Martin Guitar Scalloped Braces For Sale (Jan 2023 Update)

After playing guitar for almost 50 years, I finally obtained a job that afforded me the opportunity to purchase, what has turned out to be, the best sounding guitar I've owned. She is so responsive to how you play, dig in for more volume, ease up for someone else's lead.. she does not disappoint. I'm in awe every time I play it. Even my picking buddies are blow away by her. Saddle was a little high, but after a good set up, she plays like she sounds…beautiful.Paul

The box arrived that was originally sealed with big copper staples by Martin. I carefully opened the box, removed the case with guitar. I open the case not knowing what to expect as it was bought sight unseen. I open the case and was immediately hit with the smell of rosewood while my eyes gazed upon a gorgeous flawless work of art. I removed the guitar, tuned it up and was swept away with the huge, harmonically-rich tone. The action was absolutely perfect out of the case (low). It was so comfortable to play I thought the strings were light gauge 11's, but a micrometer confirmed they were medium 13's. The only thing I will swap out is the bridge pins and end piece. They are plastic. I will replace them with bone or titanium. If you do the same, make sure that the taper is 5 degrees, size 2A. This is not my first Martin. I've had a D-28 and D-35S. The last time I owned one was in 1985. The great quality is still the same. What a great guitar from a great company!Mike McLenison

In 1974 a friend of mine got a '65 Brazilian rosewood HD-35 for Christmas. I have wanted one ever since. I have played for 50 years and owned many fine instruments, all the names you know. IMHO this is the BEST acoustic guitar made by anyone! It's drop-dead beautiful, sounds extremely deep and rich, plays like butter, and being all-solid-wood, ages very well. Truthfully it is also a source of great pride of ownership, always recognized by those who are "in the know" about fine guitars. It IS expensive (and how!) but worth every penny. I suggest waiting for the 48-month, no-interest financing.Clint C.

I decided to wait until the honeymoon period was over (4 mos) to write a review. I've now come to the realization that it's not going to end. I've been playing for about 50 years, and over the past 10 or so have thoroughly enjoyed splitting time between my Taylor and Washburn. No more! This Martin is easily the most amazing guitar I've ever played. The combination of sound, size, and playability make it very hard to put down. I've been primarily a flat picker all my life, but this guitar begs to be fingerpicked, and I'm happily obliging! Simply put, an outstanding instrument.Jeff

I have been wanting this model for a few years. I knew what I wanted from playing these in stores. I finally bought one from MF. When it arrived I unboxed it and opened the case. Wow these are beautiful guitars. As soon as I started playing I was disappointed. The guitar did not sound like the ones I had played in stores. This on had a muddy small sound. This is not what I expect from spruce and rosewood. Now I am out the shipping cost to return the item. I think I learned a few good lessons here. Always play the guitar you are buying in person. Each and every acoustic guitar has its own sound, no matter how well they are built.dillon

I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and have always loved the sound of Martin guitars. I prefer a "V" shaped neck which is rare these days. I decided to finally purchase a Martin, and decided on this model to get the modified "V" neck. The action and feel are outstanding, and the sound is everything I would expect from Martin. The details and finish are exceptional. I have several guitars, and this one just became my go to acoustic.Mike

Overall: Original unopened uninspected by zZounds, in the heavy duty box from Martin. Mine was packed well enough, but still a little surprised how little bubble pack it had, or needed. The guitar seems perfect, no blemishes, straight neck, just beautiful. Rings like a bell despite needing a set up. Saddle has tons of room to sand down to most anyone’s preferred height/action. Nut seems like it’s in similar ready to set up condition. But even out of the box it sounds absolutely great and isn’t terrible to play. The little booklet that comes with it lists features, including “non adjustable” truss rod. I hadn’t come across this in my (limited) research into D18s. Martin guitar forums are divided on it, but I think the idea is “the old ones that people worship didn’t have adjustable truss rods, so we’re following the recipe”. Fine, but why not put that in the specs too? It’s not a cheap guitar. Taking a chance on it and seeing how it does. I’ll care for it properly and if it craps out and needs a neck reset or god forbid a new neck, I’ll rant and rave about it. But for now, let’s see how it sets up!Dan

