D-28
Natural
The dreadnought every other dreadnought is measured against
Amazon rating
4.9 (41)Price band
Over $2,000
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The short version
Martin invented this body shape, and the D-28 is the instrument that turned it into the default sound of recorded acoustic guitar. Solid Sitka spruce over solid East Indian rosewood is the classic pairing: spruce for attack and headroom, rosewood for the deep bass and the shimmering overtones that sit above it. The bracing is forward-shifted and scalloped in the pre-war GE pattern, which is what gives the low end its authority. In 2017 Martin revised the neck rather than the voice — the Modified Low Oval profile with High-Performance Taper is slimmer front to back than the old shape and wider at the nut, with more space between the strings at the bridge. It is the change that made a traditional D-28 comfortable for players raised on modern necks, and it is the reason the current version outsells every earlier one.
Score profile
Six axes, scored 1-10. These are editorial judgements about what this instrument delivers for the money — not measurements, and not anyone else’s ratings.
- Build
- 10.0
- Tone
- 10.0
- Versatility
- 8.0
- Comfort
- 9.0
- Hardware
- 9.0
- Value
- 7.0
Scores are Fretline editorial ratings on a 1-10 scale. They are our own assessment and are not supplied or endorsed by Amazon or by any manufacturer.
Full specifications
| Brand | Martin |
|---|---|
| Model | D-28Natural |
| Body | |
| Body | D-14 fret Dreadnought |
| Body wood | Solid Sitka spruce top with solid East Indian rosewood back and sides |
| Top | Solid Sitka spruce with aging toner |
| Back & sides | Solid East Indian rosewood |
| Bracing | Forward-shifted X-brace, GE-scalloped |
| Body finish | Gloss |
| Neck & fingerboard | |
| Neck joint | Dovetail neck joint, joins body at the 14th fret |
| Neck wood | Select hardwood in dark mahogany |
| Neck profile | GE Modified Low Oval with High-Performance Taper |
| Neck finish | Satin |
| Scale length | 25.4" (645 mm) |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Frets | 20 |
| Inlays | Mother-of-pearl dot |
| Nut | Bone |
| Nut width | 1 3/4" (44.5 mm), 2 1/8" at the 12th fret |
| Hardware | |
| Bridge | Ebony with bone pins |
| Saddle | Compensated bone |
| Tuners | Nickel open-gear with butterbean buttons |
| Hardware finish | Nickel |
| Electronics | |
| Electronics | None |
| General | |
| Type | Acoustic guitar |
| Strings | Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 phosphor bronze, medium (.013-.056) |
| Finish | Natural, antique white binding |
| Orientation | Right-handed |
| Case | Molded hardshell case |
28 verified fields. Specifications come from the manufacturer first, then the Amazon listing, then authorised dealers — sources are listed at the foot of this page. Fields the manufacturer does not publish are omitted rather than estimated.
The good and the bad
What we like
- Solid Sitka spruce over solid East Indian rosewood, the reference tonewood pairing
- Forward-shifted scalloped GE bracing gives the low end genuine authority
- The 2017 Modified Low Oval neck is far more comfortable than the profile it replaced
- Bone nut and compensated bone saddle rather than plastic
- Molded hardshell case included, and the build holds its value
What we do not
- Priced as a lifetime instrument, not a first one
- No cutaway, so the upper frets stay awkward
- No electronics — amplifying it means a pickup install or a microphone
- A rosewood dreadnought is a big, bright, loud guitar; it can overwhelm a close microphone
Who it is for
Skill level
Styles it suits
What owners and reviewers report
Patterns we found across published reviews and owner feedback. These are summaries of recurring themes — we do not reproduce or invent individual testimonials.
What comes up most
- Reviewers consistently describe taut, sculpted lows with complex, glistening highs, and an unusually wide dynamic range
- The 2017 neck redesign draws repeated praise: the lower profile puts the palm closer behind the fretting fingers, which owners report as less fatigue over long sessions
- Materials and workmanship are treated as beyond dispute across published reviews
Frequent complaints
- The main reservation in published reviews is not a fault but a caution: the redesigned model sounds different from the older D-28 rather than better, so reviewers advise trying both
Recognised strengths
- Repeatedly singled out as a fine recording guitar because of its response and dynamic range
- Equally credible flatpicked and fingerpicked, which is unusual for a rosewood dreadnought
Recognised weaknesses
- This listing carries only 41 Amazon ratings, so our summary leans on published specialist reviews rather than owner volume
The verdict
This is not a value proposition and it is not trying to be. It is a reference instrument: the guitar that studios keep on a stand because it will sit correctly in any mix, and the one that will still be worth playing in forty years. The 2017 neck is the important detail — if you tried a D-28 a decade ago and found it a handful, try this one, because the low oval profile and the wider string spacing genuinely change how it plays without touching how it sounds. The only real criticism is the obvious one: a solid rosewood dreadnought with a bone nut and a hardshell case costs what it costs, and there is no cutaway and no pickup for the money.
Sources
- Martin Guitar — D-28 specifications
- Amazon listing (B07629J68X)
- Premier Guitar — Martin D-28 (2017) review
- MusicRadar — Martin D-28 Reimagined for 2017 review
Amazon rating captured 2026-08-24. ASIN B07629J68X.
Strings for this guitar
All stringsIt ships with Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 phosphor bronze, medium (.013-.056). Staying at that gauge keeps the setup and the neck relief as the factory left them; going a step lighter makes bending easier, a step heavier gives more volume and tension. Anything more than one step either way usually needs the truss rod and the intonation adjusted.
- 8.2/10
- 8.0/10
Elixir · Strings
NANOWEB Phosphor Bronze Acoustic
The long-life acoustic string, and still the one to beat on longevity
- 7.8/10
D'Addario · Strings
XS Phosphor Bronze Coated Acoustic
A coated string that does not feel or sound like a coated string
What else you need
All accessoriesThe highest-scoring option in each category that suits this instrument. If you have never owned a guitar before, the starter guide explains what each of these is for and what you can safely skip.
- 7.8/10
Fender · Tuners
FCT-2 Professional Clip-On Tuner
The tuner to buy first, before strings, before a strap, before anything
- 8.2/10
Dunlop · Picks
The Delrin pick that replaced tortoiseshell, in the gauge most people settle on
- 7.4/10
GLEAM · Stands
The accessory that decides whether the guitar gets played at all
- 7.8/10
CAHAYA · Bags and cases
Six pockets, which is five more than most bags and the reason to pick this one
Compared with
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A solid mahogany top and a Fishman system, well under the price that usually buys either
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Grand J-28E DN
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A Grand Jumbo with two necks, built for the player who refuses to swap guitars mid-song
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The safest recommendation in budget acoustics, and it has been for years
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The same rosewood-backed FG830, in a warmer burst