Actually call some of our respected on line sellers, Jim Holler @Trinity got me one for my son's grad present for not much more than the 15 bills mentioned. New D-28 and pro set up.

http://www.trinityguitars.com/steelstr/frame.htm

Good Luck.

Michael,

You can get a new D-28 for not much more as you state. My point was buying used let your money take you further upstream and some folks would rather have a used mid range than a new entry level guitar, absolutely personal preference.

MMV is amazing
 

you couldn't buy a better guitar for the money to save your life. Solid wood all around, spruce top, mahogany neck, rosewood back and sides, white binding, gold tuners, lifetime warranty, 100% manufactured at the factory in the states, I confirmed all this with an employee over the phone that told me he and his wife each bought one. If Martin employees are buying them they must be worth having.

Exactly. Why buy a Hewlett Packard compatible printer when you can buy a Hewlett Packard for an extra $50 and not have to do with compatibility issues.

I posted a long time ago on this guitar. I had bought one, and at the time thought that it sounded better than the other Martins in the store. Soon after, I played a really nice HD-28, and then I saw the light. Traded it in, and couldn't be happier with the HD. The MMV is a great guitar for the money, but as I was told earlier, and realized for myself, the HD has a much more complex tone. Regarding the D-28, I like the HD-28 much more. To me is sounds much more vibrant, with better top end.

If a $1K guitar truly had "everything" a $3K had, nobody could sell $3K guitars. There are occasionally very good inexpensive guitars, but they are the rare exception and not the average or the rule.

Sounds like you've also discovered that it takes time and ownership to really know an instrument and learn and recognize the nuances and complexities that a brief audition in a strange environment doesn't allow.

Enjoy your HD-28.

Just found this thread.
I just picked up a used MMV for $500.00.
Does it sound like a D-28?
I don't know because I have never played one, but it sounds great to me..:)

Bada Bing!

Find a nice used D-28. Money better spent.

couple points here...

firstly, if you visit the martin factory, you'll notice that they use pretty much the same stash of wood for ALL their upper level guitars. not a lot of tap-testing going on in those assembly areas. point here is that the woods used on the MMV will not differ in quality from what they use on their D28. likewise, the woods used on a D41 will not be markedly different from a D28.

secondly, D28's are not scallop-braced. they were scallop-braced in the 30's and early 40's. the HD-28 is scalloped, aside from having the herringbone adornments as the H suggests.

Thirdly, i think it is smart to think of martin as one would think of fender. unless you are dishing out the cashola for something one-off and masterbuilt from martin, your guitar is basically a line-built axe with a history-rich name on the headstock and made in the USA. that's IT. any talk of better woods used for this or that, or tap-testing the woods, or really anything you would expect from a builder who pays careful attention to EVERY detail should be left for builders like Collings, SCGC, Bourgeois, etc. With those dudes, you DO get what you pay for in terms of the price differential between a 2K martin and a 4k boutique builder like collings.

Bottom line, as someone noted, if you like it a lot and you don't care that much about lack of provenance in the model number, get the MMV. sounds like a really fair deal can be had--for a used one, especially. otherwise, i'd either save an extra grand for a used collings or buy a used hd-28 for 1500ish. side note: i'm obviously partial to collings, although i don't own an acoustic made by bill. i plan on it soon though. they are never-look-back instruments.

I've had my MMV for 4 years now. I got mine used and it's one of the best guitar purchases I've ever made. Great guitar at a bargain price. Best kept secret in Martin guitars.

You just hit a grand slam bro! Congrats. Long term you'll be much happier with this 28 than a MMV.

I've been watching The Soprano :)

Well, he didn't just hit it. He hit it about three and a half years ago! :)

D-28 is la bomba total! This is the way to go.