Is the D28 mostly a bluegrass-guitar?

[sweiss]

I think the D28, in general, has many characteristics that bluegrass flatpickers desire, so many have used it over the years. Over that time it became known as the flatpickers guitar even though you can certainly put it to any use you like.

There's no doubt, though that the D18, D28, and D35 each has it's own voice, and each excels at different things.

[RAD3]

Misty, if you hadn't brought up Joni's name I was going to. She's about as far away from Bluegrass as someone could get I read somewhere that her original D-28 was stolen or lost or something. I also remember that when she was still playing she had/has a Collings dread.

[BoneDigger]

Many folk singers and country artists also have used a D28 or D18. It serves a lot of people in many different settings.

I use my D28 for mostly bluegrass but it goes well with just about any acoustic music.

Todd

[royd]

Originally Posted by Ryan Alexander

There are no "rules"!

see: Michael Hedges

yep... and remember the OM (Orchestra Model) was designed to play rhythm in an orchestra, not for fingerstyle. Use your guitar to play whatever music you want.

[Retroman1969]

I tried a lot of dreads back and forth and settled on the D-28 (by far) because it had the best tone for jazz and classical for a steel string acoustic.
That dark, mellow, complex sound just does it for me.
I think they're quite versatile, and as competent at different genres as the player allows them to be... as this video helps demonstrate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnfrnhmXAjc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[Judson]

Here's a generalization that may support the conclusion that the D-28 is "mostly a blue grass guitar" ... in general, flatpickers and bluegrass players like the 1 11/16 inch nut width, while fingerstylists (in general) prefer a wider nut and string spacing.

Up until 2012, all of the Standard Martin line had 1 11/16 inch nut, but the new D-18 features the 1 3/4 inch nut and the "PA" neck. IMHO, this change will broaden the appeal of the D-18 and having it as an option would do the same for the D-28. It's interesting that the regular Standard Martins are all narrow, but the D-18 "Golden Era" and the D-28 Marquis already had a wide nut and string spacing.

[Cazon]

The player makes the music - using a guitar with tuned strings.

I saw/listened to a jazz artist last night - he didn't play a Martin, but it was a cut-away-dread.
I was more intreagued by his technique, bass lines, chords and songs, than by the guitar - I'm sure he would have sounded good with a D-28 too.

So no, I don't think a D-28 is mostly a good bluegrass guitar, but I'm sure we all agree that some great blue grassers use/ed them with great results.

[PorkPieGuy]

I don't know if this is a D28, HD28, or a D18 or something else, but it's a Martin dred. Pretty far from bluegrass as far as I can tell...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJmPcILfg8

There's a sort-of good shot of the guitar at 1:24. However at 2:00, that may be a mahogany b/s, therefore a d18...another guitar known for bluegrass.

[jeepnstein]

The reason the D28 dominates Bluegrass is because it is just such a stinking fine guitar. If you look at the other brands seen on the Bluegrass circuit the trend is obvious. A great instrument is preferred over a dog. And since getting Bluegrass players to agree on style and tone is like herding cats, well, the D28 is about the only common denominator among them.

It doesn't suit all styles and players. That is a matter of individual taste. But a D28 can be reliably used in almost any setting and that's why Bluegrass players go for them.

[Cheetotoe]

Originally Posted by Blackville

Here's a generalization that may support the conclusion that the D-28 is "mostly a blue grass guitar" ... in general, flatpickers and bluegrass players like the 1 11/16 inch nut width, while fingerstylists (in general) prefer a wider nut and string spacing.

Up until 2012, all of the Standard Martin line had 1 11/16 inch nut, but the new D-18 features the 1 3/4 inch nut and the "PA" neck. IMHO, this change will broaden the appeal of the D-18 and having it as an option would do the same for the D-28. It's interesting that the regular Standard Martins are all narrow, but the D-18 "Golden Era" and the D-28 Marquis already had a wide nut and string spacing.

Google D-28P. It already exsists as an option. A D-28 with the Performing Artist neck.

[Glennwillow]

Certainly the D-28 works well as a bluegrass guitar, but that's just one thing it can do. In a much broader sense, it's a great general purpose guitar, just like the D-18 or the J-45 for that matter. I wouldn't pay much attention to people's generalizations. You are a specific player with specific needs and if it works for you, that's all that matters.

- Glenn

[drbluegrass]

Originally Posted by kydave

Leave out the word "bluegrass" and I'll go along with that statement.

I think it just might be unconstitutional to play anything but bluegrass on a D-28.


Tom

[kydave]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

I don't know if this is a D28, HD28, or a D18 or something else, but it's a Martin dred. Pretty far from bluegrass as far as I can tell...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJmPcILfg8

There's a sort-of good shot of the guitar at 1:24. However at 2:00, that may be a mahogany b/s, therefore a d18...another guitar known for bluegrass.

D-35 unless what I'm seeing as white fingerboard binding is reflection, in which case it is a D-28. No white body binding on a D-18.

I think it just might be unconstitutional to play anything but bluegrass on a D-28.

I think it just might be un-American to play anything but a D-28 on good acoustic music!

[Misty44]

Originally Posted by PorkPieGuy

I don't know if this is a D28, HD28, or a D18 or something else, but it's a Martin dred. Pretty far from bluegrass as far as I can tell...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHJmPcILfg8

There's a sort-of good shot of the guitar at 1:24. However at 2:00, that may be a mahogany b/s, therefore a d18...another guitar known for bluegrass.

And speaking of the far, near, and in between of bluegrass, here's Del McCoury with his signature D-18 blending nicely with the Chieftains with a Martin D-35 (beginning at the 3:04 mark): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Is_...8C189FA935FAF7


a Ted Lehmann photo

[kaiserthegreat]