luthiers at Martin have "reimagined" the HD-28 with a pickup system and numerous other 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 features Martin's new "forward shifted bracing", which delivers improved balance and a more nuance-rich sound, while the slimmer neck profile and narrower nut provide the more contemporary level of playing comfort for which many guitarists have been waiting.
The current HD-28E model brings with it all of the attributes that made the sound of its legendary ancestor so popular: Back and sides made from solid rosewood together with a sitka spruce top that combines excellent stability with plenty of resonance thanks to its new and improved bracing. The top is adorned with antique white herringbone binding (as indicated by the "H" in the model name), while the guitar's traditional look is completed by ornate black and white binding on the back. Martin has also responded to modern players' demands for increased playing comfort with a new "low oval" neck profile and a nut width of 44.5 mm (1.75"). In order to keep the guitar's authentic look untarnished, its Fishman preamp system is housed inconspicuously in the soundhole, while the output socket is integrated into the lower strap button.
Acoustic guitarists often have to cover a lot of ground, from full-sounding chordal rhythms through to intricate and dynamic picked passages, and Martin's "Reimagined" HD-28E is eminently suited to the entire range of applications in Folk, Rock, and Pop music thanks to its direct response, excellent clarity across the frequency spectrum, and of course the impressive level of volume generated by its dreadnought shape. 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. Thanks to its integrated Fishman preamp system, the HD-28E is of course every bit as ready for the stage as it is for the studio. It goes without saying that a Martin HD-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.
Even today, there is virtually no style of music in which the Martin HD-28 has not already carved a niche for itself, and throughout the years the guitar's excellent sound and playability have earned it immense popularity among Bluegrass pickers, Blues afficionados, singer-songwriters, and virtuousos in myriad other musical genres. The current "Reimagined" HD-28E model represents a worthy continuation of this tradition while also expanding the guitar's range of applications thanks to its onboard preamp system, which makes it easy to amplify for live performance without the need for a microphone. As mentioned above, however, this feature is descreetly concealed in the soundhole, thus leaving the guitar's clean lines intact. The scope of delivery additionally includes a hardshell guitar case.