Looks like Martin finally decided to give the D-28 a refresh...

[bozz_2006]

Still straight braced. Huh. Can't encroach on the HD-28, I guess.

[HHP]

Not sure I understand the reasoning. Why not do the upgrade to the HD-28 where they already have some higher costs built in. Doing it to the standard blocks up the product line and encourages buyers to go down rather than up.

[brencat]

Originally Posted by RP

Interesting that the recommended strings are lights...

I saw that too, RP, but likely a misprint. If it's not, then GREAT. That means they'll sand the top thinner and build it lighter making the whole guitar more responsive. Also notice the bracing is forward shifted, but non-scalloped... ?

[psychojohn]

"The 184 year old guitar maker has combined vintage appointments, including open gear tuners, an aged toner top, antique white accents, and a faux tortoise pickguard with a new neck profile to give D-28 enthusiasts a modern feel and comfortable playing experience. Martin has also added forward-shifted bracing to allow greater vibration of the top. The legend just got better!"


Seems like a different guitar from the original to me which begs the "Why" question ?

[brianmay]

Glad I've already got mine, 2008 175th one.

Happy for those that want a 1 ¾" neck, but that's not what I want.

Should make everyone happy I guess, there'll be a few NOS around for we die-hards of narrower necks.

Question: Did Martin just call everyone contemplating a D-28 fat?

[SpruceTop]

Now, if the new Martin D-28's forward-shifted bracing had scalloping like the newer D-18's forward-shifted bracing, that would be icing on the cake! Doing so, however, would likely hurt sales of the more expensive rosewood Martin Dreadnoughts.

[JayBee1404]

The 1-3/4" MLO w/PA Taper neck on my 2012 D-18 is the best, most comfortable I've ever played. I've only hung on to the HD-28V (1-11/16" Mod-V) because the Mod-V profile puts more meat into the neck than the LP, and the skinny LP neck was one of the reasons I let my J-40 go. My hand hurt like hell after half an hour of trying to grip what felt like nothing.

I think I see a D-28 beginning to feature in my future!

[Judson]

Interesting.

Was under the impression that declining sales prompted the overhaul of the old D-18.

Still, I thought the venerable D-28 was doing fine.

Personally, I love all the changes, but I'm not sure that the average D-28 customer was all that dissatisfied with the older model.

I guess we'll see.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by tomiv9

Me too. As a 1 11/16th guy i find it harder and harder to find high guitars i can play optimally. Seems everything is going 1.75". I don't like the lack of variety. I am curious how the forward shifted non-scalloped braces sound. Are there any other Martins with this bracing?

Wrong thread!

[Llewlyn]

Originally Posted by RP

Interesting that the recommended strings are lights...

Same thought here. I do not understand why. Perhaps they are trying to make the D-28 a more versatile guitar? the D-28 Authentic still comes with the medium.

Ll.

[theoscarpaco]

Almost perfect. I can't stand aging toner though!I love watching a pure white top age into that nice yellow!

[brencat]

Originally Posted by Llewlyn

Same thought here. I do not understand why. Perhaps they are trying to make the D-28 a more versatile guitar? the D-28 Authentic still comes with the medium.

Ll.

Assuming it's not a misprint as I mentioned earlier, this may be a great development -- Martin will likely have to build the guitar a lot lighter, making for a very responsive instrument. I think they are going to sell a TON of these.

Personally, I'm not a fan of medium strings at all, and my fingers just can't handle the extra tension. Maybe I'm a puss, but I have a Santa Cruz D/PW that is spec'd for Lights and it's the best dread I've ever owned, period. I don't think there's a rule that dreads must come with mediums to sound good.

Originally Posted by tomiv9

Me too. As a 1 11/16th guy i find it harder and harder to find high guitars i can play optimally. Seems everything is going 1.75". I don't like the lack of variety. I am curious how the forward shifted non-scalloped braces sound. Are there any other Martins with this bracing?

The only regular production guitars fitting that description would be the postwar "S" guitars made when straight braces were standard. Think D-18S, D-28S, etc. While these were not advertised as "forward braced", they were. Actually, all Martin 12 fret guitars are forward braced since they were largely out of production before the shift in bracing position happened. When they were reintroduced in the postwar era, they retained the original forward position.

Originally Posted by brencat

I saw that too, RP, but likely a misprint. If it's not, then GREAT. That means they'll sand the top thinner and build it lighter making the whole guitar more responsive. Also notice the bracing is forward shifted, but non-scalloped... ?

That is not how Martin builds guitars. Unless a thinner top is specified as part of the design (CS-21-11 for example) thickness doesn't change much regardless of what else is going on.

The "recommended" string is normally what they think buyers will want. It is seldom related to structure.

[Tico]

Originally Posted by brencat

... I don't think there's a rule that dreads must come with mediums to sound good.

I don't think sounding good is the main reason for meds.
Some players prefer meds for the extra volume/bass/projection, and makers are more profitable if they can sell a model to as many players as possible.

[Tico]

I think the Authentic Ds have thinner tops AND medium strings.
If so, how did they accomplish that?