I can't say enough about this guitar. For as long as I have been a guitar player (and a Pennsylvanian, for that matter) I have known Martin guitars. They are always prominently used and sold around this area. I looked up to my idols who played them, even older players like CSN and Neil Young and Clapton. I dreamed of owning one and as a kid, I loved the white binding on dark wood, seemingly drawing me in to a D-28, which is arguably the most popular Martin ever. As a kid, I almost got a Martin DM, but ended up with a cheaper Epiphone. After college, I decided to get my first Martin Custom D Rosewood – essentially a D-28 with a mortise and tenon neck joint and a D-15 A-Frame bracing and styling – sold exclusively here on MF (and GC). It's a great value for a guitar, but had to keep it constantly humidified because of the thin-skin matte finish. It can get really dried out and in fact, was in that condition when I received it (used). Great guitar, but I was always chasing buying a brand new Martin to call my own. I played some in stores of course and always A/B'd them, but it wasn't until a factory tour that I got a real idea of the breadth that the Martin line possesses. There is the 1833 Shop there with an adjacent players room filled with a good spread of Martins of all values and construction style. I was simply playing them to see which ones spoke to me, sonically and soulfully. I played the D-28, the D-35, the D-41, the D-15, 00-15M, the CEO, a 12 string, Eric Clapton model 000-28, etc. They all had their magic I'm sure, but when I landed on the D-18, I was simply blown away. It had a completely organic and natural sound – I could literally hear the wood. It's an absolutely lovely woody tone – this sounded better than the rest to me. I also LOVE the understand design and simplicity. It's a true working man's instrument – plus it features forward shifted X-Bracing which gives a lot more bass. The new improvements are all choice! 100% my fav. acousticIan from PA

I bought this guitar last year at a locally owned music store and was happy to do so as you don't find many of them stocked at large corporately owned brick and mortar stores. When I purchased it, I fell in love with the look and overall sound of the guitar and felt I was indeed buying a piece of history. The overall materials, finish and body construction are excellent and it produces a rich tone even with older strings. However that is where the positive remarks end. The more I want to love this guitar, the more it disappoints for the simple reason that it is incredibly difficult to play. Whether this is due to a poor set up or poor fretboard construction I really can't say, but I have to put this thing down after more than after five or ten minutes of playing – it is that bad. The same is true for the D-15 I spent a pretty penny on too. How a guitar maker that's supposedly been around since 1833 can produce something this hard to play is beyond me. Older D-18s I have played are not much better as they are incredibly hard to fret and buzz incessantly. So before you spring a couple of grand for this "piece of history," reconsider something that actually plays with ease. For this reason alone, I certainly would never invest in another one of these or a D-28, D-35 etc.. that costs even more. I can name several other major brands that put this guitar to shame due to their playability but won't to avoid embarrassing the manufacturer. But I will say that Martin's quality control folks ought to check these things out before shipping them out the door. Believe me, Martin's reputation and its chances of survival depend on it.Tom R

I've bought several guitars along the way, always knowing that I wanted a Martin 000. Somehow I found myself able to get the guitar I've always wanted and I'm so happy! Why did I wait so long? First of all, Martin Guitars are very nice. VERY NICE. The best. Especially once you get into the 18 series on up. The quality and craftsmanship lives up to the reputation. Of course, all of the hard work that Martin puts into their instruments results in breathtaking sound that only a Martin Guitar can produce. As soon as I picked up the guitar I could feel the power. My first chord was an open D, my go to key anytime I pick up a guitar to try. It's something you have to feel, but all I can really say is that the sound of this 000-18 is glorious. A very round classic sound, with a bit of chime on top. This 000-18 has a wide sonic range, but mid-range focused. The mahogany has that sweet tone which is great for all styles of play. This is definitely a finger pickers dream guitar, but can handle flat picking. I also like that I can lay into this guitar and the strumming remains crisp and not muddy. Drop tunings and capo up and down the neck is near perfect! This is my all around, do it all guitar! This guitar sings. Projection, sustain, volume when you need it, it's all there! Some guitars sound boxy and cheap. Not Martin. Not this one. It actually sounds like I should have paid more. The 000-18 does not come with electronics, but that's okay. You may not want any for this guitar. At least for a while. If you're a professional gigging musician than you could add a pickup, but there could be other choices out there suitable for gigging and amplified performance. The Sitka spruce top is gorgeous. Booked perfectly with silking that I can spend forever looking at. The neck is very smooth and modern feeling. I like it because it's not too thin, but allows me to play all styles. Satin finish makes me want to play all day long. And YES. I shallJay

