Martin D-28 Marquis Review

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Reviews: Martin D-28 Marquis

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  • One of the best acoustic guitars ever. EVER!

  • By OreoB on Mar 11, 2010 | 9 out of 9 found it helpful
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  • Pros: The 1 3/4 nut width and the modified V neck is simply one of the best necks ever. The string spacing is perfect for fingerstyle and strumming. The rich tone, harmonic response and volume ranger are virtually un matched. It rings like a bell!
  • Cons: Not a big fan of the aging toner they put on here. I'm a sort of purist in that area. Some may say a con is too much bottom end tone, but that's what I love. Hmmm... i personally have no real cons about this guitar. Honestly. But that maybe just me.
  • Experience: I own it

  • I recommend to everyone I know, to try this guitar, even if it's out of their price range. It's worth the experience just to play this guitar!

    I play finger-style and I strum.

    The extra string spacing and Modified V neck make finger-picking a breeze! That extra 16th of an inch at the nut (compared to most 1 11/16" nut with guitars) adds more spacing between the strings than you might imagine. This makes fretting chords much easier as your hand doesn't have to squeeze into tight positions. Also, for those who do pull-offs with a more classical technique, you'll notice right away that the as you do a run from string to string, you're fingers wont feel like they're tripping over the adjacent strings. There's enough space to feel like that is the only string on the guitar, compared to more traditional string spacing on a steel string.

    The extra string spacing also helps with the right hand when it comes to finger-picking. Though mot as far apart as a classical guitar, the spacing on the D28 Marquis, is a world of difference for that kind of style.

    To some up, the Modified V neck on the D28 Marquis (and many other Martins), allows both hands to breath, as both give a big, pleasurable sigh, "awh .... ". It's like a king sized bed compared to a double.

    With the forward shifted X bracing and the Adirondack top really push the sound HARD. While an OM or 000 sized guitar sounds more balanced and "EQ-ed" for finger-style and real light strumming, a Dreadnought is better for loud playing. This guitar sounds incredible with finger-style, and when you strum, the tone keeps growing the louder you get. If you've ever played an acoustic and felt like the tone stopped as you got louder, almost like a face pushed up against glass (LOL), this most assuredly does not happen with the D28 Marquis. The dynamic response of this guitar is ridiculously awesome! It responds with just a touch, or driven hard. You get beautiful tone no matter level of volume you play it at. Some guitars have a "good tone window". Strum too light and there's no tone; play it too loud and there's just volume. With the Marquis, every note played has tone, period.

    The price (street being $4099 for the natural finish), is a little steep. But honestly, this guitar delivers the goods. If you're like me, and just wanted to have that one dream acoustic, this is one you must check out, and when you do, A-B against other guitars at the store you go to.

    A fossilized ivory nut and saddle, along with all the other appointments, complete the explosive arsenal of tone this guitar is.

    I have owned one for over two years now. It's a player's guitar for sure!

    Pure and simple.

    My hands are of average size, so most people should be able to find this neck profile AMAZING!

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