My wife bought me a gift for our wedding anniversary that cut me right at the knees. It is what I consider the embodiment of guitar perfection. I have been coveting this guitar for a very long time. I recently got to play it at the Martin factory.
What makes this gift so much more sentimental is that we are (for many reasons) in absolutely no position to make these kinds of expenses at this moment. She pulled a few extra shifts just to be able to get this for me. Sigh.
She has been the only, real pillar of support that I have been leaning on, in the path to my newly-discovered "Personal Legend".
Here is the guitar porn...
The specifications:
- MODEL HD-28VS
- CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
- BODY SIZE: D-12 Fret
- TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
- ROSETTE: Style 28
- TOP BRACING PATTERN: Standard "X" Scalloped
- TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16''
- BACK MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- BACK PURFLING: HD Zig Zag
- SIDE MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- ENDPIECE: Grained Ivoroid
- ENDPIECE INLAY: Black/White Boltaron
- BINDING: Grained Ivoroid
- TOP INLAY STYLE: Bold Herringbone
- SIDE INLAY: none
- BACK INLAY: Black/White Boltaron
- NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
- NECK SHAPE: Modified V
- NUT MATERIAL: Bone
- HEADSTOCK: Slotted/Square Slots/ Diamond/Square Taper
- HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Small Old Style Logo
- HEELCAP: Grained Ivoroid
- FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
- SCALE LENGTH: 25.4"
- # OF FRETS CLEAR: 12
- # OF FRETS TOTAL: 19
- FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-3/4''
- FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-1/4''
- FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Diamonds & Squares - Long Pattern
- FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
- FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss
- FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss w/ Aging Toner
- FINISH NECK: Satin
- BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
- BRIDGE STYLE: Vintage Belly w/ Drop-in Long Saddle
- BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2-1/4''
- SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Bone- Drop In Long Saddle
- TUNING MACHINES: Waverly Nickel Side Mounts w/ Butterbean Knobs
- RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin SP 4200 Medium Phosphor Bronze
- BRIDGE & END PINS: White w/ Tortoise Colored Dots
- PICKGUARD: Tortoise Color
- CASE: 540 Geib style
- INTERIOR LABEL: none
- ELECTRONICS: Optional
- OTHER OPTIONS: Available left-handed at no additional charge
When I first played an HD-28 I was taken aback. It stood so far above the other Martins. The specific bracing that it is used in it produces an unbelievable sound. Many people believe that the only difference between an HD-28 and a D-28 is the ("H") herringbone inlay. This is not true. Tony from Music Villa explains this much better than I ever could:
I am not much for pizzazz. But this guitar has just enough. The combination of the HD-28 sound, with some of the aesthetic features that appeal to me, is really what attracts me: the sloped-shoulder dreadnought, the slotted headstock, the soft-shaped V-neck.
Bliss.
Thanks J, I love you.
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