This guitar is simply dreamy. Warm bass, chimey trebles, overtones all day long. Quality woods and finish, beautiful classic looks, great playability. Tone is everything I'd hoped for and more. Think Neil Young Harvest, Joni, acoustic John Martyn. After the disappointment of getting a very good-sounding but obviously damaged example from another supplier, I pre-ordered from Andertons, and received the HD sooner than expected. Ups and downs. Maybe it was the ghost of the first purchase haunting me – perhaps that first one had had time to open up more. But something didn't quite gel. No problem. Within the 14-day return period it was easy to arrange for an exchange for another of the same model. A few days later the courier came to picked up the guitar and hand over my third time lucky. Very quickly I realised I was Goldilocks in this tale, and this Martin was just right. It sounds just a little better every day and I love it! Not a cheap guitar, but a competitive price from Andertons for this iconic instrument.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: Once again zZounds has pulled through for me and allowed me to purchase a Martin HD28 and play it as I pay. I'm extremely grateful that zZounds has allowed me to participate in this program and it's for this reason and the excellent customer service, that I'll never purchase any gear from any other retailer. Thank you zZounds!The Martin HD28 that I purchased can be described with just one word, amazing. I've owned many acoustics in my lifetime from every builder you can think of and I'm convinced that Martin builds the absolute best acoustic guitars. My HD28 arrived in beautiful pristine condition with no issues whatsoever. Examining the inside of my guitar, you can see no glue drops and the Guitar is super clean. Great attention was given to this instrument in all aspects of the build. The wood is absolutely beautiful and the instrument is a true work of art. This instrument sounds absolutely beautiful. She has deep lows, articulate mids and crystal clear highs. The instrument is very well balanced across it's sonic spectrum. I might add that the Guitar is very loud without having to dig in hard. I'd say it's quite the cannon with tons of color and sustain. I purchased the Martin Liquid Bridge pins, installed them and I can certainly tell the difference. It's made the guitar a bit brighter and a little louder. I'm very happy with this purchase and I definitely have a keeper.Matt

