1980s D-35 vs early 2000s HD-28

Taylorfanguy · #1 03-10-2018, 12:33 PM

I'm looking for a Martin guitar with the most bass possible. Talking earth shattering. I've been looking hard at these two guitars, and I just want something with really deep bass. I have not had the chance to try them nor will I cuz they are online. I know the scalloped bracing helps with bass and projection immensely, but compared to the hd28 how is the d35, especially aged, compare? Both of these guitars are roughly the same price.

Wade Hampton · #2 03-10-2018, 02:46 PM

Well, you say you want the most bass possible, but is this going to be solely for yourself or do you want to spread the bassiness around among other musicians? Because the D-35 and the HD-28 project quite differently.

The D-35 will give you more bass response and a sort of SurroundSound presentation that immerses the player in a lagoon of low end response. It's like a warm bubblebath of sound. It will NOT, however, project particularly well when there are other musical instruments being played at the same time.

For that your better option would be the HD-28. Those guitars definitely cut through the mix better than D-35's do.

So if you're going to be playing this guitar by yourself most of the time, the D-35 will give you more of what you say you're looking for. But if you anticipate playing a lot in jam sessions and band situations, I think the HD-28 would be the wiser choice.

Hope that makes sense.

Wade Hampton Miller

Wade Hampton · #3 03-10-2018, 02:53 PM

Just to add to what I wrote above, many players confuse loudness with projection, but they're not the same thing. If some D-35 owners choose to be offended by what I wrote, saying: "My D-35 is PLENTY loud," I would reply: "I have no doubt."

But it's the harmonics created by the D-35's thinner braces that keep it from projecting as well as an HD-28. There are just so many overtones flying around when you play a D-35 than many of them get covered up by other guitars playing at the same time.

There's more to it than that, I'm sure, but from a practical standpoint what it comes down to is if you have several musicians sitting in a room whanging away happily at their guitars, you'll hear an HD-28 far better than a D-35, even if the D-35 is the louder guitar when they're played in succession in a quiet room. Exactly why is just one of the many mysteries of musical instruments, but it's an easily observed phenomenon: D-35's generally don't project very well.

whm

gfirob · #4 03-10-2018, 03:36 PM

+1 for the HD 28 for all those reasons.

Erithon · #5 03-10-2018, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

Well, you say you want the most bass possible, but is this going to be solely for yourself or do you want to spread the bassiness around among other musicians? Because the D-35 and the HD-28 project quite differently.

The D-35 will give you more bass response and a sort of SurroundSound presentation that immerses the player in a lagoon of low end response. It's like a warm bubblebath of sound. It will NOT, however, project particularly well when there are other musical instruments being played at the same time.

For that your better option would be the HD-28. Those guitars definitely cut through the mix better than D-35's do.

So if you're going to be playing this guitar by yourself most of the time, the D-35 will give you more of what you say you're looking for. But if you anticipate playing a lot in jam sessions and band situations, I think the HD-28 would be the wiser choice.

Hope that makes sense.

Wade Hampton Miller

+1

Since you're looking online maybe also consider an HD-35? (They tend to be more of the surround sound effect, though, so if you want projection the HD-28 may be the way to go.)

lowrider · #6 03-10-2018, 05:08 PM

My thought is that since you are looking for specifically deep projecting base, you shouldn't be shopping sight unseen. Or at minimum go play these guitars live.

Every guitar is going to be little different so the one with the ''most bass possible. Talking earth shattering'' might be the one in your local shop, not the one for sale from far away.

6L6 · #7 03-10-2018, 05:14 PM

You’re looking for an HD-35.

L20A · #8 03-10-2018, 06:46 PM

I have a 1981 D-35 and totally agree with Wade's comments.
My D-35 sounds wonderful and has a rich deep bass end. However it doesn't have the headroom of an HD-28.

I play my D-35 in Bluegrass jams all the time. It works fine but it does get lost in the mix at times.
Because I love the tone so much, I will never sell it to get an HD-28.