If no person talked about that Martin’s new Customary line had been up to date, a participant could be forgiven for not instantly noticing that the most recent D-28 has been subtly modified. In spite of everything, it’s the D-28 – some of the recognizable and enduring American icons – and the considered altering such a flagship is more likely to elevate some eyebrows.

Martin is asking it the Customary Sequence Refresh, and the corporate has made modifications to its total line of Requirements from the 18 collection up, and added three fashions. The tweaks are important, and plenty of gamers will discover one thing to love within the new strategy.

Aesthetically, the Customary has undergone a minor refresh, with a modified heel that Martin calls “vintage-style” and an extended diamond neck transition that’s just like (however extra substantial than) the diamond volute on prior fashions. The bone nut is now reduce at an angle to supply a cleaner transition between the headstock and the fretboard, and bridge pins have been upgraded to bone.

Past the 28’s look, the massive rosewood field has modified in some very actual methods, borrowing from Martin’s Golden Period specs. The Sitka spruce bracing is now scalloped/forward-shifted X-pattern, and the neck profile Martin calls the “Golden Period modified low oval” feels a bit fuller than the efficiency fashions. Maybe the most important change is the ebony fretboard, which is noticeably thinner than earlier iterations, with a beveled edge.

At simply 4.2 kilos, the tester felt gentle and delicate. Projection was no subject, and the forward-shifted bracing means this dreadnought punches laborious within the decrease registers. And as spectacular because it was sonically, the actual star of the present is its neck; it might be coincidental, however the thinner fretboard on the satin neck makes the guitar really feel broken-in straight out of the field. That new configuration will get partial credit score, however stellar workmanship and care throughout the construct will get the remainder. Both method, this new D-28 feels prefer it’s been performed for some time.

It’s nonetheless the D-28 Customary, however this model seems like Martin is incorporating options of its higher-end fashions to ship an upgraded expertise within the Customary package deal. – Michael Shirek

This text initially appeared in VG’s Might 2025 subject. All copyrights are by the creator and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.