Martin HD 28

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 06:03 AM

There's a bunch of reasons why Martin choose plastic pins. You can choose any one and be just as right as the next man. You could say it's part of Martin's history, or that it keeps costs down (for buyer AND seller) or you could say it's to protect the bridge when shipping worldwide. Arguably you'd be right.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 05:09 AM

Maury's Music actually!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Hemru
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 05:01 AM

Others DO follow that theory Ray and Mary's Music may serve as an example. Stock Martin pins ARE inexpensive and that WILL also be a consideration for Martin.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 13 Nov 19 - 04:10 AM

If you believe that ...........! Why does no-one else follow that theory? I suggest that the real reason, given the number of guitars they churn out, is because it’s cheaper, they’re just as good and they can sell ones in different materials as an “upgrade”.

It’s generally accepted that low humidity is the main problem and, except in very cold snowy/frosty winter periods, that’s not something we generally suffer from in the UK.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henryt
Date: 12 Nov 19 - 02:22 PM

Ship not shop!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 12 Nov 19 - 02:17 PM

One of the reasons Martin shop worldwide with plastic pins in their guitars is because the material is ibhert - won't swell and damage the bridge in high humidity. Same is true of bone. But wood pins, now they're different.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 12 Nov 19 - 12:45 PM

Like abalone bindings, bridge pins are entirely cosmetic so you pays your money and takes your choice. Personally, whilst I could easily afford it, I wouldn’t pay £99 for any set of pins.

Their only function is to stop the ball end of the string from slipping out of the notch in the bridge plate. They don’t need to be forced into the hole and if you need some sort of tool to get them out you’re pushing them in too hard.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 12 Nov 19 - 11:39 AM

Thanks. I see Martin has introduced Liquid Metal bridge pins. They're not cheap but seem to be popular. Not so much a tone-changer as brass as they seem to be an alloy. From £99 I believe. If ever you'd want to imagine an improvement...!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 12 Nov 19 - 10:35 AM

In my “limited” experience; my Martin still has the bendy plastic ones it came with in 1974, bridge pin material can have very little influence on the sound of an instrument.

The main aspect to consider is weight so if you replace plastic with bone or wood, you’d be hard pressed to tell the difference. On the other hand, if you replace wood/bone/plastic with brass, you’re likely to increase the guitar’s top end. (This is commonly done to add weight to the bridge of an instrument which has had the bridge reduced in height, and consequently weight, to ward off the need of a neck reset.)

Now if you replace a cheap set of pins with an expensive set, that is definitely going to make you think the sound has been improved!!!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 12 Nov 19 - 06:48 AM

Does anyone know if the Antique Acoustic bridge pins are worth the extra cost? Are they more durable than, say, the stock Martin plastic? Does bridge pin material matter? Can YOU hear a difference?

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 11 Nov 19 - 10:02 AM

Ordered a set of Bob Colosi bone pins with lettered inlay. They spell "MARTIN" - assuming you put then in the right order! I thought it might add an X factor when gigging!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 10 Nov 19 - 12:17 PM

It's a very nice guitar though. I knew string height at the first fret was a little too high but I still bought it because of tone. Another HD28 wouldn't sound the same and the nut can always be sorted. Thanks for the input :)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Nov 19 - 11:49 AM

If all the strings are too high, the simpler solution is to take the nut off (give it a sharp tap on the end with a drift after removing the strings) and filing the bottom down. Glue it back on to the end of the fretboard and not the whole nut-slot. Just a dab will do - some people don’t even bother with glue, the strings should hold it in place.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 10 Nov 19 - 07:40 AM

If one has time on their side, the sawing of the strung slots will be during string changes will lower the first fret string height. In fact, the the time it would take will vary according to breakage angle.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 10 Nov 19 - 04:26 AM

Every new intsrument I’ve ever bought has has a high nut, presumably on the basis that it’s easier to shave some off than to put some on, but it’s actually quite easy to build one up. I have a 1915 Gibson mandolin that needed the nut raising by a miniscule amount and I simply stuck two layers of sticky backed paper beneath it. You wouldn’t want to shim a bridge with sticky paper but it’s fine for a nut.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 09 Nov 19 - 03:18 PM

Although the Martin is loud, intonation is good and it sounds great, action at the first fret is a bit higher than I'd like. I've no guitar setup skills so I'm forced again to look for someone who has. It'll probably be Dave King.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henru
Date: 09 Nov 19 - 04:41 AM

Interesting. I like anything that has good playability and makes a lot of noise! The J200 made the noise but it was forever in the hands of techs - just wouldn't behave. It went to Charlie Chandler and was Plekked. THAT wasn't cheap, but no good - still temperamental!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 09 Nov 19 - 04:19 AM

