Martin D35, HD35, D28P, HD28?

[Misty44]

Originally Posted by BB Brown

All great of course...but I think the 2 piece back is best. After all didn't Martin start making the D35 with scraps that couldn't be used on the 28's?
HD28=Holy Grail

Best for what?

My understanding is that the three-piece back does little if anything to the aggregate tone/sound of the guitar. It's the thinner 1/4" bracing (1/4" and scalloped in the HD-35) that is responsible for the D-35's voice. Or are you talking about what looks best to the eye?

And they weren't exactly "scraps." The size of the pieces were a result of the availability of the smaller Brazillian rosewood logs Martin could get in the mid 1960's as the larger sizes ran out. Here's the skinny from Richard Johnston, coauthor with Martin’s Dick Boak, of [U]Martin Guitars: A History[U] and Martin Guitars: A Technical Reference:


"The reason the HD-35 has a 3-piece goes back to 1965 when Martin introduced the D-35. At the time, the company was using Brazilian rosewood for the backs and sides of ALL its rosewood guitars (those in Style 21 and higher). But supplies of Brazilian rosewood were running out, and the size of the rosewood logs Martin was able to get was smaller. The solution was to introduce a D model with a 3-piece back, so the company could make a big guitar from smaller rosewood logs. At that time, Dreadnoughts represented a vast majority of Martin's guitar sales."

[mymartind35]

Why is it when someone asks what Martin to buy, somebody tells them to buy another brand? I he had wanted another brand he would have put it on the poll. I have a 34 year-old D-35 that sounds spectacular. They're not muddy, far from it. Play what sounds best to you and buy it.

[BlakeGiants]

HD-35 is a total bucket list guitar for me.

Classical nylon or some kind nylon acoustic/electric. IMO, you're already heading in that direction. You just don't know it. Read the last few lines of your post.

Nylon: Babe magnet.

Martin dreadnaughts in poll: Baby Boomer/Backslapper magnet.

The choice is yours...

Frankly, even a cheap dreadnaught (or nylon)with a certain level of lo-fi vulnerability or a so-called "lesser dreadnaught" like a Guild or something from Gibson? has more sex appeal.

Check out Seu Jorge playing Bowie on a nylon stringed guitar...or even Elliot Smith (RIP) on his Yamaha...

For what you're going for, even a Seagull S6 wouldn't be bad...or a Martin 00-15.

The references to V-series Martins? More "smokiness" in the equation, tonal vibe and IMO less a need to go cherry picking (hunting expedition).

[GonzoJohn]

Personally, I'd say the HD-28V, but I voted HD-28. I just got done playing an HD-28V at the GC by my place. It simply blew away the D-28 and HD-28 by a country mile. And it was so easy to play... The action didn't seem any lower than the others, but grabbing a chord and getting notes to ring out was effortless.

[JLed79]

I'd STRONGLY suggest you go play a Taylor DN3. I have a feeling it will be very close to, if not exactly what your looking for all the way around.

[Mad Rose]

Originally Posted by atran3

I cant decide which guitar to get!!!

Initially I liked the D35 the most! however, after thinking about it, and looking at videos, I think the d35 is too muddy sounding?

My friend told me the best guitar she has ever played was the hd35. havent tried it How ever I am afraid it will be too muddy like the D-35

I've had both. The D-35 was my 1st Martin in the 70's. I don't recall that much about it & I later sold it when we bought a house. Moving ahead 30 years later, I bought an HD-35 from My Favorite Guitars (then called: My Favorite Martin). I thought it was a real gem of a Martin. It had singing trebles, but not over the top bright sounding & a great bass response w/o being muddy at all. Real powerful sounding guitar & I really like the appointments of the HD-35 w/ H-bone trim.

More recently, I scored another D-35 for a friend, from a friend because it wasn't being played & I thought it was a good one. I was able compare it w/ my HD-35 side-y-side. I found that the D-35 had more whomp to it w/o any that muddiness attached to a lot of D-35's. My conclusion would be more favorable going back to a std D-35 w/ non-scalloped 1/4" bracing. I believe CFM is making some great sounding one's these days...!

[Augustwest2012]

Originally Posted by kydave

I voted "HD-2" figuring you meant to put HD-28.

But HD-28V would be even better!

plus one! MFG has an ambertone custom with an adirondack top, worth looking in to if its within your budget.

[atran3]

I dont have a way to demo the dh35. How does it compare to the d35 or others? The thing I am afraid of the most is when I play alot of fingerstyle, the notes will sustain too long and sound muddy. Thats kind of why I want a d28. But I feel the d28 doesnt sustain long enough. Will that get better with age?

[grachi]

I've played all of them and up until recently, I had an HD-35 (had to sell it cause I had too many guitars for a guy in his 20s...). Really underrated guitar. Don't let anyone tell you which one to get. Just play all of them and listen to your own ears. You are the one that has to be listening to it most of the time anyway. Might as well get something you like.

[atran3]

Ok just tried the d28p, idk anywhere who sells the hd35.......The d28p is the most comfortable to me. However, unlike the d35 which sounds like it resonates or sustains lower bass notes too long, I am afraid the d28 is too short. Will that go away with age? will the new 2012ish d28s open up and sustain a bit longer and sound a bit darker with age? if so it is exactly what i am looking for

Decide based on now vs some anticipated, hoped for later. BUT what's the action like on that guitar? Feels "tight?" If you;re hoping for just "a bit" in each category, a set up plus good string choice might help...

[BB Brown]

"Ive been playing for 6 months. I got started to surprise my girlfriend on a date."
What guitar have you been using for 6 months?
All these guitars would be great for what it sounds like you want to do.
Just my 2 cents, but I'm not sure a newer player would be able to really notice the difference in these rosewood guitars.