Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe

[Troubador]

Anyone have any experience with the Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe? In the Comments section on some Youtube videos, some have said that it sounds brighter to them than other Martin dreads -- more like a Taylor. I think I can hear that, too, on the Youtube clips. Just wondered what others here thought. Thanks.

[EZYPIKINS]

Interesting, Have been looking at 000-28 MD's online.

If they too. sound like a Taylor, I should look elsewhere.

[mcduffnw]

Originally Posted by Troubador

Anyone have any experience with the Martin D-28 Modern Deluxe? In the Comments section on some Youtube videos, some have said that it sounds brighter to them than other Martin dreads -- more like a Taylor. I think I can hear that, too, on the Youtube clips. Just wondered what others here thought. Thanks.

Call Maury's Music good sir...Maury will shoot it to you straight on that Q {;-)


duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[llew]

While I've never played a Modern Deluxe model I have found that in videos (and I know that's not really how they should be judged) that compare the MD to the Standard model, I always prefer the voicing of the Standard models better. The MD's do sound a little brighter to me with a lesser bass response. But again...that's on YT videos not in person. Best to A/B them if you can find a shop that has both. Best of luck to you!

[lowrider]

I have not played a D-28 MD, but I have played a D-18 MD and a Standard D-18 back to back to back to back

The MD was brighter than the Standard but it was all Martin. It DID NOT sound at all like a Taylor. I liked it a lot!

[llew]

Originally Posted by lowrider

I have not played a D-28 MD, but I have played a D-18 MD and a Standard D-18 back to back to back to back

The MD was brighter than the Standard but it was all Martin. It DID NOT sound at all like a Taylor. I liked it a lot!

I agree...I can't believe any of the MD's would come close to sounding like a Taylor? Lots of structural differences between the MD and Standard D-28 as well. So even though they are both D-28 models they are more (to me) of a contrast rather than a comparison?

[Troubador]

Originally Posted by llew

While I've never played a Modern Deluxe model I have found that in videos (and I know that's not really how they should be judged) that compare the MD to the Standard model, I always prefer the voicing of the Standard models better. The MD's do sound a little brighter to me with a lesser bass response. But again...that's on YT videos not in person. Best to A/B them if you can find a shop that has both. Best of luck to you!

I considered getting a MD, but I preferred the HD-28 -- based solely on those videos, though. Wish I could play them in person, side-by-side. Actually, while I'm wishing, I wish there was a store close to me that had all the high-end and mid-range Martins, Gibsons, Guilds, Larrivees, Furch, and others. I would be in heaven.

Some people were thinking that the MD bridge, pins, and titanium truss rod made the MD sound somewhat brighter. I seriously considered getting the MD, would have liked the wood binding, etc., but finally decided against it.

[martingitdave]

They don't sound like Taylors at all. I had two of them at one time. Videos do not do them justice. Imagine you took a new HD-28 and imagine that it was a smile face on the old graphic EQ stereo systems. Now boost the highs and the lows a little more and turn the volume up one notch. That's the modern deluxe. The HD-28 turned up to "11". The penultimate D-28 from Martin. The next step up is the Authentic series which is excellent (as good or better than the boutique builders and cheaper) if you have the budget.

[Troubador]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

They don't sound like Taylors at all. I had two of them at one time. Videos do not do them justice. Imagine you took a new HD-28 and imagine that it was a smile face on the old graphic EQ stereo systems. Now boost the highs and the lows a little more and turn the volume up one notch. That's the modern deluxe. The HD-28 turned up to "11". The penultimate D-28 from Martin. The next step up is the Authentic series which is excellent (as good or better than the boutique builders and cheaper) if you have the budget.

Thank you for that perspective; that is a very helpful description. When I was still searching, I thought I could afford a used MD, if I could find the right price. I might regret not getting one, but I do like the HD-28 very much. I didn't have the budget to consider the Authentic series.

[Troubador]

In this video, I prefer the HD-28:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32SO24jxRds

In both of the following videos, I also prefer the HD-28:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-sgK_Z51TU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r-WkMamM2U

So, I guess I made the right decision, for me, in getting the HD-28. But I do like that maple binding on the Modern Deluxe. And if I had an extra $4000 or so lying around, I might get it.

If I had to choose between the Authentic and the Modern Deluxe, that would be a difficult choice for me.

I have to say that after sampling guitars from a good many different companies, Martin is still my favorite.

[theghostwriter]

From what I understand, it's mostly the VTS top and hide glue construction that make the difference.

While the 000-14F custom shop in this video isn't a modern deluxe, it is constructed with a VTS top and hide glue, and Chris goes into explaining some on how that affects the sound: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEYQnbDehDo

[martingitdave]

Originally Posted by Troubador

In this video, I prefer the HD-28:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32SO24jxRds

In both of the following videos, I also prefer the HD-28:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-sgK_Z51TU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r-WkMamM2U

So, I guess I made the right decision, for me, in getting the HD-28. But I do like that maple binding on the Modern Deluxe. And if I had an extra $4000 or so lying around, I might get it.

If I had to choose between the Authentic and the Modern Deluxe, that would be a difficult choice for me.

I have to say that after sampling guitars from a good many different companies, Martin is still my favorite.

There is no downside to the HD-28, if that's what you bought. The "sound in your head" is what you need to go for. And, making your HD-28 a little more "high-fi" with the Modern Deluxe isn't going to be for everybody. In fact, if my local dealers are any indicator the HD-28 sells 20:1 to the Modern Deluxe. I think people just love the trusty HD-28.

[llew]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

There is no downside to the HD-28, if that's what you bought. The "sound in your head" is what you need to go for. And, making your HD-28 a little more "high-fi" with the Modern Deluxe isn't going to be for everybody. In fact, if my local dealers are any indicator the HD-28 sells 20:1 to the Modern Deluxe. I think people just love the trusty HD-28.

I agree...along with the D-18 and D-28. This video really made me think about what more you'd need from a dread after listening to it...

[Sadie-f]

Based on the Maury's clip, I like the MD by a pretty small margin When listening with $1000 worth of 32 bit headphone amp & reference headphones

Listening with my $120 ATH-m40x HPs, I can still hear the difference, with a fair edge to the HD-28 sounding better.

It's not the first time that I've seen this sort of difference based on listening signal chain.

[Troubador]

Originally Posted by martingitdave

There is no downside to the HD-28, if that's what you bought. The "sound in your head" is what you need to go for. And, making your HD-28 a little more "high-fi" with the Modern Deluxe isn't going to be for everybody. In fact, if my local dealers are any indicator the HD-28 sells 20:1 to the Modern Deluxe. I think people just love the trusty HD-28.

I bought a HD-28 Ambertone from a shop in New Hampshire, to replace the one I sold.