I play locally for hire as a solo acoustic guitar / vocalist. My primary guitar is a Martin GPCP Aura. I purchased the Martin SC 13E in hopes of finding a guitar with better action and playability. My first reaction to the 13E was really nice and it did play with less effort / strength than my GPCP. The first issue I noticed was string buzz on the 1st and 2nd strings. It wasn't awful but noticeable. I played the guitar that weekend at two shows. I was still noticing the buzz. So, I started the set-up investigation. The neck relief, the slight bow forward that a guitar neck needs, looked really good, maybe could use a bit more to help with the string buzz. This is an easy truss rod adjustment; however, I didn't change the truss rod setting. The next thing I looked at was the distance of the string height, above the 12th fret. My thought was I would try to lower this slightly if I decided to keep the guitar. The next weekend I got the guitar out at home before getting ready for my show that evening, to run through a new song I was planning to do at hat nights show. I took the SC13E out of the bag and the 1st and 2nd strings were touching the guitar at the 20th fret. I thought the saddle had somehow pushed down lower into the bridge…. I exchanged that guitar for another SC1E. GC person was easy to work with and got the exchange handled quickly. About 3-4 days I had my second SC13E in my hands. It also had the same string buzz, even though the neck relief and action looked good. I played a couple of shows with this guitar and then I started noticing the buzz getting worse. If you are still reading, the reward is at hand. lol I have decided that the problem with this guitar, and probably the other guitar, is the neck angle is off. I will explain why I think it is off and explain how you can check your guitar. I have watched hundreds of youtube videos trying to learn how to set-up and care for my instruments. I have watched neck adjustment videos put out by fender, for their strat guitars, because I wanted to know how to adjust my Acoustasonic Strat. But what I am getting ready to sell you, I have discovered on my own and may not be accurate, but here it goes. If I put a capo, or hold the strings down with my hand. on the 12th fret, there is a space between the strings and the frets above the 12th fret. A pretty wide gap at the 20th fret. On the SC13E the strings are almost touching and the 1st string is touching. Wa La I believe that neck angle is off. I think it was off on both guitars. So check yours before missing your return date. If you check your guitar and it has this problem, don't totally freak out. The SC13E has an adjustable neck angle, so it can be made perfect. If you find what I described above, I suggest contacting Martin Guitar and GC. Another thing to be aware of, the three Martin guitars I have owned had the nut groves cut too narrow. I took my GPCP to an excellent luthier. He filed the width and depth to correct specifications and filed down my frets (I had two that where high) Both of the SC13E guitars needed to have the nuts filed. If you are trying to tune your guitar by making a very slight turn to get it just right and the string doesn't increase pitch and then jumps to a sharp pitch, the string is probably pinching in the nut grove. Both SC13E's were boogers to tune for that reason. One of them broke the B string while tuning up from dropping the pitch. I am returning my second SC13E tomorrow and I think I am going to give it a rest for awhile. Maybe look for something different. FYI: I love my Martin GPCP Aura, unfortunately they discontinued that model. The sound I get from the Fishman Aura electronics is the best I have heard. PS: part of the reason the SC13E plays easier is they use a lighter gauge string. I put a set of the MA535T Martin Lifespan strings on mt GPCP and even with the truss rod loose, the strings don't pull on the neck hard enough to give me the neck relief that is needed. The SC13E is a beautiful guitar to look at and the electronics onboard sound very nice. I learned, I'm not a big fan of having the controls inside the sound hole. A little awkward to get to while strumming and the phase reverse switch is way back from the opening. If you like using the hole covers to fight feedback, I'm pretty sure you would be out of luck. I think this price range of acoustic guitar should come with a hard case. I gave this guitar a 2 rating because it has potential BUT i do think both of these guitars suffered from poor quality control. My luthier could have made both of these guitars sing beautifully but I refuse to buy a new guitar and send it for repairs, even if the repairs are set-up issues. A new guitar on the north side of a thousand dollars should show up playing without string buzzing and the strings close enough to the neck that you hand doesn't feel like you just hung from the monkey bars during an entire recess.Dale

This is a beautiful instrument with a stunning full acoustic sound despite the deep cut away and relatively small body size. The amazing design allows for unlimited access to the upper frets and the whole instrument feels very comfortable to play. I wanted an acoustic guitar with the accessibility of an electric and this new design from C.F.Martin delivers that in droves without ever loosing it's acoustic personality and sound. I own a super jumbo acoustic made by another company but the SC13e makes it sound dull and lifeless even before it is plugged in. The SC13e has that familiar Martin sound which is full and beautiful. The fishman pickup will then allow that sound to be delivered to anywhere from a gig in a noisy pub to full stadium if required. What a stunning instrument!Reviewed by Kenny's Music custom

Overall: I am barely into my third year playing guitar. I progressed from a Yamaha FG800 to an Epiphone Masterbilt DR500 MCE. I always wanted a Martin but I can't drop the coin for the D-18 or the D-28 that I really want, so I bought this without seeing or hearing it. I was honestly worried that a guitar with HPL back and sides could hang with an all solid wood guitar. Bad weather and the Pandemic slowed delivery down to four days via Fedex, but it is what it is. The first half hour of playing I was really wondering if I was going to like it. It took a little time to get used to that booming bottom end. But once I did, I learned to modulate it where necessary. And it plays so much smoother than my Epiphone. I am looking forward to playing with a friend who has a D-28 this summer to just compare them. Listen, I know this a made in Mexico Martin. And purists might turn their nose up. But play one and see, if like me, you think this is an amazing guitar at this price point. Heck. Now I don't know why I should keep the Epiphone. Call me a believer. The only thing i would ask Martin to do is add a nice white or black binding on this to protect the top and add a liitle flair. Heading to the Martin Website to get me a sticker for the mancave and a nice Martin ballcap. Love it.Blair

