Martin: D-35 vs D-28??
 

Guys - I'm just idly curious.
Are there substantial differences
in tone or playability between these two models?
Leaving aside variance from individual guitar to guitar.

Mainly in tone. The D-35 has a more bass heavy tone. The D-28 is more balanced. Anyone who describes real bassy guitars as "muddy" would be happier with a D-28 IMO. The top bracing is lighter on the D-35......

EDIT:3 piece back on the D-35. Another big difference.

Ryan

Finger pickers like the D-35 (think Johnny Cash). Strummers and others like the D-28. This is a huge generalization, I'm sure there is appeal from all camps. In the end, each to his own. Personally, I really like the HD-35 series.

D-35 has 1/4" straight braces, the D-28 has 5/16". The D-35 has a three-piece back and is back-braced accordingly, with 2 angled "center" strips. The D-28 is of course a 2-piece back with one center strip.

This tends to give the D-35 a darker tone, but as for which one is better for singing, strumming, or fingerpicking...well, that's up to the player.

I find the D-35 a great guitar for singing and strumming, and a wonderful flatpicker as well. I don't find either optimized for light fingerpicking, but both can do that as well of course.

Another difference is that the D-35 has a bound fingerboard.

I've owned both over the years. Of the many guitars that have passed through my hands, the D-35 was probably overall the best sounding guitar I have owned, but it was a '70's model, and I just couldn't handle the baseball bat neck - barre chords were killing me. I also owned a 80's D-28. I can't quite put my finger on why, but I just never bonded with that guitar. I traded it for Gibson J-45.

Dan

I have played many, many D-28's and have owned a 1968 D-35 (Braz. RW & Sitka top) since I got it new in 1969. From my viewpoint, my D-35 has both more bass AND more treble than a D-28. I have found the D-35 a very good all-around guitar for both strumming and for finger picking. This was my ONLY 6-string guitar while I played professionally, ending about 20 years ago. These days I play mostly fingerstyle and still find it to be one of the best sounding guitars I've ever played.

However, my D-35 is unusually good and my luthier who has refretted it twice agrees. I have played brand new D-35's in my favorite local store and I thought they sounded thin in comparison. Of the more current variety, I prefer the HD-35, as it sounds closer to my old D-35.

Maybe I was just incredibly lucky... However, I heard Eric Johnson perform an all-acoustic show at the University of Washington a few years ago, and he used on old D-35 like mine, and it also sounded amazing.

Regards, Glenn

The Braz ones seem to sell for a lot
more than the EIRs from only a few
years later.

In 1981, I bought my D-35 because it had the best sound and the most bass response.

I still have the D-35 and it just keeps getting better.

You will have to play both and decide for yourself.
The good thing is that both are great guitars.
Pick the one you like.

People who play mostly by themselves tend to like the D-35's more than those who play mostly in groups. The lighter top bracing of the D-35 makes for a fatter tone, which is great when playing solo, but in a group setting they typically do not "cut" or project over the other instruments as well as a D-28.

In turn, because of its rosewood back and sides, the harmonically richer tone of a D-28 doesn't "cut" as well as the mahogany D-18.

You'll see plenty both D-28's and D-18's in use in bluegrass bands, but D-35's are a lot less common. It's not because of some odd, inexplicable snobbery or (as I've seen suggested) "bluegrass tradition," but because D-35's typically can't be heard as well over the clatter of a fullbore bluegrass band as those other two models.

Hope that makes sense.


Wade Hampton Miller

Wade,

Your comments absolutely make sense. I completely agree. For my style of playing, basically solo or small folky kinds of groups or performing with my family, my old D-35 worked well.

I can understand the D-18 for bluegrass.

Thanks, Glenn

Hi yammieplaya,

Being primarily a flatpicker, playing bluegrass, folk and country, and having owned both a Martin D-35 and many Martin D-28 and Martin HD-28s, I'd summarize the differences as being:

a Martin D-35 is a balanced but dark-sounding guitar and would lend itself to singer-songwriter applications but it can still be a decent flatpicking guitar;

a Martin D-28 is a clearer-sounding guitar with a well-pronounced bass tonality that when played hard will yield a clearer tone and better melody note-within-chords articulation than will a Martin D-35. For this reason a Martin D-28 is favored by bluegrass guitarists because of its ablilty to deliver loud, pronounced alternating bass notes and clear melody single notes and runs.

For my music, if I had to choose between a Martin D-35 and a Martin D-28 as an only guitar, without hesitation, it would be a Martin D-28!

Regards,

SpruceTop

Out of the ones I have played, I like the HD-35's better. I didn't buy either when it came down to it... I wanted more mid range, so I bought an H&D dread. Come to find out it ended up being louder as well.

Well put!

I've had my D35 for 35 years now and I still love it!

I haven't played many D-35s, but I've played a slew of different D-28 models. There's so much variation in the D-28s, HD-28, HD-28V, etc... It's a little mind-boggling.

I've always been a sucker for a nice 3-piece back, though. Love that about the -35s.

I played both in the shop and left with the D-28.

BUT it was only a choice between those models that were there on the day, set up how they were with the strings that they came with.

As in all things, it's subjective and thank God for choice eh? We would be SOoo boring if we all thought the same.

And if you're happy with your equipment, does it matter what anyone else thinks?

Wade nailed it, the D-35 is "fuller" but not as penetrating in a bluegrass situation as the 18's and 28's. I personally think the D-35 is excellent for solo acts, they complement a single voice very nicely.

