One of the most popular of all of C F Martin’s new guitars has, for us, been this very model – the wonderful HD-28V. The V means Vintage and there are many features of this instrument attributable to the prewar period. These include the squared headstock, the old style black bordered, burnished gold “C F Martin & Co., Est. 1833” headstock decal logo, the butterbean button nickel-plated open-gear tuners, the etched diamond mother of pearl fingerboard inlays – count’ ‘em – there’s 7 of them critters in 5 fret positions. It has the herringbone wooden marquetry top border, the three concentric rings of black and ivoroid around the soundhole, the tortoise shell type celluloid teardrop pickguard with the beveled edges, the grained ivoroid body bindings and end graft, the grained ivoroid heel cap and the diamond dart carved behind the nut on the back of the neck.
As homage, with some variations to the prewar D-28, this guitar gives the modern player the best “bang for the buck” as they say in the hunting trade. It has the “modified” V-shape neck favored by today’s pickers, crème and black purfling around the border of the back. Truly, it is a sight to behold and a sound to astound. Yes, of course, the top is hand-selected Sitka spruce and the back, sides and headplate are East Indian rosewood; in a tribute to modern technology it has forward shifted, scalloped X bracing, etched diamond fingerboard markers and, thankfully, an adjustable truss rod. If this were a true prewar reissue it would, like the famous D-28GE, have Adirondack top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides – but that little bauble of beauty and boundless benevolence lists for at least $40,000 (maybe even more) and this one sure don’t. No, sir. Instead, this captivating confluence of constant mellifluousness sells for a very reasonable price indeed.
The CF Martin List Price is $4099.