I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]

Subject: BS: I bought the perfect HD28
From: Raptor
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 08:17 AM

Whe else here has a martin?

Subject: RE: BS: I bought the perfect HD28
From: maeve
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 09:01 AM

Good for you, Raptor! That's a wonderful way to celebrate! I hope someone will lift your thread up to the music section so you'll have other Martin owners chiming in.

Maeve

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 09:34 AM

I have two.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 09:35 AM

Congratulations, Raptor! What are you going to play on it?

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 09:40 AM

I have some WD40, does that count?


RtS

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28
From: olddude
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 09:49 AM

A wonderful guitar and 40 years later, still a wonderful guitar. Mine has been with me through thick and thin ...

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: PoppaGator
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 05:06 PM

As mentined elsewhere (once today, in fact, in a different thread) I have a D-18, bought new in 1969. Who could ask for anything more?

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Raptor
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 05:13 PM

I'm gonna play a lot of Jimmy Buffet on it lately. (i'm on a parrothead kick)

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: PHJim
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 07:16 PM

The HDs are boomers.

I have a '62 D-21. I bought it 33 years ago and I love it. I love it. I think I'll throw it a 50th birthday party next year. Shhhhhhh, it's gonna be a surprise party.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 07:43 PM

Still happy with my (From New)1970 D35

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: open mike
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 08:54 PM

is this the one that was offered for sale here a day or two ago?
I have a d-35-s and have started a facebook page just for those
who own that model....enjoy!

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: open mike
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 09:48 PM

oh,the one for sale in the UK is an HD 35
http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=139582&messages=14
congrats on your new baby, raptor.
have you checked out jimmy buffet's margaritaville radio?
http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Crowhugger
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 10:05 PM

I'm delighted for you! My mother played a small Martin all her adult life, an early 1950s 000-18 that had a resonant and bright sound with D'Addario lights on it. More expensive strings just made it thud. Thanks for the sweet reminder of her playing and singing!

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 04:20 AM

"oh,the one for sale in the UK is an HD 35"

It is - it's nice and it's on E-Bay right now.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 09:10 AM

I love margaritaville radio I listen via sat. radio

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: GUEST,Doug Saum
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 11:42 AM

I've played Martin since I was a young man. I've owned a couple of D-35's, and a 000-18; I now have a D-76, D-41 (1974), and a Custom shop Dreadnaught (Tree of Life). The only one I have set up to record with is the D-41. Does anyone find issues with the intonation of 1970's Martins? I once played a pre-war (Am Civil War)Martin made in New York and it was still beautiful (though the colors had long since faded), light weight, and sounded fine. Elegantly built.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 11:47 AM

"Does anyone find issues with the intonation of 1970's Martins?"

It's part of Martin-Lore that there was a problem with bridge-placement (or maybe the saddle-angle) on some Martins built in the 70's. I know of one or two luthiers who have had Martins in for bridge/saddle alterations to correct this fault.

If you have one with such a problem, if you're the original owner and it was purchased in the USA, it might be worth talking to CFM customer services about a warranty repair.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 01:14 PM

Hi, PHJim

I like your idea of the 50th birthday party for your guitar.

I had a 100th birthday party for my piano. We had a simple dinner, then several people played the piano. Everything from a girl with Down syndrome, who played a little folksong, to two professional players who did Beethoven and Chopin.

a party like this is a good way to get people together to make music.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Brian May
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 02:15 PM

I have 3.

12 string Dreadnought (D12-28)

6 string Dreadnought (D-28)

6 string Auditorium (000-28)

They're all good and I'm both happy and impressed with them.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: lefthanded guitar
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 02:50 PM

I only got a Martin a couple of years ago, after years of playing lesser guitars, and I am, as the old bluemen said:
SATISFIED!!!!

COMPLETELY!!!


Nothing better than a Martin guitar, as far as I'm concerned, the depth, the lingering tone, the resonance and most of all (SORELY lacking from Taylors jmho) the WARMTH. Mine even smells good, like a whiff of the wind in the green, dark forest.

Congrats.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 02:58 PM

Here is one of the earliest Martin threads here and at the top of THIS THREAD (click) you will find a shitload of other threads discussing (and sometimes dissing) Martin.

