Came Perilously Close to a Mortal Sin

[West R Lee]

Down in the Hill country this weekend for a visit with Scratch and Graham when we decided to take in Hill Country Guitars in Wimberly. On the walls there were everything from Collings to Taylors to Huss and Dalton........but mostly Collings.

I played the Huss and Dalton a bit, then graduated to the Collings guitars, but of all of the guitars in the shop, only one caught my ear.....a 2009 Martin HD28 Custom. Apparently a limited run and a bracing design by George Gruhn, this thing sounded incredible....a great fingerstyle dreadnaught with a 1 3/4" nut, she played like butter and sounded like a band of angels.

We left the store for the return trip to Canyon Lake, and I told Graham and Scratch that I should have bought her. Asking price was $2370 and I mulled over it for a couple of days. On the way home this morning, I told Mrs West we were taking a slight detour......bout 50 miles. I stopped back in Hill Country Guitars with a rock solid offer in mind.......$2000, and I was prepared to buy her on the spot and bring her home. The salesman wouldn't budge off of $2200, so I thanked him for his time. But fellas, this thing sounded just incredible. Just wasn't meant to be, and my Westerly Guild record remains intact.

I would have loved to have brought her home, I came that close to being a Martin owner.

West

 

[AlohaJoe]

Oh, the shame! :shock:

But seriously, some guitars just sound better than others. Some magic combination of woods, bracing glue, love... who knows? The name on the headstock can be a clue as to what it might sound like, but in the end its about the sound and some instruments are just stand outs.

I've stretched bucks a few times to get a really remarkable sounding instrument and honestly West, I've never been sorry. They don't come along that often.

 

[taabru45]

Hint Hint Wink Wink........ :lol: :lol: Steffan
Have a look at this West....that herring bone is such a class act....
http://cgi.ebay.com/1991-MARTIN-HD-28-L ... 8187019460

 

[twocorgis]

No shame there Jim. Martin obviously must be doing something right, being made in the same place for so long. If you liked that one, don't play mine!

 

[killdeer43]

It would be fine if you gave in, Jim.
Just don't be upset if we start calling you....Marty. :lol:

Joe

 

[FNG]

West would have to change his name to Naz R. Eth.

 

[bluesypicky]

But seriously, some guitars just sound better than others. Some magic combination of woods, bracing glue, love... who knows?

....And the HD-28 is one of these on a consistent basis.
If I didn't own a DV-52, I would have to own the HD-28.
It is my favorite Martin Dread. I know exactly where you're coming from Jim.

 

[learnintoplay62]

Should of bought her West. If she spoke to you that much, what's a few hundred dollars over a life time

 

[Frosty]

Sin boldly!

And then go chat about it on UMGF

Seriously... life is too short for brand loyalty. We're fond of our Guilds around here, but that doesn't mean there aren't other top-notch guitars out there! I'm with '62... couple of bills is, what... week's worth of gasoline?

 

[TonyT]

If my house was on fire and I could only get one guitar out, I would grab my M36 without hesitation.

 

[Ridgemont]

Sin boldly!

And then go chat about it on UMGF

Seriously... life is too short for brand loyalty. We're fond of our Guilds around here, but that doesn't mean there aren't other top-notch guitars out there! I'm with '62... couple of bills is, what... week's worth of gasoline?

Or sin boldly and keep murking around here. I am surprised you were so smitten...It must have been a great guitar considering it moved you like that. I am also curious how the bracing pattern differs from the regular HD28. The HD28 has scalloped X bracing. The HD28V has forward shifted scalloped X bracing, but also has an adi top. Was the top sitka? I do not know much about pricing of customs, but in buying my 000-28H (the 000 equivalent of the HD28) I have seen used HD28 prices go from $1800-2000. I would think that a 2 year old custom would go for a couple hundred more. All in all, without seeing anything, and going off of what you describe, $2200 seems worth it. Especially if it moved you that much. Look at it this way, yes it's a Martin :x but at least you weren't moved by a Taylor. :shock:

 

[cjd-player]

Guess I'll go against the common consensus here.

I've got three great acoustics. Each has a purpose, yet I struggle to have adequate playing time with all three. One lags way behind.

So if the HD28 was a great guitar, what did it have that your current guitars do not have?
And which of your current guitars could it replace?

Personally, I think that if you do not have good answers to both of those questions, then you were right to walk away from it. For me, I buy guitars to play, not to collect.

