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  #1  
Old 03-07-2021, 04:24 AM
Pdubs76 Pdubs76 is offline
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Default Is the D-28 worth all the hype?

Or are there other dreads that can be had for less that stand up to it?
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Old 03-07-2021, 04:30 AM
Kerbie Kerbie is offline
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I don't think an earned reputation is hype.

It's an iconic guitar for a good reason. I'm sure it's worth it to some and not to others. Have you played one?
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Old 03-07-2021, 04:34 AM
chopinhauer chopinhauer is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pdubs76 View Post
Or are there other dreads that can be had for less that stand up to it?
Yes, and if you're lucky, yes.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:09 AM
Pdubs76 Pdubs76 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kerbie View Post
I don't think an earned reputation is hype.

It's an iconic guitar for a good reason. I'm sure it's worth it to some and not to others. Have you played one?
I’ve never played one, just been obsessed with Dreads lately so I thought I’d get some opinions.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:19 AM
musicman1951 musicman1951 is offline
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Sure, you can get a $400 dred that sounds just as good. How good is your ear?

I wasn't aware there was a lot of D-28 hype. I know it has a very solid reputation as a great guitar. It earned it the same way other companies earn their reputation: make a great product.

But a lot of players prefer a D-18. The ear wants what the ear wants.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:22 AM
perttime perttime is offline
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I've played one on a couple of occasions. Loved it ... except it is a dred, and I'm not physically comfortable with that shape.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:23 AM
Mr Bojangles Mr Bojangles is offline
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You need to play one and make up your own mind. There are cheaper guitars that may sound better to your ears, and every D-28 will sound slightly different from the others. But no other guitar will sound quite like a D-28.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:26 AM
AndrewG AndrewG is offline
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Fine guitar, but there are many, many equally great rosewood dreads for far less outlay; unless you really need to see 'C. F. Martin' on the headstock you could do just as well elsewhere.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:30 AM
buddyhu buddyhu is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kerbie View Post
I don't think an earned reputation is hype.

It's an iconic guitar for a good reason. I'm sure it's worth it to some and not to others. Have you played one?
This ^.

No hype.

You might find less expensive guitars that please you. But that doesn’t mean that the D28 is hyped.
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Old 03-07-2021, 05:31 AM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Great guitar but I'd probably buy a Guild D-55 before a Martin D-28 if I had to buy a dread ... but hey, that's just me.
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  #11  
Old 03-07-2021, 06:40 AM
EZYPIKINS EZYPIKINS is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucebubs View Post
Great guitar but I'd probably buy a Guild D-55 before a Martin D-28 if I had to buy a dread ... but hey, that's just me.
Haven't played any newer ones in a long time but the more vintage Guild's I agree can hold there own against a Martin. Any day of the week. My D25M from 1979 Has more boom than most acoustics I've played. And boom is what the D-28 players are experiencing. Scale on the Guild is a bit larger. Which gives a bit more tension which may contribute to the end result.
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Old 03-07-2021, 06:46 AM
rokdog49 rokdog49 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucebubs View Post
Great guitar but I'd probably buy a Guild D-55 before a Martin D-28 if I had to buy a dread ... but hey, that's just me.
Once again, brothers from a different mother agree.
Every D-55 video I ever watched makes me want one.

It’s subjective, I agree but...



Martin Strum 0.01
Guild Strum 6.33

That did it for me and my style of playing.
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Old 03-07-2021, 06:57 AM
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warfrat73 warfrat73 is offline
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I haven't played the reimagined D-28 with the forward shifted non-scalloped braces. But, I still can't imagine buying a D-28 rather than an HD-28, if I were in the market.

But, I agree with the sentiment that a well earned reputation is different from hype.
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Old 03-07-2021, 07:16 AM
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Mr. Paul Mr. Paul is offline
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One can go shopping for a dread, never consider a D28, and bring home a fabulous guitar. We've never had the variety of choices that exist today.

I'll never sell mine, and "hype" has nothing to do with why.
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Old 03-07-2021, 07:21 AM
archerscreek archerscreek is offline
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Just realize that the iconic D-28 that created the hype is not the same D-28 that Martin builds today. If you want that iconic D-28, you’re going to have to buy a vintage guitar, go through the Custom Shop, or buy an Authentic.
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