I had played this Martin D-41 some 25 years ago and was just amazed at the tonal quality and punch this artful guitar produced. Not to mention it was the most beautiful acoustic I'd ever seen. I have played several different brands and models since and nothing quite reached the level of that D-41. I longed for that guitar all those 25 years until last year. Went to my local Guitar Center and they were out of them. I ordered one and a week later it arrived. Took it out of the box and and a crowd of guitar techs gathered over her. Breathtaking look about this guitar. I was sent into a private room and played for 45 minutes just amazed at what she sounded like. The setup was very close to what I'd preferred and will never regret the expenditure for a long time dream guitar. Named her Deena!Tim

I just got my martin d16 gt from guitar center. It's used. I looked up the serial number and it was built in 2000. I was surprised that it was a 22 year old guitar. It's in remarkably good shape for something that close to being an antique.

To be fair, it looks used. There are pick scratches all over the front. A few dings…but that's because the previous owner played it…because it's an out standing instrument. The sound is phenomenal and it plays great. It still looks great even with the cosmetic imperfections.

There is very little fret wear. That was surprising considering it's age. Maybe it's been crowned? Hard to say.

It was a little boxy sounding when I took it out of the box, but it loosened up fast. I could literally hear it opening up as I played it on the first day (I played it a LOT that day).

Phenomenal guitar. Worth every penny, maybe more. Highly suggestRobert Kuhn

I've looked at a number of 12-string guitars over the years, this is the one that captured my interest. A very playable and great sounding 12-string, sounds even better when played through an amp using the internal pickups.Reviewed by Absolute Music custo

Great sounding Highs, Mids and Lows. Playability is great no buzzings and strings are nice low height. Really rings out.KB

This guitar is everything I hoped it would be. Fit and finish is flawless and after a quick string change, this thing sounds awesome! I couldn't be happier with my purchase.DAN

The Martin HD-35 is the biggest sounding acoustic ever. With scalloped bracing and the extremely resounding woods, the bottom end and sustain is massive.new_creation_labs

What is neat about these guitars is that the Special Martins are the specification of Martin CEO Chris Martin. He did an extremely nice job on the configuration, balancing standard bracing, rose tone wood, and the VTS adirondack top. The combination provides this guitar with a fantastic full spread of frequencies, separation of string tones, and the stability of standard bracing, which allows for the guitar's even responsiveness providing clarity at all volumes. Put this guitar in a nice sounding room with a good (not excellent) microphone and I cannot imagine a better way to record. If you can sing over this guitar, you will have to strain. The ability to hold tune always amazes me about Martin guitars and this guitar is no different. It is a great deal at full price, but I got mine at $1K off because someone thankfully brought it back. A sturdy plastic shelled case exactly fits the guitar. A part of me hopes they stop making this configuration so the value goes up, but then again, it should be played and mine will just go to one of my children who will enjoy it as I have.Grace

Previous reviewer spot on. Adi, VTS top, scalloped but NOT forward shifted bracing. Here is where I differ from previous reviewer. This to me has the sound of an older D-28, it just happens to be in HD-28 uniform. It projects better, is louder and you can play it hard without the notes getting muddy. Bluegrass heaven…. Just to be fair it is not as mellow sounding nor does it quite have the bottom end of an HD-28 unless you play it like you stole it (this guitar takes it) and I like that. Everyone has opinions, different likes and ears. But I consider this a wonderful guitar. It does not have open gear machine heads like the HD-28, but I do not mind closed tuners at all. The head stock has the raised foil Martin logo (nice touch that most folks may not notice). Fit and finish all MARTIN……….M. Nelms