To be honest, I’m not a great fan of modern Martin guitars - the one I referred to above cost me a whopping £190 in 9174! - but, if it works for you, fine. I prefer something which has been through a luthier’s hands which is probably why I’ve ended up with Santa Cruz - three of them to be precise. The ‘74 Martin comes out occasionally but I need to do some work on the frets. Other than those, I maninly play mandolin nowadays.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 08 Nov 19 - 06:29 PM

My guitar now is a 2018 Martin HD28 Re-imagined. I've had a J200, J45, Hummingbirds and a D35 and an HD35. But this thing sounds as big as a barn! :)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 08 Nov 19 - 10:24 AM

This sort of work never IS cheap! But if it's a good job, it's done what you wanted and you're happy with it, you're sorted. Glad it worked for you.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 08 Nov 19 - 09:46 AM

They probbaly fill chips with a brush rather than a spray. In my case, there wasn’t much to do but it covered a wide area - the finish hadn’t adhered to part of the binding and a fair bit of it had been sanded back to the wood. The job wasn’t cheap but you can’t see the join - it cost me more than I paid for my first Martin guitar!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 08 Nov 19 - 05:23 AM

To be clear, the partial refinish they did for you? Probably done by their sprayer. They currently do small jobs (Chips say) themselves. They're thinking of doing it all.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry's is
Date: 08 Nov 19 - 04:58 AM

They say they CAN do it themselves but it depends on the amount of work. A big job they would send to their sprayer. They are thinking of providing the service themselves. Hope this helps :)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 08 Nov 19 - 04:38 AM

I'll solve this Ray - I'll call them up and THEY can decide if they send guitars out to be nitro coated. I know they do custom builds and they talk about a "hot booth" where they do finishing. I'll update shortly :)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 07 Nov 19 - 05:50 PM

The other problem is that nitro. needs umpteen coats which, unless you use the catalysed stuff, has to be left to cure for several weeks before it’s cut back and buffed out. The last thing you need in a busy repair workshop is a dozen guitars hanging around waiting to cure. It’s a different matter if you’re building guitars - finishing is part of the process.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Hemry
Date: 07 Nov 19 - 03:22 PM

If they do, I was never aware of it. Could be they do. I found them because I'd had bad repairs done by techs much closer to home. I was forced to look further afield. I had a Gibson at the time and Steve Curtis is an authorised repairer for them.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 07 Nov 19 - 01:38 PM

Steve Curtis was the person I dealt with. Nitro. spraying is a pretty specialised job which requires a dedicated, dust proof and temperature controled space. I think you’ll find they send it out.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 06 Nov 19 - 03:33 PM

I'm pretty sure they do all work themselves Ray. There's Steve, Phil and John. Steve owns the business.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 12:41 PM

Don’t bother to try to find Alan Marshall; he’s retired. I can also recommend The Guitar Workshop (or whoever they send their finishing jobs out to). They did an excellent partial refinish on a guitar of mine in six weeks that Alan had been thinking about for over four years!

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 11:42 AM

I'd always gone to The Guitar Repair Workshop. A few gripes but mostly the work was good. But I'll give Dave King A try. Thanks guys, sorry to learn about Betsy :)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 11:20 AM

It didn't register what you meant Nick. My apologies sir. Good to know about Dave King though as I have a Martin needing some attention

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 11:07 AM

I think you’re correct, Nick. Pretty certain, in fact.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 11:06 AM

Too late? Story of my life! Cheers Backwoodsman :)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Nick
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 10:51 AM

I'm sorry to say that Betsy is no longer with us and may perhaps have taken up playing the harp

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 10:46 AM

You’re twelve years late, Henry.

And, as a PSA, Dave King at Kingsclere is the sole U.K. Martin Authorised Service Centre. Top-notch work.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Henry
Date: 04 Nov 19 - 09:21 AM

Betsy, if you can, take him along to The Guitar Repair Workshop in PMT Manchester. Steve will sort him right out. Stay well :)


:)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Oct 07 - 09:39 AM

Alan Marshall, the luthier of Northworthy guitars let me into a secret a few weeks back. If I'd known it about 15 years ago it would have saved me getting rid of a perfect Martin D35 that wouldn't stay in tune. That bastard guitar made look an idiot in front of an audience just once too often.

Alan told me this, 95% of tuning problems can be sorted out with two things

1) get a nut where the size of the slots has been worked out with micrometer - dedicated to the strings you use.

2) Get some one who REALLY knows what they're doing to choose the pegs and make the holes the right size - so that the strings seat right.

