A Faithful Re-creation of a Classic Martin
Short of breaking into the Martin Museum, the HD-28E Retro is the closest any of us will probably ever get to handling a "golden-era" Martin instrument. The original HD-28 dreadnought (like the D-28) established the very tone of the acoustic guitar in modern American music, and there's nothing like the sound of a classic Martin to prove it. That's why Chris Martin got together with Larry Fishman to capture a complete series of spectral models from the very original guitars on display at the Martin Museum. At the same time, the HD-28E Retro comes fitted with an entirely modern Martin neck carve. The result is a classic-looking and vintage-sounding HD-28 that plays like a dream.
When Chris Martin set out to create the HD-28E Retro and the rest of the Retro series lineup, he started right at the heart of the traditional Martin sound by turning to the beautifully preserved models on display at the C. F. Martin Museum in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. For months, the top luthiers at Martin labored to re-create the look and feel of some of the most iconic guitars Martin has ever made, including this exquisite classic herringbone dreadnought model. When you pick up an HD-28E Retro acoustic guitar, it's easy to imagine that you're holding the same guitar that inspired such great artists as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, or Elvis.
When you think about all those incredible old-time recordings that established the sound of American music, you'll recognize a particular acoustic guitar tone at the heart of it all. It's the same sound you hear when you think of acoustic guitar, and it's the sound you'll get from your HD-28E Retro. Part of that has to do with the wonderful onboard electronics (more on that below), but much more of it has to do with its tonewoods and construction. You see, Martin practically invented the popular dreadnought acoustic guitar body, a shape that hasn't really changed much over the years. Combined with the bold voice of an Indian rosewood back and sides and a light and expressive Sitka spruce top, you've got the recipe for quintessential acoustic guitar sound.
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Everything old is new again!
A quick, casual glance at any member of the Retro series, and you'd think you were looking at an extremely well-preserved vintage Martin, not unlike some of the guitars that fill the Martin Guitar Museum: the tops are finished with aged toner, the appointments echo the classic stylings of 1930s- and 1940s-era Martins, and the body styles are among the most revered in all the guitar world. Even on the inside, these Martins exude vintage, boasting forward-shifted scalloped braces just like they used to.
But Martin wasn't content to simply reissue these legendary instruments, equipping the Retro series with Fishman F1 Aura for incredibly authentic onstage amplification and a reshaped neck to give players a fluid, comfortable playing experience.
Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics
Fishman is just as much a leader in acoustic amplification as Martin is in guitar manufacturing. Martin has spec'd Fishman's Aura VT Enhance electronics system for this HD-28E Retro to give it a natural and expressive voice when performing live through an amp or PA system. The Aura preamps have been favorites of Sweetwater guitarists for years. But VT Enhance raises the bar by using discreet soundhole-mounted controls for the pickup's volume and tone. The system is completely unobtrusive, and there are no control holes cut into the side of the guitar. You can rest easy knowing that the natural sound of your HD-28E Retro will come through the speakers loud and clear.
Fishman's breakthrough acoustic imaging technology makes you sound like you're playing into a great mic in a room with impeccable acoustics. Aura VT Enhance is designed to capture the the guitar top's longitudinal energy, while rejecting transverse energy that reveals itself in the form of string squeaks, handling noise, and feedback. The HD-28E Retro's onboard Aura VT Enhance system gives you studio-quality sound you can take to the stage.
Martin-standard dovetail neck joint
Like the originals, the Retro series guitars come standard with the classic dovetail neck joint. Lightweight and sturdy, the dovetail joint is the go-to construction methodology for Martin guitars, as the area of direct wood-to-wood contact is increased. The thinking is that the increased contact provides better tonal transfer between the neck and body. Martin has done it like this forever, and there's no reason to fix what's not broken.
The mechanics of the standard dovetail neck joint dictate that merely fitting the neck to the body and stringing up the guitar should provide more than enough strength to hold the neck to the body. But to make sure every Retro series Martin (or any other Martin, for that matter) is built to last a lifetime, the neck joints are thoroughly glued for maximum structural integrity.
Martin HD-28E Retro Acoustic-electric Guitar Features:
- The perfect way to get your hands on the look and sound of a golden-age Martin acoustic guitar
- An immaculate Martin HD-28 model dreadnought acoustic-electric guitar built to resemble the pristine vintage guitars on display at the Martin museum
- The combination of select Sitka spruce and Indian rosewood provide you with the sweet, bold, and balanced sound iconic to the dreadnought acoustic guitar
- Adorned with stunning herringbone inlays
- Modified Low Oval profile with Performing Artist taper is easily one of the most comfortable necks Martin has ever produced
- Custom Fishman Aura VT Enhance electronics provide warm and natural live tone
