Bluegrass music has loved a substantial renaissance within the final decade, with a slew of gifted bands and artists pushing the style’s business and inventive boundaries. Maybe nobody represents this new recognition and potential higher than Billy Strings, whose wild rise from grassroots guitar god to arena-packing famous person has helped revive the dreadnought because the instrument of selection for a younger era of aspiring guitar heroes—lots of whom may need most well-liked a Les Paul or Stratocaster only a few years in the past.

It was solely pure that C.F. Martin & Co., who constructed Strings a customized D-45 just a few years in the past for his private assortment, would collaborate with him on a signature D-28 modeled after his treasured 1940 D-28—a guitar that hardly ever sees stage time however stays Strings’ fixed companion for writing and apply. 

In that spirit of creating a Martin accessible to up-and-coming gamers, Strings and Martin opted to create two signature dreadnoughts slightly than one: the D-28 Billy Strings ($3,799 road), a premium instrument with Strings’ requested modifications to the neck profile and scale (extra on that under), made with a spruce high and East Indian rosewood again and sides; and the D-X2E Billy Strings ($899), an reasonably priced, light-weight dread that includes a spruce high with HPL (high-pressure laminate) Brazilian rosewood again and sides and a satisfying satin end.

D-28 Billy Strings

With its basic herringbone trim, some would possibly argue that the D-28 Billy Strings might simply as effectively be referred to as an HD-28. Whereas that’s a small beauty distinction, the extra important departure from a prewar D-28 lies within the guitar’s 25-inch scale size and customized nut width.

Martin aficionados will acknowledge two widespread D-28 nut widths, relying on the instrument’s period: both 1-11/16 or 1-3/4 inches. Strings’ mannequin splits the distinction ever so barely, at 1-23/32. “I even have fairly small fingers,” says Strings, “however even I really feel just like the string spacing on some D-28s will get slightly slender in these first 5 frets.”

Likewise, the guitar includes a barely shortened scale size: 25 inches slightly than the standard 25.4. Does it change the best way the guitar performs? You guess. The shorter scale means string bending is noticeably simpler, with out sacrificing a lot in the best way of stress or bounce—even with .013s, which Strings himself makes use of. It must also show useful to anybody who’s ever discovered the dreadnought physique fashion a bit unwieldy.

The 1-23/32-inch nut width works fantastically for ripping bluegrass flatpicking licks that require precision inside the first few frets. Even as much as the 14-fret neck joint and past, the shorter scale and modified low oval neck form make extensive place shifts and cascading runs really feel straightforward and pure. The mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard mix for a quick, responsive really feel, befitting its virtuosic namesake.

With its vintage toner high end, vintage white binding, and abalone diamond-and-square fretboard inlays, the D-28 is a looker. Its East Indian rosewood again and sides add to the magnificence, however the actual magic is within the sound. The low finish is heat and spherical, the mids have a classic smoothness (particularly when performed with the rounded aspect of the decide), and the excessive finish delivers the flicker and readability that flatpickers crave.

The D-28 is effectively voiced, with no boxiness or muddy low-end growth. It pairs fantastically with a large-diaphragm mic and wishes little EQ to sit down completely in a combination. (Word: it doesn’t include an inner pickup.) The guitar has the type of velvety tone that invitations new concepts, and because of its excellent playability, chances are you’ll end up shedding observe of time whilst you play.

D-X2E Billy Strings

Recognizing that many younger gamers couldn’t afford the D-28, Strings and Martin created a extra reasonably priced mannequin with the identical core specs however totally different supplies. “There’s so many youngsters on the market that actually wish to discover ways to decide,” says Strings, “and so they want entry to an excellent instrument that they don’t must take out a mortgage for.”

The D-X2E Billy Strings greater than meets that purpose. Whereas skilled gamers might word the downgrades—particularly the HPL again and sides—the guitar continues to be constructed to carry out. It ships gig-ready with Martin’s E1 inner pickup system, an onboard tuner tucked beneath the soundhole, and accessible quantity and tone controls. Just like the D-28, it includes a 25-inch scale size and 1-23/32-inch nut, although right here the nut is white Corian, not bone, and the bridge pins are white plastic.

The ebony fretboard is a welcome inclusion, however the neck is manufactured from “choose hardwood” slightly than mahogany. The actual abalone inlays of the D-28 are fake abalone on the D-X2E, and the saddle is white Tusq as an alternative of compensated bone.

Tonally, there’s no query that the D-X2E doesn’t match the richness and complexity of its large brother. HPL might appear like rosewood, nevertheless it lacks the refinement and depth of the actual factor. That stated, the D-X2E sounds surprisingly good when amplified, with a properly sculpted tone and pure resonance. Even unplugged, it has a nice, balanced tone—not lush, however nonetheless charming.

The rugged HPL supplies make this dread effectively suited to rougher use, whether or not that’s life on the highway or in a youngster’s bed room. HPL additionally handles temperature shifts higher than rosewood, although the stable spruce high nonetheless requires care. A sensible contact: the open-gear nickel tuners with butterbean knobs are trendy and useful. The D-X2E ships with a cool, sturdy hemp softshell case embossed with Strings’ brand. It’s a enjoyable, funky, and playable entry-level guitar for aspiring pickers.

The Verdict

Is it price paying about $500 extra for the D-28 Billy Strings than for the standard D-28, which usually retails for round $3,299? That depends upon what you worth. The Strings mannequin is a critical skilled instrument, with noticeable upgrades in playability, particularly within the neck really feel and string response. It might convert skeptics who’ve discovered dreadnoughts too stiff or imposing.

As for the D-X2E, it faces stiff competitors from equally priced, all-solid-wood choices by makers like Eastman and Blueridge. However Strings’ title carries weight, and his endorsement could also be simply the inspiration a younger picker wants. Specs and supplies matter, however generally what issues extra is who the guitar reminds you of. It’s straightforward to think about the D-X2E turning into a beloved first guitar for a lot of, tucked beneath Christmas timber alongside Freeway Prayers.

D-28 Billy Strings

BODY 14-fret dreadnought; stable spruce high with forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing; stable East Indian rosewood again and sides; daring herringbone high inlay; zig-zag again purfling; Type 28 multi-stripe rosette; ebony fashionable stomach bridge with bone bridge pins (2-5/32″ string spacing); compensated bone saddle with 16″ radius; vintage toner high; gloss end

NECK 25″-scale real mahogany with modified low oval profile; dovetail neck joint; ebony fretboard; abalone diamond-and-square inlays; 20 frets; 1-23/32″ bone nut; 2-1/8″ width at twelfth fret; nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs; satin end

OTHER Hardshell case; accessible left-handed

MADE IN United States

PRICE $3,799 road

D-X2E Billy Strings

BODY 14-fret dreadnought;
stable spruce high with scalloped X-bracing; Brazilian rosewood HPL (high-pressure laminate) again and sides; ebony fashionable stomach bridge with white plastic bridge pins (2-5/32″ string spacing); Tusq saddle with 16″ radius; hand-applied satin end

NECK 25″-scale choose hardwood with modified low oval profile; mortise-and-tenon neck joint; ebony fretboard; fake abalone inlays; 20 frets; 1-23/32″ Corian nut; 2-1/8″ width at twelfth fret; nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs; satin end

OTHER Martin E1 electronics with built-in tuner; hemp softshell case with Billy Strings brand; accessible left-handed

MADE IN Mexico

PRICE $899 road

martinguitar.com

This text initially appeared within the July/August 2025 problem of Acoustic Guitar journal.