A Sweetwater-spec’d Dread Boasting Prewar Prestige
Modeled after Martin’s legendary prewar instruments, the Sweetwater Select 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought grants you the tone, feel, and trim of Nazareth’s most mythologized vintage creations. Our team of guitar experts pored over every facet of this dread to pay faithful tribute to the originals, kicking things off with GE scalloped Adirondack spruce X-bracing and an authentic Adirondack spruce top — the top wood of choice on Martin’s steel-string guitars from its inception until the mid-1940s. And while the sweetness of modern-standard Sitka offers a distinct sound all its own, no other strain of spruce can match the room-filling projection and authoritative sound of Adirondack. Next, a set of Indian rosewood back and sides delivers a deep, rich, and overtone-dense resonance, rumbling with Martin’s signature booming bass response. What about playability? A Modified V-profile neck captures the grip-filling chunk of a historic Martin dreadnought, while the ebony fingerboard sports a late-1930s-style 1.6875-inch nut width. A smattering of golden-era appointments fortify the 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought’s prewar pedigree, including elegant herringbone purfling, a long-saddle bridge, and abalone long diamond and square inlays. Strum a chord, fingerpick a melody, or flatpick your favorite fiddle tune on the 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought and discover why Martin’s historic prewar models rank among the most sought-after instruments in music history.
Related Videos: Sweetwater Select 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Natural
The peak of power and projection
Until the mid-1940s, Martin’s golden-age guitars were capped with the most prestigious of top woods: Adirondack spruce. This tonewood is treasured among Martin aficionados for its superior headroom and projection, and it provides this 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought with the highest degree of unplugged volume possible. Indian rosewood back and sides further bolster this Martin with rumbling bass and clear, ringing overtones. Top it all off with GE scalloped X-bracing made from Adirondack spruce, and this Sweetwater Select 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought resounds with a full-range authority whether forcefully flatpicked or delicately strummed.
Adorned with prewar appointments
This Sweetwater Select Dreadnought was precisely spec’d by our guitar experts to replicate Martin’s legendary prewar classics. For starters, we’ve switched out the skinny neck of Martin’s Standard-series models for a positively chunky Modified V profile, complete with a prominent ridge in the center. Moreover, a slightly slimmed-down 1.6875-inch nut width captures the fast feel of Martin’s late-1930s/early-1940s models. As for aesthetics, the body comes enwrapped in handsome herringbone purfling, while the ebony bridge boasts a traditional long-saddle design that imparts an old-school aura.
Setting the standard for steel strings everywhere
If there were such a thing as a “standard” acoustic guitar shape, it would undoubtedly be the dreadnought. It’s Martin’s most iconic model and a key component to the cannon-like projection and booming bass response that’s defined the Nazareth sound since the D-18 and D-28 appeared in the early 1930s — and even earlier if you count Martin’s “Ditson” models! Whether you’re a flatpicking bluegrass phenom or a singer/songwriter strummer, a Martin dreadnought will provide you with a lifetime’s worth of superior steel-string tone.
Martin Sweetwater Select 28 Style Herringbone Dreadnought Features:
- A Sweetwater Select dreadnought spec’d by our team of guitar experts to replicate the feel, vibe, and sound of a prewar acoustic
- Adirondack spruce top with GE scalloped Adirondack spruce X-bracing resounds with room-filling authority and a crisp top-end clarity
- East Indian rosewood back and sides complement the power of the top with lush overtones and a booming bass response
- Select hardwood neck in a Modified V profile captures the full, chunky feel cherished by vintage Martin fanatics
- Ebony fingerboard with gleaming long diamond and square abalone inlays
- 1.6875-in. nut width replicates the specs of a late-1930s Martin, providing a slightly slimmer string spacing
- Ebony bridge with an old-school long-saddle construction
- Top-quality nickel tuning machines with butterbean buttons
- Wrapped with grained ivoroid binding and handsome herringbone trim for a vintage-authentic vibe
