Would y'all recommend a Martin D-28 or HD-28 for Neil Young tone?

[HD18JBGuy]

If you have narrowed your choice to a D-28 or HD-28, HD-28 wins hands down, over and over again, in my opinion. Owned them both, sold them both and settled at the HD-28V. The HD-28 seems to be much more guitar than the standard D-28 (also a very fine guitar).

I would think that the HD-28 would give the "Neil" sound, but more than just the guitar goes into his sound. All other things being equal though, I would say go for the HD-28.

Want the real deal, as mentioned above, do for a D-45. Better yet, D-45V. Talk about an awesome guitar!

[leftys blues]

I think the HD-28V is the answer myself. But among your choices, I would say HD-28 is the way to go.

[Jeff M]

For the "Neil Young" tone;
Spend the night out drinking Jack Daniels + 5 hours of screaming at the top of your lungs+ gargle with nitric acid + stuff a cotten rag in your mouth.
Viola!! Instant Neil Young!!

I know this is hijacking the thread, but as an aside...
I was listening to a NPR program a year or so ago, caught the middle of an interview with some musician discussing the Grand Ole Opry's building history and a guitar that he was playing (one of Hank William's).
Guy had a very nice voice.
They broke to him performing one of his songs...there was that high, painful struggling, weak voice of Neil Young!! Could have knocked me over with a feather.
I always thought his speaking voice would sound something like Truman Capote's.

[brianmay]

If they sound the same . . . buy the cheapest one.

No brainer - duh!

I tried both last year and bought the D28, because they DIDN'T sound the same.

Horses for courses old chap, it can only BE your decision.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Jeff M

Not only that, Neil plays a number of different guitars.
Last time I heard him he was playing an old Gibson he owns that used to belong to Hank Williams.

He also has a Martin D-28 that belonged to Ole Hank! It must be nice to be rich!

Regards,

SpruceTop

[Dek431]

They both have their fans. I had a D28 at the time I loved it I just though the bass swamped the treble. I like my HD28 better it has the tone I hunted for for so long.

[Joseph Hanna]

Originally Posted by Jeff M

For the "Neil Young" tone;
Spend the night out drinking Jack Daniels + 5 hours of screaming at the top of your lungs+ gargle with nitric acid + stuff a cotten rag in your mouth.
Viola!! Instant Neil Young!!

One of the things that I think is difficult for some younger folks is their exposure to Neil is from a contemporary perspective. I think for some the Beatles are the same way.

I was 12 in 1970 and had an uncle living in Topanga Canyon. The whole social weave that was Topanga and all the way into Laural Canyon in the early 70's with Crosby, Stills Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Messina, Glen Frey, Don Henley, Jackson Brown and SO many others can sorta still be felt today. A lot of hippes still up in those hills I tell ya.

Music at that time came to the consumer at an incredibly slow rate. No instant bombardment with new releases flung via e-mail for i-Tunes and i-Pod.

Music felt MUCH more important and was MUCH more a part of the social fabric. I was floored by the musicianship coming out of Los Angeles in the early seventies and it has and will shape my musical world until the day I die...and hopefully beyond that.

Easy enough to make fun of Neil's voice...certainly doesn't take to keen an ear to come up with that conclusion but for me the sheer massive weight of what that music did "to" me and "for" me simply is priceless. It's all kind of wrapped up in that "time" both in the world and in my life. I can honestly say nothing to date has done more for the heart and sole of me musically than the 4-Way Street days.


Signed;

An old hippy

[Guitar Hack]

There's no difference between a d-28 and an hd-28 except bling which doesn't affect the sound.

Get what ever you like.

[Song Writer]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

Easy enough to make fun of Neil's voice...certainly doesn't take to keen an ear to come up with that conclusion but for me the sheer massive weight of what that music did "to" me and "for" me simply is priceless. It's all kind of wrapped up in that "time" both in the world and in my life. I can honestly say nothing to date has done more for the heart and sole of me musically than the 4-Way Street days.


Signed;

An old hippy

I can echo that thought.....the right music for the right time performed beautifully.

I have a bootleg of Neil (maybe you Young aficionados can help me out this this one). It was called "Live at the LA Forum" and the nearest thing I can figure is that it was the LA performance at the start of the same tour that included the Massey Hall gig.

I have NEVER heard anyone's voice sound more perfect - he was nailing the pitches so well it just added to that ache in his voice. One of the most incredible performances I have ever heard from anybody.


Signed,
An older hippie.


P.S. Sorry to interrupt this thread, I don't know the HD version well enough for an opinion.

[Jeff M]

Originally Posted by Joseph Hanna

One of the things that I think is difficult for some younger folks is their exposure to Neil is from a contemporary perspective. I think for some the Beatles are the same way.

I was 12 in 1970 and had an uncle living in Topanga Canyon. The whole social weave that was Topanga and all the way into Laural Canyon in the early 70's with Crosby, Stills Nash and Young, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Messina, Glen Frey, Don Henley, Jackson Brown and SO many others can sorta still be felt today. A lot of hippes still up in those hills I tell ya.

Music at that time came to the consumer at an incredibly slow rate. No instant bombardment with new releases flung via e-mail for i-Tunes and i-Pod.

Music felt MUCH more important and was MUCH more a part of the social fabric. I was floored by the musicianship coming out of Los Angeles in the early seventies and it has and will shape my musical world until the day I die...and hopefully beyond that.

Easy enough to make fun of Neil's voice...certainly doesn't take to keen an ear to come up with that conclusion but for me the sheer massive weight of what that music did "to" me and "for" me simply is priceless. It's all kind of wrapped up in that "time" both in the world and in my life. I can honestly say nothing to date has done more for the heart and sole of me musically than the 4-Way Street days.


Signed;

An old hippy

Grew up and attended college in the Berkeley/Bay Area in the 60's/early 70's..
I was in Bekeley during the days of Mario Savio and the Free Speech movement, Peoples Park.

Heard Neal in concert 3 times back then. Lots of memories.
Thought his songs were, for the most part, great.
Thought his voice sucked.

[66strummer]

Originally Posted by Christian G

The deal is that I love 'em both, equally. They sound different for sure. The Herringbone is much looser, deeper, flabbier bass, louder, and seems to be a bit more sonically multitextured. The standard D is tighter, the bass is less overwhelming (especially when individual notes are picked), and the whole thing is treblier. Oh...and the D-28 is cheaper, and within my budget, HD isn't.

Unless you can find a good used HD-28 I think you answered your own question here....... Buying new would give you the lifetime warranty, if that's of importance. According to what everyone is saying, Neil plays a D-28 along with his others.

[Boneyard75]

Let me blow your mind here....A Martin J-40 will give you a guitar that will come closer to the Neil Young sound than either a D-28 or an HD-28....You might want to think outside the box.....
Boneyard

[jimmy bookout]

Uh guys???? I think it's safe to say that Christian G has probably made his choice in the D-28/HD-28 sounds like Neil Young derby since he posed this question on 11/30/2007!

Jimmy

[66strummer]

Originally Posted by jimmy bookout

Uh guys???? I think it's safe to say that Christian G has probably made his choice in the D-28/HD-28 sounds like Neil Young derby since he posed this question on 11/30/2007!

Jimmy

If not, then he's a very patient man .

[Boneyard75]

WOW! ...I guess my reading comprehension skills need a little dusting off!