This guitar sounds fantastic and plays great. I also own a J45, 000-18 Reimagined, and HD-28. I've owned Guilds and Taylors too. Hey Musician's Friend, the guitar in this ad is not what is shipped to customers. Just a heads up. Your ad should not feature anything about Golden Era or 1930's braced. This guitar is mid shifted and straight braced like a 1950-1970's D28. This is a significant difference in construction and voice for a very expensive instrument. Also the photo is still wrong. There is no herringbone detail on this guitar and the pickguard is black. There's also no aging toner. After emailing Martin, they've told me that this guitar has VTS Adi, center shifted straight bracing, 5/16th brace width, and the 1 11/16" nut. Great sounding guitar. Super loud and articulate. Also, Musicians Friend, you guys look really silly for goofing up an ad this bad. I told multiple sales people that this ad was wrong and they only changed the photo — to a second wrong guitar. You need to get bracing details right for a $3000+ guitar. It's really important. I feel like I lucked out with my purchase, but after interacting with your company my impression is that you are nice people who are not interested in selling world class instruments. Get ahold of me if you'd like to talk. I'm shocked that Martin is OK selling their products through a vendor who knows so little about them. I don't recommend this guitar because it's basically like buying a really expensive mystery box. The ad doesn't make sense and the photos are wrong.Tony

This guitar is everything I hoped it would be. Fit and finish is flawless and after a quick string change, this thing sounds awesome! I couldn't be happier with my purchase.DAN

The Martin HD-35 is the biggest sounding acoustic ever. With scalloped bracing and the extremely resounding woods, the bottom end and sustain is massive.new_creation_labs

Good quality and price. And Guitar Center was organized when I went to pick it up. And they were treating COVID seriously, which I appreciated.Aaron

I had an Anthem SL put in a Martin 000-15m. The guy who installed it did not shave the bridge enough to compensate for the pickup thickness. I sanded it and lowered the action……then I got greedy and tried to lower it some more without getting fret buzz. Went too much and got buzz. So I bought this saddle and got it perfect. It fit perfect and was easy to sand. The compensation looked just like my factory bridge. If you have a Martin w this drop in style saddle, its really easy to lower your action yourself…..and cheap enough to buy 2 and see how low you can get it without buzz with the first one and then use the 2nd one to get action perfect321skindog

This bone bridge saddle came with the intonation contours that match my Martin HD-28's original Tusq bridge saddle. It required a bit of sanding to fit the slot, and for the string height I prefer, but the sound improvement compared to the original Tusq bridge saddle is immense. The guitar now has much better bass response and clearer overtones; almost a different instrument.williamr3797

This saddle only needed to be sanded down to adjust my personal action height preference. The width and length were perfect. The original bridge was too loose. Guitar sounds great.mogree5301

The flagship guitar in Martin's product line! It looks and plays beautifully! Treat it nicely and it will treat you nicely!woodzee_1

This is another addition to my earlier post I still like the guitar as I mentioned before but when I just now went to record using the pickup system I was not pleased. At least to my ears it sounds like a very low end piezo under the bridge like the earliest kinds in the 80's buzzy and thick lacking in any of the subtle sounds I get playing it acoustically.Petros

This case is great! The quality is really good, super protective, deep front pocket fits everything youd need and more! Really happy with it. Straps are comfortable, zipper seems super sturdy and looks like it will last a while!stratant1