Good to know you got one......Try not to crash it into a wall......................


Spaw

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: GUEST,TomC
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 07:13 PM

I have a 000C-16 and a D-16GT, both 21st Century models. Love them both. I work in a music store that has a 1966 D-35 with Brazilian Rosewood for $4999. Killer guitar.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Amos
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 07:43 PM

Well done, Raptor. As you can see, these guitars bring out deep affection (and bragging rights) in their owners. May you have years and years of joy from it!

Out of politeness, I will not carry on about my.... never mind.

A

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Raptor
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:48 AM

Thanks Spaw I spit cornflakes all over the keyboard this moprning.

What stirngs are you guys putting on your martins? I called martin and they told me to use lifespan sp's on her.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 11:57 AM

MSP 4200 on the HD-28V, MSP 4100 on the OM-28 Marquis.

The Lifespan's last about 50% longer than MSPs for me, so not an economical proposition. But they sound better than any other coated string I've tried (Elixir in various forms, and D'Addhorribles).

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:03 PM

I was over to Raptor's place last week and played that HD-28. It's a really good one, brand new, so the spruce top is very pale in color. My favorite guitar is my 2003 HD-28 which is the one I usually take to gigs, song circles, etc. I also have a Martin SWJGT which is a jumbo body guitar with cherrywood back and sides. Very nice mellow sound and lovely to play, but it can't match the HD-28 for volume and depth. Then there's the one from the custom shop. It's technically a 00-28V, but has no model number on the block, because it was built on special order for someone (who that someone was remains a mystery, but it's mine now). The 00-28 is quite a small guitar, but it sounds lovely. It's ideal for fingerpicking, sounds pretty good for strumming too.

Various other Martins have come and gone over the years, but those are the ones I have at the present time. Overall I still like Martins the best on average. I have played some Taylors that are very, very good. It just depends which one, that's all. Most of them don't have the depth and warmth of a Martin, but some do. Collings guitars are also very, very good.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Silas
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:12 PM

I use elixirs - I used to put 12's on , but a pal who has a D41 swears by 13's. So I tried them and wow, the difference it made. Apparantly Martin reccomend 13's on these guitars. There is a slight amount of bellying which concerned me at first, but now I just live with it.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 12:32 PM

The bigger guitars like the dreadnoughts are braced strongly enough to use medium gauge strings, and they do sound better with them. D-28s and HD-28s come from the Martin factory with mediums (13s) on. I always use mediums on the HD-28 and it definitely improves the sound over lights.

On the SWJGT and the 00-28, however, I use lights, because those guitars were not built to take mediums.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:05 PM

"There is a slight amount of bellying which concerned me at first, but now I just live with it."

Silas, there should be a slight rise in the top - apart from anything else, Martins are built with a radiused top - it's perfectly normal. If you place a straight-edge across the lower (i.e. big) bout behind the bridge, it should not touch the edges of the bout on both sides at the same time. The gap should be less than 1/2" (total of both sides added together). If it's more, it might be worth having it checked by a luthier, could indicate a loose brace or the instrument may be over-humidified.

If the top is flat, or if it's sunken in the centre, it's very likely dehydrated (which is very bad and can lead to cracking). Humidification would be necessary in that case.

Martin Dreads are supplied from the workshop with Lifespan Mediums fitted (13-56). IMHO, anything lighter will not produce sufficient energy to drive the top properly, but that's only my opinion, others may differ and that's fine by me.

Subject: RE: I bought the perfect HD28 [Martin]
From: PoppaGator
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 03:27 PM

I always use 13s ("mediums") on my D-18.

For a few years in the early 70s, when I was playing on the street for ridiculously long hours, I bought "heavy" guage bronze strings in hopes that they'd last longer without breaking. However, I always preferred the sound of mediums and have never used any other weight, neither lighter nor heavier, since retiring from the streetcorner. I'm not sure anyone even makes "heavies" any more ~ never see 'em in stores, nor even on-line.

For the last year or so, after years of allegiance to Phosphor Bronze as my preferred material for strings, I've switched to Red Brand copper-bronze 13s. Great warm sound (to my ears, on my guitar, anyway).