Martin HD12-28 12-String Acoustic Guitar - Natural Reviews

When it comes to Martin Guitars, Well, there is only one thing to say. It's a Martin, and the craftmanship, and build quality is second to none. This 12 String sings shines, and plays so beautifully. My Gibson J45, and Guild 12 Strings are both wonderful Guitars too, but the Martin is a notch or two above the rest. Thank you Martin for building such a precious Guitar that will satisfy any beginner, or Pro. Dave in Ventura, California.

I bought this in person at Sweetwater during the pandemic when the presumed top choice Guild twelve string was temporarily unavailable. If this is second place, the Guild must be other-worldly. I may never find out, because the Martin sounds angelic, and has a wonderful neck, as well as all of the typical Martin beauty and quality. I couldn't justify the extra cost when the Guild came in, especially since I don't play a lot of twelve string. Having said that, I just can't put this guitar down, with its addictive, complex overtones and playability. I am totally happy with this purchase, facilitated as usual by the masterful sales engineer, Greg Baum.

Having owned over many but many brand new Martin guitars in the past 44 years this is my first 12 string purchase. I can say it does NOT disappoint. I have purchased along with this one a HD-28 in recent months. This HD-28 12 string is the perfect companion to fill the sounds I enjoy to play. Perfect set-up out of the box. Low and so easy to play! I play it along the HD-28 to listen to articulation and the HD-28 12 string has the audio projection I love! Workmanship top notch, as always, from Martin guitar! You can't go wrong! Jordan Dean my sales engineer as always took care of this so pleasant experience! He's the best!

I am a long time guitar player/collector. I have had 4-5 various 12 string acoustic guitars over the years. I have an HD-28 six string guitar that I also bought from Sweetwater that also is very amazing. I thought it would be nice to have the matching 12 string. I had VERY high expectations of this guitar and it EXCEEDED all of them. I have many guitars including custom made boutique guitars. This 12 string guitar plays with such ease and smoothness you don't even feel like you're playing a 12 string. The action as soon as I opened the case was perfect. It was still in tune (although a bit flat) I just started playing it as soon as I opened it and wrote a song on the first playing. The feel, the sound, the craftmanship all perfect. Yes it is a higher price point guitar level, but if you can afford it, you will not be disappointed. The Bracing system on Martin guitars make you feel like the top is alive.

Love this Guitar the only guitar I have purchased online that I truly love Delivered in three days as well. Sweetwater is an awesome company Martin is a top of the line Guitar.

Took this out of the box, tuned it up, and strummed a big E. Almost fell over. Such a powerful sound with well intonated bass and treble. Played it for an hour and couldn't put it down. I have some pretty nice 6 string guitars, solid wood bodies that are 30 years old and sound great. But this instrument is another thing entirely. Fretting is not really a challenge as it has been on other 12 strings I have owned and played. Huge volume and very fine sustain, especially on the octave strings. That jangly 12 string sound is there for those who expect it. But it is easy to push a bass sound at the same time. Great guitar with that Martin sound, even with the extra strings.

Sweetwater shipped the instrument the next day and I had it three days later. Case and instrument are unblemished and seem to have survived shipping nicely. Fit and finish are totally awesome. Love the high gloss finish on the whole instrument. Love the herringbone binding on the front.

I am proud to own such a fine instrument and hope to be playing it for the rest of my life.

This beautifully-constructed and finely detailed guitar has a lovely, sweet sound: harmonics, sustain and overtones ring clear, and individual notes sound through. Evidence? My daughter, who is also a guitarist and singer, was home and several rooms away when I got out the Martin to play over the Christmas holiday. A couple of bars, and the voice from afar said "that sounds great!" The action is good for these aging hands, and I like the shallower neck. I play to accompany my singing, and our voices go well together. The Martini can go powerful or soft, and even in full cry is clear, not muddy.

OK, so I love this guitar. My repertoire is expanding rapidly, because it is just so much fun. The HD12-28 replaces a 50 y.o. Framus 12-string which has literally traveled the world. Her electric-guitar-style neck has been reset many times over the years. No major cracks, and the tone is mellow and powerful. But this guitar is a whole 'nother level. To quote another reviewer, it is time the Framus has a rest (or perhaps new exercise :).

Thank you to Sales Engineer Mihir for excellent service. His work was timely and responses accurate. Making an investment of this magnitude sight unseen from a distance is not the ideal, nor is shipping in 20-degree winter weather - but it is the reality. All in all, the experience went well.

i had to wait for my HD12-28 - my first martin - but it was worth it. this guitar plays itself, and the tone is incredibly well-balanced. lows are full but not boomy, the highs sparkle and shimmer out into the ether, and the sympathetic resonances are beautifully tuned. the more i play it, the more i want to play it - and that's the way it should be. kudos to martin for making such a high quality product, and also to my sales engineer, jason thiele, who helped make this possible for me.

Great guitar!!!

This is not my 1st 12 string. My first is A Takamini 12 that I bought new in 1976 and is just worn down just a little. She needs to relax.
So, I bought this beautiful Martin HD12-28. It sounds so perfect. It's a great companion for my Martin D-28. I have checked out other 12 string guitars over the years but, it was one, that in my opinion that put even Taylor on the back burner. Martin guitars are the best. You can't go wrong with the beautiful collection of Martin Guitar.

I bought this site unseen because of the travel restrictions. I could not be happier. I own lots of guitars including 3 different D-28 models.

The HD-12-28 is basically perfect. It is much more resonant than the older Martin 12s and has more bass and is better balanced. The setup and playability was perfect right out of the box. It's comfortable and fun to play and sounds great. I highly recommend this guitar.

After trying several of the mid-priced 12 strings, I finally bit the bullet and got this. It seems like hyperbole, but seriously this one is something special. I have other Martins which are nice but if you"re on the fence at all, this 12 will probably be among the best guitars you"ll ever play.

I already owned several entry- and mid-level Martins...even at the lower end, they're fine instruments. But this one is in that rarified air, a really top-shelf plank. A truly fine guitar. It clearly illustrated to me the difference between a $800-1000 lower-end Martin and the D-28's. The herringbone is beautiful, it sounds like angels singing, and it plays like butter. Couldn't be happier with it.

The instrument is top-level. As David Crosby said, "I think America should be very proud of Martin. Martin is a stunning guitar company, and they make today, still, the best guitars in the world that are production made." Right out of the box you can feel the amount of hours that went into making the guitar and the precision that Martin brings to the process. I have a vintage D12-20 that I like, but I wanted a new model that I could count on in the studio to perform consistently all the way up-and-down the neck. This is it. I can't wait to put in some serious playing to break the guitar in.

In the age of internet shopping, buying a high-end instrument can be scary. I've previously bought nice gear from Sweetwater and other online retailers, but the only company I keep returning to is Sweetwater. From the beginning to the end of the process they are transparent, thoughtful, and genuine. It makes a difference and they have a faithful customer in me.

I've never bought a guitar on line and was a little nervous about the whole deal. The salesperson Ryan at Sweetwater did an awsome job of helping me through the process with no pressure and super communication before and after the sale.
They provided an exceptional tracking site that was spot on. Guitar arrived exactly on time and in perfect condition.
The HD12-28 is everything I had hoped for in every way, very impressed. I had bought and re-sold a few years ago a used Martin D12-20 and even though I had been hands on before the purchase I just could not get attached to it. I'm already sold hook line and sinker with this HD12-28! It's a beautiful piece of work and already sings like a chorus!
Very impressed.
Thanks