Lower Volume Martin Dreadnought Ideas?

tlite · #1 03-05-2015, 06:36 AM

So...

I love the sound, tone, and feel of the Martin HD28V and have been considering buying one of these at some point. But it booms!

Does anyone have ideas as to something that might get close to that sound and feel but isn't quite as loud?

I am not playing live these days. Will be 95% just using in my home to write songs and record with. I have a six year old who goes to bed before 8:00, and the only time I can really play is after that. Our house is small, and sound carries- soundproofing a room also not the ideal option.

Thanks for the help! Looking forward to ideas!

Goodallboy · #2 03-05-2015, 06:57 AM

You love the sound of a Martin. Play it less aggressively and it will be fine.

I play a lot with a friend who had a '65 D-28 Braz. He plays it 90% of the time at a very low volume.

Don't get something less than the sound you want for the reason you mention.

llew · #3 03-05-2015, 07:24 AM

I have a HD-28V and love it. I have a set of EJ-16 light (.12) gauge on it currently and it is a little less "boomy" as you say. I think if you really love the HD-28V then it's the guitar for you. Just play it with less enthusiasm? Best of luck!

rmyAddison · #4 03-05-2015, 07:40 AM

Agree with the others, YOU are the volume control !!

Having a responsive instrument (like an HD-28V) is the goal of most players, responsiveness IMO indicates a quality guitar.

I've owned an HD-28V, you can make it whisper and you can make it roar, don't get rid of a great guitar, work on technique, you can produce any volume you want...........

martingitdave · #5 03-05-2015, 07:48 AM

The HD28V is a particularly boomy guitar. It's one of its selling points. Perhaps, another dread, OM, etc. might be a good compromise. Otherwise, the others have correctly pointed out that the strings and technique are the keys. Note also, that the HD28V has a thick V neck profile. Not sure if that would suit you. Make sure to spend some time with one before making the commitment. It ended up being the reason I sold mine. I got hand cramps from it.

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HHP · #6 03-05-2015, 07:52 AM

Hard to imagine a maker producing a standard guitar with low volume being a design goal. Maybe have your HD-28 and something like a Yamaha Silent Guitar for non-intrusive practice.

BrunoBlack · #7 03-05-2015, 07:56 AM

One thing that you can do that may or may not be to your liking is to use thick picks when you want to quiet things down -- like Wegen Guitar Pick 2.5 mm
http://www.stringsandbeyond.com/wegyjagupi25.html

SalFromChatham · #8 03-05-2015, 08:15 AM

Hummingbird.

StevenFord0 · #9 03-05-2015, 08:25 AM

You might want to check out a Martin J-30. The sound is very close to my HD-28V but it should project a little bit less.

Vinceletah · #10 03-05-2015, 08:27 AM

Did you play a classic d28?
The ones I tried were quieter and mellower than the hd-28 I tried

teleamp · #11 03-05-2015, 08:36 AM

Martin D Jr...

ukejon · #12 03-05-2015, 08:52 AM

Try a D-41. I have found them to be quieter. Or an all mahogany 15 series guitar--D15-M.

Or buy an old Guild dread. D-40 or one like that. Sweet and relatively non-boomy.

bjstewa · #13 03-05-2015, 08:55 AM

Two easy ones:

Light Strings
Get it set up with especially low action

StephenHD35 · #14 03-05-2015, 09:21 AM

They wouldn't be my choice for your guitar, but a set of Thomastik-Infeld Spectrum's should cut the volume and "boom" in a noticeable way.

ShawnH · #15 03-05-2015, 09:25 AM

Kids sleep fine through acoustic guitar playing. I play my HD-28 all the time in an open floorplan with 3 kids sleeping above with their bedroom doors open. In fact they usually ask me to play when they are falling asleep. I don't wail on it but you can certainly strum and flatpick at a reasonable volume no problem.

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