Martin
Description
The Martin Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS herringbone acoustic guitar was designed to target the highly collectible vintage sound of Martin’s 1930s Golden Era. These world-renowned instruments are cherished for their unparalleled tone and considered by many collectors and professional musicians to be the "Stradivarius" of the acoustic guitar. Thanks to Martin’s revolutionary Vintage Tone System (VTS), they've created a process to capture the look and sound of one of their older D-28 instruments and replicate it in a new instrument, like this Martin Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS herringbone dreadnought acoustic.

Martin’s Vintage Tone System is a proprietary temperature aging process that allows Martin to target the sound of their vintage acoustic guitars within a decade. It’s like a time machine taking your new guitar and aging it to sound vintage. Martin has honed this process by benchmarking some of the finest examples of their 185-year history, found in their Nazareth, PA, museum. Once they reference a vintage top, the new top is aged to the correct moisture content and look of that period. This proprietary VTS process is unique to Martin, and can only be found on custom, special and Authentic Martin models.

In the spirit of combining a modern feel with a vintage tone, the Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS dreadnought incorporates a premium grade of Adirondack spruce for the top that is temperature aged to sound like a guitar from the 1930s. The guitar is then braced with a standard 5/16" X-bracing pattern to add just the right amount of color to the tone. Martin then combined this VTS top with an East Indian rosewood back and sides, and the playability of a new Special HD-28, to create a dreadnought guitar that has an extraordinary sound and feel.

To recreate a vintage look, they add aging tone, antique white binding and a black pickguard. The Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS dreadnought has a clear, defined treble and midrange tone, with a very balanced, controlled bottom end.
Martin Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS Herringbone Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
Martin Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS Herringbone Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
Martin Special HD-28 Style Adirondack VTS Herringbone Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
Features
  • Adirondack spruce top
  • Indian rosewood back and sides
  • Mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge
  • Nitro-finished body, satin-finished neck, bone nut and saddle, chrome enclosed tuners
Specs
Body
  • Body type: Dreadnought, Non-Cutaway
  • Top wood: Spruce
  • Back & sides: Rosewood
  • Bracing pattern: 5/16” Sitka spruce scalloped forward shifted X bracing
  • Body finish: Nitrocellulose
Neck
  • Neck shape: Low Profile
  • Nut width: 1.68" (42.67 mm)
  • Fingerboard: Ebony
  • Neck wood: Mahogany
  • Scale length: 25.4"
  • Number of frets: 20
  • Neck finish: Satin
  • Bridge: Ebony
  • Saddle & nut: Bone
Other
  • Tuning machines: Enclosed
  • Orientation: Right Handed
  • Number of strings: 6-string
  • Case: Hardshell
  • Country of origin: United States
Reviews

5

8 Reviews

100%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Jamming6
  2. Practicing6
  3. Recording4
  4. Rock Concerts3
  5. Small Venues3
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced5
  2. Novice2
  3. Professional Musician1
Pros
  1. Consistent7
  2. Good Audio7
  3. Good Feel7
  4. Stays In Tune6
  5. Fun To Play4
  • I won't pay less than $4000 for a guitar.

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byGregory

    fromScranton, PA

    This guitar sounds amazing. I had it for four and a half months before dropping it and breaking it. In one hand I'm bummed that it broke, but on the other hand I'm super excited that I get to buy another one. Never buy anything less than the best.

  • Unreal how awesome this guitar is!!

    5

    submitted3 years ago

    byRyan

    fromLa verne, CA

    I play many guitars but when I need the full throttle and just perfect sound and bass I break out this powerful piece of wood and it's just amazing.

  • Outstanding deal on a premium product!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byLarry

    fromPueblo, CO

    Martin makes an excellent instrument, as recognized around the world. A Martin guitar gives a sense of personal satisfaction unsurpassed and seldom equaled. As well, is Martin is a smart investment.

  • I waited too long for this. Don't make the same mistake!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byJohn

    fromWillow Grove Pa

    Crazy thing is that this guitar is the standard that all others should be compared to. With each strum, there is a clarity of each string singing and standing on their own at the same time being a part of the overall chord that rings out. I'm still getting used to hearing it. With each passing hour of playing, the shimmer of this guitar's sound seems to get better.

  • Ultimate acoustic guitar at any price

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byDanny M

    fromNashville Tennessee

    I spent several hours comparing between om-28 John Mayer a couple d-18's, including the deluxe model, also a couple versions of the regular D-28, and after going back and forth the hd-28 with the bags pickup won!! I think this one has the "Aged toner" This is it!! It has everything you need from Full Bass to smooth non overly treble sounding highs, when you think acoustic guitar in your head this is what comes out. Just plugged in the pick up and it sounds really good, but it's the acoustic part of the guitar that you're getting. Absolutely awesome guitar Flawless top to bottom. Just couldn't be happier with this purchase ,Guitar Center will take good care of you.

  • Outstanding guitar!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byGray, R

    fromPhiladelphia MS

    Great bass, great sound and great guitar!

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Q&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • asked bySkip

    fromCanton/Atlanta GA

    Is this a 1-off special or are their multiple guitars available?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    This is a limited series
  • asked byKen

    fromChico, CA

    is the neck width 1.75" at the nut?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes, that will be the correct width
  • asked byJM

    fromNC

    Is the bracing scalloped? Can someone answer correctly?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    The bracing pattern will be BRACING PATTERN: Forward-Shifted X-Brace
  • asked bydom

    fromeast brunswick, nj

    Hello, Is the bracing X braced or forward shifted X bracing? Thanks, Domenic

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    This model is X braced.
  • asked byJoe

    fromPell City AL

    What is the warranty on the Special-HD28-Style-Adirondack-VTS-Herringbone-Dreadnought-Acoustic?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    This model will have a Lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects.
  • asked byRick

    fromColumbus, Ohio

    Does this guitar have scalloped braces?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Yes, it has "scalloped, forward-shifted bracing"
  • asked byHerringBone

    fromPhilly

    Hey there, HD's are usually scalloped bracing but this mentioned standard 5/16 X bracing. Does this HD special deviate for other normal HDs?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    The specs to the body will be: Body Body type: Dreadnought, Non-Cutaway Top wood: Spruce Back & sides: Rosewood Bracing pattern: X Body finish: Nitrocellulose