Up front I like brighter sounding acoustics (and electrics) and this model Martin was a real revelation. It feels like an electric neck to me so easy to play and the workmanship is outstanding. I was a little thrown by the bolt in neck but I get it now, it allows for owner adjustments (though I would still take it to a luthier) but what floored me was how singing this guitar is all the way up, even chords up at the 12+ frets sound full and loud. This is a pretty darn loud guitar. It has a nice deep penetrating low end but not a fat low end like a more traditional expensive Martins it has bite but a very appealing musical bite. (Think P90 as opposed to Humbuckers) (I'm speaking only played acoustic have not plugged it in yet) again I like it because it sings with a great sustain but not too much low end which can be difficult to record and sing against. Notes just seem to push tone out I was able to push this guitar until it seemed like the strings were rubber bands but it never quit it just kept the tone clear and ringing. Love the design of the bouts feels great to have on your lap. It sounded great flat picked finger picked nail picked strummed hammered pulled nothing did not sound excellent to my ears. I also tried a Taylor 214 CE K which I thought sounded great on videos but wow it sounded choked in many ways and chords that barked out and shouted on the Martin sounded muffled and pretty weak on the Taylor. That's when I decided this Martin was it. (In some ways this guitar sounds like a 12 string because of the bell like clarity and definition just what I was looking for).Petros

What is neat about these guitars is that the Special Martins are the specification of Martin CEO Chris Martin. He did an extremely nice job on the configuration, balancing standard bracing, rose tone wood, and the VTS adirondack top. The combination provides this guitar with a fantastic full spread of frequencies, separation of string tones, and the stability of standard bracing, which allows for the guitar's even responsiveness providing clarity at all volumes. Put this guitar in a nice sounding room with a good (not excellent) microphone and I cannot imagine a better way to record. If you can sing over this guitar, you will have to strain. The ability to hold tune always amazes me about Martin guitars and this guitar is no different. It is a great deal at full price, but I got mine at $1K off because someone thankfully brought it back. A sturdy plastic shelled case exactly fits the guitar. A part of me hopes they stop making this configuration so the value goes up, but then again, it should be played and mine will just go to one of my children who will enjoy it as I have.Grace

This guitar looks and sounds amazing. The action comes a bit high as all Martin dreadnoughts do. If you like that, you're good to go. If like a lot of people you want a lower action, have a luthier carve a new saddle for you like I did and keep the old saddle just in case as a backup. With the new saddle this guitar plays perfectly. I'll most likely use the lower saddle for fingerpicking and the old saddle if I'm strumming loud chords. Didn't need to adjust anything else but the saddle. The neck and nut were perfectly in spec already. I had my luthier file down some sharp corners on the fingerboard side of the nut and now it's even more comfortable to play. One thing that I've always found disappointing about Martin guitars is the plastic bridge pins. So I went ahead and ordered a set of liquid metal pins made by Martin. I really like the look of the new pans and I do think they add volume and a bit of sustain. I've tried some different strings on this guitar with differing results. Not sure exactly which strings that came with but those sounded only OK. They were kind of old though. I put a set of light gauge elixir nanoweb 8020 bronze and those sounded better but I wasn't satisfied until I tried some Tony Rice signature medium gauge strings and that was the sound I've been looking for. they really allow the guitar to sing and have a very woody and warm tone. whatever type of string you use I would definitely recommend medium 13 to 56 gauge for maximum tone. Don't go any heavier than that. Over all I am very pleased with this instrument, especially with the modifications I mentioned above.Nick B

First off, given the pandemic, I bought both this and an 000-28EC to compare. I babied and played them both for nearly 30 days before I ended up returning this (in mint condition) and keeping the EC. Tough decision, but it was mostly due to the neck and ergonomics of the EC that fit my shoulder better. But there is not a day that goes by that I don't think about this fantastic dread. The Engelmann spruce has an awesome bearclaw to it, and has a 3D effect/depth to it that is hard to describe and even harder to capture in photos, but you can really appreciate it in person. It makes the guitar unique and I really liked it. Apparently Bearclaw Engelmann is also quite rare. The tone out of this thing was amazing, very loud and shimmery with lots of overtones, maybe a little brighter than other HD-35s I played. Very bass-heavy, and held up to heavy strumming without issue. Fingerpicking was also nice, but EC was better for that. The upgrades to this are the bearclaw top and polished head plate with the fancy Martin script, which does help set it apart, but for the price, I wish it had wood binding or at least grained ivoroid. Ultimately, I couldn't bond with the size, MLO neck, or the plastic binding. But if these are non-issues for you, this is a very choice guitar. I will say that the Custom Shop did a great job with symmetry of the bearclaw top, and they picked out some real nice pieces of rosewood for the back and sides as well. Action was good from the factory. For this price, I wish it came with a better case than the green felt thermoplastic, which had a tendency to tip over or try to close onto the guitar. If you're in the market for a one-of-a-kind HD-35, give this model some serious consideration. Absolutely fantastic instrument.Paul

