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In 1931 and 1941, Martin Guitars made a guitar model that would change guitars forever. The Martin D28 acoustic guitar has long been hailed the King of Bluegrass, and with their latest Authentic series, the Martin D28 1931 and 1941 are available with the same big, classic presence as their original counterparts.

Check Out Our Martin D28 Authentic 1931 & 1941 Acoustic Guitar Review

A brief overview of the Martin D-28:

The Martin D-28 is a classic dreadnought acoustic guitar that has been around for over 80 years. Its iconic features include a sitka spruce top, forward shifted X-brace bracing pattern, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, and herringbone inlay. The top material, sitka spruce, is renowned for its strength and clarity of sound. The guitar has a modified low oval neck shape with a high performance taper and an ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl inlay. The headstock has open gear tuners with a headplate that matches the back and sides of the guitar. The fingerboard material is ebony, which is a hard and durable wood that enhances the tone of the guitar.

The Martin D-28 has 20 frets and a scale length of 25.4 inches, which is the standard for dreadnought acoustic guitars. The string spacing is 2-1/8 inches, which is wider than most electric guitars, making it easier for guitarists to fingerpick. The guitar has a tortoise pickguard and a hardshell case for protection. The dovetail neck joint ensures a tight and secure fit between the neck and body of the guitar. The guitar’s X-brace bracing pattern is scalloped, which allows for greater resonance and a wider range of tonal colors.

The Martin D-28 has been used by many famous guitarists over the years, including Hank Williams, Neil Young, and Chris Martin of Coldplay. The guitar has also been featured on many recordings and in live performances. In recent years, Martin Guitars has released several variations of the D-28, including the HD-28 and the Modern Deluxe. The HD-28 has an Adirondack top and East Indian rosewood back and sides, while the Modern Deluxe has a torrefied sitka spruce top and a carbon fiber bridge plate.

The Martin D-28 is a highly respected and sought-after guitar, and Martin Guitars has a long history of providing quality instruments and excellent customer service. The guitar comes with a warranty and is backed by a company that has been in business for over 180 years. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced guitarist, the Martin D-28 is a guitar that you will want to consider. Its classic design, high-quality materials, and excellent specs make it a guitar that will last for generations.

Meticulous Throwbacks: Martin’s Authentic Series

As models of Martin’s Authentic Series, the Martin D28 1931 and 1941 are part of the most accurate and exclusive handmade series of guitars available today. Every guitar maker since has sought to copy these models since their introduction into the musical world, but the Martin Authentic 1931 and 1941 acoustic guitars are arguably the most authentic reproductions. In addition, no dreadnought model has been considered “better” than these Martin D28s.

Little Differences in All the Right Places

Before jumping into the myriad of great qualities these models have in common, let’s briefly discuss the ways the Martin D28 1931 and 1941’s specs differ. Most of the differences stem from the 1931 being a 12 fret guitar and the 1941 being a 14 fret. As such, the Martin D28 1931 is a little louder and a little more bass-heavy than it’s smaller body counterpart. In addition, the 1931’s wider nut is preferable to some finger style players. The neck shape varies between the two, being much different than the high performance taper/modified low oval combo seen on many new production models from Martin. The X-brace in each guitar is era-specific, with the 1931 using Pre-WWII techniques. The string spacing is slightly narrower on the 1931

Identical Materials Create Sibling Guitars

Other than the “sizeable” differences above, the Martin D28 1931 and 1941 use nearly identical select hardwoods and materials to produce their big, brassy tones, including:

  • Adirondack spruce as the top material and for braces; as opposed to Sitka Spruce tops used in standard series models.
  • Madagascar rosewood back & side material—one of the best rosewoods available today— as opposed to East Indian Rosewood used in standard series models.
  • Ebony Fingerboard
  • Hide glue to hold it all together
  • 25.4” Scale Length

The traditional hide glue is an incredibly hard substance that maintains vibration and energy better than modern day binding agents. Other throwback techniques include the scalloped bracing pattern, hand-carved necks and braces and dove tail neck joints, available on both versions of the Martin D28.

There are many aesthetic appointments these guitars share that cross many eras of Martin D28, such as;

  • Tortoise Pickguard
  • Mother of Pearl Dot inlays
  • Open Gear Tuning Machines
  • Aging Toner finish
  • Herringbone Binding
  • Number of frets

Both guitars also come with a hardshell case and Martin’s limited lifetime warranty.

My Verdict

These enormous sounding Martin D28s are incredibly versatile 6 string acoustic guitars. Country, western, folk, and bluegrass musicians will feel right at home with one of these models. Honestly, if you can’t do it on one of these guitars, you probably shouldn’t be playing.

Get Your Hands on a Martin Authentic D28 1931 or 1941

Contact Eddie’s Guitars Today at 314-781-7500