I'm sure people will disagree, but he's a really good guitar maker and he knows a lot, and sees a lot of guitars. Worth a try before you chuck out that Martin.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 10:18 PM

I have a 1977 HD 28 which I bought new, I had it set up after about 2 years and had a new nut and saddle made from bone. It has played great ever since and stays in tune for weeks at a time, over the years it has only had one other small set up and is now due for another.

One other problem many people have had with these guitars is a small crack in the top from the pickguard to the bridge, mine has not had this problem but know of quite a few that have.

Stick with it, I'm sure it can be fixed and when it is you'll have a wonderful instrument.

Bob.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: GUEST,Alan Kershaw
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:47 PM

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Betsy
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 06:26 PM

Regarding the recent posts - one of the Yamaha's I mentioned has a graphite nut.'Twas fitted by a guy in Holland ages ago.
I have PM'd Georgie Porgie as requested but he? has not got back to me yet.The type of language he used suggested he lived in my part of the world in N.E. England and I thought he may have a local solution.
(Ongoing).

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 04:06 PM

You can get powdered graphite and also a white powdered silicon lubricant, both intended to lubricate locks, called "Lock-eze" - and I have used them but they are a pretty temporary measure.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Cool Beans
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 02:57 PM

Hey, hey, hey! I'm from Detroit. How dare you impugn the Motor City? We do do not make "Friday cars." We make Monday cars. (You know, after a weekend of drunken carousing...)

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: van lingle
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:36 AM

Right you are, Roj, thanks. I've always used a #2 pencil ( that's a soft one here in the U.S.) ground over the nut slots before placing on a new string. You can also obtain graphite powder at auto parts stores and now I see Stewart-MacDonald is selling Guitar Grease as a lubricant and GHS has also got something on the market.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Roj
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 11:17 AM

only if it's a soft pencil - hard pencils stuff china clay into the slots which grinds and causes buzzing

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: van lingle
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 09:46 AM

Grinding a bit of pencil lead into the nut slots helps the strings glide easier. Let us know how things work out. Cheers

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: brother
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 07:15 AM

Hi
It's just a thought but have you thought of Nigel Stockbridge in Richmond?
Trevor

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 29 Oct 07 - 05:41 AM

WEll one of the first things Marc Challinor did to my D28 was to ream out the peg holes to make the pegs fit better. He says that nearly all Martins suffer from a poor fit in this respect. He also said that they all need setting up when you first buy them, as Martin ship them with a fairly high action so you can adjust to suit yourself.
Giok

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Louie Roy
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 08:59 PM

I agree with roj.The first thing I'd do is relieve the nut slots.I had the same problem a few years back and I found two things the first was the nut slots and the second was a poor set of string tighteners which I replaced with a good set and no more trouble and it saved me a bunch of money

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Betsy
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 08:35 PM

I've just come back in tonight and overwhelmed with the replies - Don I don't honestly know what Mini Schallers are , so forgive me.
I'll send a PM to Georgie Porgie.
Thanks to "Giok" - that's geographically possible.
Thanks to Roj, vanlingle and Mudchick, I'm taking every bit of advice on board.
Thanks to Seaking, but as Richard pointed out Colchester is not an easy trip. Also Richard in trying to be helpful and I can feel his
concern as asked me more questions than I can answer only to say Richard,that the "click" does occur on the 3rd string which can't be eradicated by nail file on the nut to assist the angel of string entrance.I can also pull every pin from it's hole with my fingers they're not jammed in .
Thanks also to bobad, bubblyrat, redsnapper and Bru and hope we all took on board what Richard said... "Martin treat non-US purchasers as second class citizens and does not give them the lifetime warranty that US first purchasers get".
I'll get there in the end ,it really is the most beautiful thing you have ever played - when IT feels like it then it leaves me after a few minutes.
Apart from all the intelligent advice you have all given - you wouldn't believe how many duff opinions I have been given about this and that - and I've been playing for 40 years !! so I DO value everything you have all written
Thanks again to all - hope I didn't miss anyone, and will keep you all abreast of the outcome.

Subject: RE: Martin HD 28
From: Bru
Date: 28 Oct 07 - 02:39 PM

They may not be in your area, but I took my Martin 12 stringer to KGB Guitars in the Pacific Art Centre, Birkenhead. Reasonable price, too. The Martin never sounded so good.
I was so impressed with their work I took my 40 year old Epiphone 12 stringer for an overhaul, and I'm very fussy who messes about with that guitar. It came back better than it's ever been since I bought it 40 years ago.
Fast, friendly, reasonably priced, expert service - with a large tidy, brilliantly equipped workshop. On the strength of the work they've done for me, I'd recommend them to anybody.