I've bought several guitars along the way, always knowing that I wanted a Martin 000. Somehow I found myself able to get the guitar I've always wanted and I'm so happy! Why did I wait so long? First of all, Martin Guitars are very nice. VERY NICE. The best. Especially once you get into the 18 series on up. The quality and craftsmanship lives up to the reputation. Of course, all of the hard work that Martin puts into their instruments results in breathtaking sound that only a Martin Guitar can produce. As soon as I picked up the guitar I could feel the power. My first chord was an open D, my go to key anytime I pick up a guitar to try. It's something you have to feel, but all I can really say is that the sound of this 000-18 is glorious. A very round classic sound, with a bit of chime on top. This 000-18 has a wide sonic range, but mid-range focused. The mahogany has that sweet tone which is great for all styles of play. This is definitely a finger pickers dream guitar, but can handle flat picking. I also like that I can lay into this guitar and the strumming remains crisp and not muddy. Drop tunings and capo up and down the neck is near perfect! This is my all around, do it all guitar! This guitar sings. Projection, sustain, volume when you need it, it's all there! Some guitars sound boxy and cheap. Not Martin. Not this one. It actually sounds like I should have paid more. The 000-18 does not come with electronics, but that's okay. You may not want any for this guitar. At least for a while. If you're a professional gigging musician than you could add a pickup, but there could be other choices out there suitable for gigging and amplified performance. The Sitka spruce top is gorgeous. Booked perfectly with silking that I can spend forever looking at. The neck is very smooth and modern feeling. I like it because it's not too thin, but allows me to play all styles. Satin finish makes me want to play all day long. And YES. I shallJay

This guitar is simply dreamy. Warm bass, chimey trebles, overtones all day long. Quality woods and finish, beautiful classic looks, great playability. Tone is everything I'd hoped for and more. Think Neil Young Harvest, Joni, acoustic John Martyn. After the disappointment of getting a very good-sounding but obviously damaged example from another supplier, I pre-ordered from Andertons, and received the HD sooner than expected. Ups and downs. Maybe it was the ghost of the first purchase haunting me – perhaps that first one had had time to open up more. But something didn't quite gel. No problem. Within the 14-day return period it was easy to arrange for an exchange for another of the same model. A few days later the courier came to picked up the guitar and hand over my third time lucky. Very quickly I realised I was Goldilocks in this tale, and this Martin was just right. It sounds just a little better every day and I love it! Not a cheap guitar, but a competitive price from Andertons for this iconic instrument.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: Once again zZounds has pulled through for me and allowed me to purchase a Martin HD28 and play it as I pay. I'm extremely grateful that zZounds has allowed me to participate in this program and it's for this reason and the excellent customer service, that I'll never purchase any gear from any other retailer. Thank you zZounds!The Martin HD28 that I purchased can be described with just one word, amazing. I've owned many acoustics in my lifetime from every builder you can think of and I'm convinced that Martin builds the absolute best acoustic guitars. My HD28 arrived in beautiful pristine condition with no issues whatsoever. Examining the inside of my guitar, you can see no glue drops and the Guitar is super clean. Great attention was given to this instrument in all aspects of the build. The wood is absolutely beautiful and the instrument is a true work of art. This instrument sounds absolutely beautiful. She has deep lows, articulate mids and crystal clear highs. The instrument is very well balanced across it's sonic spectrum. I might add that the Guitar is very loud without having to dig in hard. I'd say it's quite the cannon with tons of color and sustain. I purchased the Martin Liquid Bridge pins, installed them and I can certainly tell the difference. It's made the guitar a bit brighter and a little louder. I'm very happy with this purchase and I definitely have a keeper.Matt