NGD - 2015 Martin HD-28

SteveF

Well, not quite NGD, this was a couple of weeks ago but I didn't get around to posting yet.  Went into PMT Northampton for a look at 'nice' acoustics and tried pretty much everything they had.  Most of their new medium-high end stuff was Taylor and this second hand HD-28 blew them all out of the park, to my ears at least.  I expected to walk out with a Taylor as I've always liked the look of them but I found everything very bright sounding, while this felt much more rounded tone-wise, with a much nicer bass end. 

Funny how you can have your own pre-conceived opinions that turn out to be wrong.  I absolutely didn't think I liked dreadnoughts, in terms of size or sound, but this has completely turned me round. 

Has a couple of very minor dings on the headstock, but nothing really noticeable unless you're looking for it.  It has a lovely satin neck and seems to have been played in nicely. 

Very happy to have spent significantly less than I had planned/expected too, which helped fund a tele that I wasn't expecting to be able to buy until later in the year at the earliest  

Tone71

Very nice.

RandallFlagg

Beauty. With the better neck profile and nut width than the current Reimagined Stds as well.

SteveF

RandallFlagg said:

Beauty. With the better neck profile and nut width than the current Reimagined Stds as well.

Oh, what have they done with the new ones?  Thinner?

TheOtherDennis

Very nice.

Brize

SteveF said:

RandallFlagg said:

Beauty. With the better neck profile and nut width than the current Reimagined Stds as well.

Oh, what have they done with the new ones?  Thinner?

The nut width has increased from 1 11/16 to 1 3/4 and the neck has got slightly bigger.

SteveF

Does 1/16 make much difference?  I do like the neck profile, I must admit, it's very comfortable. 

Andy79

The HD28 continually surprises people. Well done. Looks great 

Brize

SteveF said:

Does 1/16 make much difference?  I do like the neck profile, I must admit, it's very comfortable. 

Oh Christ yes. I'm not a fan myself - I prefer the 1 11/16 nut that you have on your guitar.

SteveF

It seems such a tiny amount!   

Brize

SteveF said:

It seems such a tiny amount!   

Yeah, it's nuts. Anyway, congrats on a fantastic guitar - I love Martin dreads.

RandallFlagg

SteveF said:

RandallFlagg said:

Beauty. With the better neck profile and nut width than the current Reimagined Stds as well.

Oh, what have they done with the new ones?  Thinner?

Yes, new ones have the 1 3/4" nut width rather than 1 11/16" and the neck carve fells less round to me. I have a 2018 Reimagined HD28 and have adjusted but slightly preferred the fuller more rounded neck on the older models.

stickyfiddle

Good GAS

HD28s are brilliant and I'll never ever sell mine. They just nail the sound of an "acoustic guitar" from basically every classic recording ever

markj

Lovely guitar, hope you enjoy it as much as I do with my HD28 reimagined. Have fun auditioning various different makes of strings. My favourite for mine is Curt Mangan PB 13’s.

SteveF

markj said:

Lovely guitar, hope you enjoy it as much as I do with my HD28 reimagined. Have fun auditioning various different makes of strings. My favourite for mine is Curt Mangan PB 13’s.

I'm currently on Martin Lifespan PB 12s.  I have a few sets of standard Martin Acoustic 12s too, but might try a few other brands after that.