Thanks a lot guys, this is just what
i wanted to know. Hopefully, when the time comes,
I can try out lots of guitars and hear what is best for me.
Then I'll be "martinplaya" instead of "yammieplaya".

Or you can be both, depending on the day of the week....:D.


Ryan

Hello Everyone! I am new on this forum. I own a newer model D35, and after comparing the 28 to the 35, I decided on the 35. A bit more bass, and I do like binding on my guitars. The 3 piece back is also cool. I also agree....choose the one that you like best. They are all good choices!

I don't see a substantial difference in the sound between the two. They are both dreads and both going to have a good bottom end.... So I would play them both and see which one you like. But you may find that a D-35 from one store from a different time period may sound quite different than another D-35.

MY 1970 D35 which I bought new has served me well for forty years. At the time I bought it I A/Bd it against five D28s and the 35 won out. But I have to admit I was a novice back then and it might have been the 3 piece back I liked best. I don't get the "baseball bat" neck comment. While my 35 leans to the V shape it's certainly not a Louisville Slugger.

Of ones I have played, I've always preferred the D-35. I'm not a flatpicker though. Mostly fingers and an occasional thumbpick.

Wade's comments are right on. The 35s are like a grand piano IMO and inspire a soloist to sing more loudly. OTOH the 28s tend to be a little more clear with not as much bottom end as the 35s. I could certainly see the benefit in an ensemble. However, if you want something to really cut through the mix the D-18 with its strong note fundamental (minimal overtones) or an OM would be the best bet.

There must have been a lot of difference in neck profiles from one guitar to another back then.
My 1981 D-35 has a very thich chunky C shaped neck.
It took several years of playing it to get used to it.
The good thing about the neck on my D-35 is that the neck is still at perfect angle and the relief is spot on.
Martin did a good job of making a neck that would hold up over time.
I have had one refret job done on it so far.

Both the D-28 and D-35 are great guitars and as said many times already the D-35 has a bassier sound. Depends on what you would enjoy better.

D35 vs other Martin D models
 

Hi there, especially yammieplaya! I guess that refers to Yamaha...

I usually play my 1971 Martin D35 in my Bluegrass band as well as to jam and to accompany myself and I still think this guitar works better for me and also cuts through much better than other guitars I have owned and tried. I used the D35 all over Europe and some in the USA at festivals and for recording sessions and it always works in any situation. Its sound is full, warm and powerful and effective in a band or solo. I have no problem whatsoever to "cut through" a mix of banjo, mandolin, fiddle, bass and voices either for thytm playing or solos. I feel I need this solid basis if my guitar in order to sing and play well enough. I have owned a beautiful 1994 Martin D45 from new and picked it up a lot during rehearsals and put it back in its case after 2 songs because I could not hear it well enough in the band and that made me feel unsure. I did not understand why and kept trying it for about 12 years until I decided to sell it to a fingerpicking professional guitarist who was very happy with it and had tried many D45's before but never was satisfied. I also owned a custom Martin D41 with a cedar top from new. Same problem! I have a 50's Kay Dmodel with mahogany back and sides - all solid! - which does the job almost as well as my D35, amazing but true. Then I owned a Martin D37K, beautiful guitar, but not for Bluegrass and I sold it after 6 years, in fact traded it together with a fantastic Gibson A5 Custom mandolin from 1998 for a well used 1965 Martin D21. Great guitar, plays without touching it, loud and balanced, cutting, but not warm nor powerful enough for me. Then I had a very good offer of a 1949 D28 I have been considering for a while, but recently decided against it. Now I have decided to buy 2 used Martin D35 guitar from the USA - they are on they way I hope -one from 1968 and the other from very early 1970, both Brazilian RW. The 1968 even has a small maple bridgeplate... I will keep the best of the two and sell the second as a companion to my original 1971 D35.
The other amazing Martin which works great in any situation including a loud Bluegrass band on stage and off is my 1966 martin D35S, which beats everything I have every heard or tried. Only, the neck is a little too wide for me, I prefer to have it a little narrower.
My conclusion is that every 2 part back Martin I have tried cannot beat my D35 in power, warmth and cutting power in a 5 piece Bluegrass band for rhytm or solo playing.

Luckily, taste differs as well as moods and I also use other guitars I like:
Yamaha - he Yammieplaya - FG2000 1972
Yamaha FG1200S
Yamaha L25TA
Martin OO28G 1963 (beauty!!! but not for Bluegrass)
RoZawood copy of pre-war Martin D45 Red Smiley signature model
Kay mahogany D model (sloid, 50's)
Goya N-26 1963 (great guitar!)
My wife plays a 1960's Kay D model and a Yamaha LL500

D35=D28 on steroids.

I was looking for a HD-28 or D-28 when I stumbled into my HD-35. It took some time to find exactly what strings I wanted on it but now it has the sound that I think should come from a dread. Above posts say that it does not have the sound projection that the D-28's have but I'm not playing in a bluegrass band, just jamming with my friends and it has enough volume for me.

Hi EuroBluegrass,

Welcome to the forum! We hope to hear more from you.

As an old D-35 user myself, I find your comments interesting. Do you use medium strings on your 1971 D-35? I am wondering what makes it work for bluegrass playing... :)

Regards, Glenn

I've been considering a D-28 for my next guitar, then I heard Johnny Cash's "Solitary Man" which was reportedly played on his custom D-35. Love that sound! That's the sound I've been looking for.