 

[Ridgemont]

If I didn't own a DV-52, I would have to own the HD-28.

Gotta admit that it is kind of funny. You can get a used HD28 for around $2K, but you can find a used DV52 for less than half.

When you think about it, Guilds are a better deal on the used market. But something is to be said about the Martin's minimal depreciation. Realistically you can buy a brand new HD28 for about $2,200. Sell it 2 years later for 10% less. :shock:

 

[chazmo]

Down in the Hill country this weekend for a visit with Scratch and Graham when we decided to take in Hill Country Guitars in Wimberly. On the walls there were everything from Collings to Taylors to Huss and Dalton........but mostly Collings.

I played the Huss and Dalton a bit, then graduated to the Collings guitars, but of all of the guitars in the shop, only one caught my ear.....a 2009 Martin HD28 Custom. Apparently a limited run and a bracing design by George Gruhn, this thing sounded incredible....a great fingerstyle dreadnaught with a 1 3/4" nut, she played like butter and sounded like a band of angels.

We left the store for the return trip to Canyon Lake, and I told Graham and Scratch that I should have bought her. Asking price was $2370 and I mulled over it for a couple of days. On the way home this morning, I told Mrs West we were taking a slight detour......bout 50 miles. I stopped back in Hill Country Guitars with a rock solid offer in mind.......$2000, and I was prepared to buy her on the spot and bring her home. The salesman wouldn't budge off of $2200, so I thanked him for his time. But fellas, this thing sounded just incredible. Just wasn't meant to be, and my Westerly Guild record remains intact.

I would have loved to have brought her home, I came that close to being a Martin owner.

West

Wow, I'm SHOCKED! Gotta' say, though, I'm not surprised that any of us would like an HD28, West. They are magnificent instruments -- major tone monsters. The herringbone trim and basic appointments all appeal to me as well.

Not sure what Gruhn did to the bracing specs of this model you played, but the standard HD-28 has scalloped and I think shifted X-brace pattern from the standard D-28, which is a quieter but perhaps better balanced instrument.

Best wishes! (disclaimer, I own an HD-28 :embarassed: )

 

[Ridgemont]

Since I did a bunch of Martin research lately:

D28-Straight braced X pattern
HD28-Scalloped braces, X pattern
HD28V- Scalloped braces, forward shifted X pattern

 

[killdeer43]

West would have to change his name to Naz R. Eth.

:lol: :lol:
Perfect!

Joe

 

[dreadnut]

Gee, Westie, I thought you were gonna tell us about a great Texas-made guitar! I've hardly ever played a Collings I didn't like.

At Guitars For Vets a couple weeks ago, I have a new volunteer who walked in with his 1958 Martin D-28 :shock: I played it but I couldn't tell you how it stacks up against my DV-52 because he has the action really low and very light strings. Braz, though...

 

[West R Lee]

The bracing was shifted towards the upper bout somehow Ridge, and the top was Adirondack. Carl, what did it have?.....depth........that guitar had the deepest voice I've ever heard, but just a real depth in tone in general, and she was very easy to play.

As many of you know, I've always been somewhat of a Martin sceptic, this one was very different. Graham and Scratch are both Martin skeptics also, and were both apprehensive when I asked them to play her in a room full of Collings, Huss and Dalton and Taylors. They both became believers with about 2 strums.

On the $200 price discrepency........well that's just the way I am. I'll figure a top dollar and won't exceed that no matter what. In my view, the seller could have fudged $200. He said he had taken a trade on a Collings with the Martin, and with the prices of the Collings, there's no doubt he'd have made money on the general transaction. It just wasn't to be.

West

 

[twocorgis]

The bracing was shifted towards the upper bout somehow Ridge, and the top was Adirondack. Carl, what did it have?.....depth........that guitar had the deepest voice I've ever heard, but just a real depth in tone in general, and she was very easy to play.

West

Sounds a lot like mine, Jim. That guitar has the deepest voice, and most amazing bass response I've ever heard in an acoustic, and the modified V profile of the neck suits me perfectly.

I had a really bad D28 from 1976 that I bought (and got rid of) in the '80s, and I swore I'd never own another Martin. It's good that I don't follow my own advice. :lol:

 

[West R Lee]

But the week wasn't a total loss as I was able to score a new summer hat in Luckenbach, even made the transfer of the Guild pin to the new headgear. You'll notice I have my bodyguard in tow. A great time was had with some very good friends. This shot was taken at the Gristmill in Gruene next door to Gruene Hall.

West