Martin HD-28 close-up look

chazmo

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Gave a little love to the HD-28 today. I took a bunch of pictures (http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/cc47 ... n%20HD-28/), but here are some annotated highlights. First, the final result. This guitar looks (and smells) great:

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Eeew, obviously I was negligent about changing the strings on this baby... She doesn't get a lot of play time in casa Chaz, but she is a sweet dread! Maybe it was preparation for LMG2 a couple months ago, but after stringing up all those 12-strings, a 6-string is a cakewalk, guys :)

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Getting ready:

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Quick look at the center strip. Never realized they were recommending light-gauge strings. She's running pretty heavy mediums.

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Double eeeeeew! This glob of god-knows-what is now inside my vacuum cleaner:

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Big-time scalloped braces (a defining characteristic of the HDs):

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Fretboard and bridge soaking up a little bore oil:

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Neck block. Looks like I'm rolling over the odometer:

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Martin's unique truss rod access:

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Top after some cleaning/polishing. Love the color:

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Anyway, hope you enjoyed. I always love spending a little quality with my instruments.
 

killdeer43

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Thanks for the tour. A Martin, you say! :wink:

*If I may, you could certainly use a neck block to make string changing a lot easier on you and the guitar.
Do you have one?

Curious Joe
 

chazmo

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killdeer43 said:
Thanks for the tour. A Martin, you say! :wink:

*If I may, you could certainly use a neck block to make string changing a lot easier on you and the guitar.
Do you have one?

Curious Joe
They had lots of those at the shop in New Hartford. I would've LOVED one of those as a door prize (they weren't giving them away).

Christmas/Hannukah present? Anyone? Bueller?
 

chazmo

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Scratch said:
That's a pretty thing. Nice pics, Chaz...
Thanks, Ken.

This is a terrific guitar, but someday I will trade it for a slothead, 12-fret version, which I consider to be the ultimate of the breed. A 12-string in that configuration would probably seal the deal. Martin's slotheads are to die for (IMO).
 

chazmo

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Joe, that's really cool!! Me likey!

The guys at the factory have leather-covered ones that were really cool. Too bad I couldn't take pictures of them for ya.

What I do now is sit in a chair and balance the neck on my knee while I wind. A couple of times the guitars have almost fallen off the table where the body rests, but I'm pretty careful. :)
 

killdeer43

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Chazmo said:
Joe, that's really cool!! Me likey!

The guys at the factory have leather-covered ones that were really cool. Too bad I couldn't take pictures of them for ya.

What I do now is sit in a chair and balance the neck on my knee while I wind. A couple of times the guitars have almost fallen off the table where the body rests, but I'm pretty careful. :)
If you put the support close to the end of the table, the head is infinitely more accessible from both sides to get to those tuners.

And seriously, if you really "likey" let's get that Xmas present in the mail ASAP. :D

Joe
 

fronobulax

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Chazmo said:
The guys at the factory have leather-covered ones that were really cool.

Not sure whether it was at LMG I or II but I definitely saw a leather bean bag thingie that was being used to support the headstock that had the logo of a gun accessories manufacturer. To the extent that we are dealing with the same object I wonder if the product targeted at guitar owners is cheaper or more expensive than the equivalent one targeted at gun owners.
 

chazmo

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fronobulax said:
Chazmo said:
The guys at the factory have leather-covered ones that were really cool.

Not sure whether it was at LMG I or II but I definitely saw a leather bean bag thingie that was being used to support the headstock that had the logo of a gun accessories manufacturer. To the extent that we are dealing with the same object I wonder if the product targeted at guitar owners is cheaper or more expensive than the equivalent one targeted at gun owners.
I missed that, frono! I figured it was something the shop guys made for themselves.
 

davismanLV

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fronobulax said:
Chazmo said:
The guys at the factory have leather-covered ones that were really cool.

Not sure whether it was at LMG I or II but I definitely saw a leather bean bag thingie that was being used to support the headstock that had the logo of a gun accessories manufacturer. To the extent that we are dealing with the same object I wonder if the product targeted at guitar owners is cheaper or more expensive than the equivalent one targeted at gun owners.
Isn't it funny how they do that? When my mom was alive, and on dialysis, they'd wrap her access graft on her forearm with Kling Wrap after she was done. If you bought that stuff in the human drug store, it was fairly expensive. So we went to one of the big pet stores where they sell the exact same product, only for pets it's about a THIRD of the price. Go figure....

It's not so much about what something is worth, it's about what someone will pay in a given situation.
 

bluesypicky

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Great guts pics Chaz! You shoulda've brought it with you in NH, we would have kept it quiet. :lol:
Love me an HD-28... 8)
 

davismanLV

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Oh, sheesh.... I forgot to say, Chaz....that's a beautiful HD-28!! I love those up, close and personal pictures.... it's almost like guitar porn. :lol:

What a beautiful guitar! Thanks for sharing.....
 

chazmo

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Thanks, guys!! It's fun poking around with the little Canon inside guitars. I was particularly interested in the HD's bracing, since that's the primary difference among the three D-28 models (D-, HD-, and V) models. I really think the braces in this HD are very creatively shaped. These were probably carved/shaved by hand in '96, not sure.

Yeah, Pascal, the Volvo was already kinda' loaded down with 12-strings at LMG2. I figured with a Taylor and an Ibanez with me, I'd reached my quota of heresy! ;)
 

RussB

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There's an HD-28 at Union that I am lusting for. It puts all the new Guild there to shame



I use some foam that was removed from a Pelican case. Two pieces for acoustics, and one layer for electrics


RK002.jpg
 

AlohaJoe

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Chazmo said:
Double eeeeeew! This glob of god-knows-what is now inside my vacuum cleaner:

IMG_3664.jpg
Those are "tone balls". They can take years to fully mature and should not be removed! They can also be hard to come by, but after seeing the kitty-bed (we have the same item in the same place front of our fireplace) I have a good idea who may have given it to you.

Beautiful guitar! I love my 000.
- jw
 

twocorgis

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Beautiful guitar Chaz. I loves me my Martin, that's for sure; it's the best square shoulder dread I've ever played (I try not to say that too loudly around my old standby D50). All guitars are all good; some are just a little better than others. 8)
 

chazmo

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jw, you almost made me spit my scotch!!! :) Tone balls indeed! Actually, yes, we have two kitties in the house, but I think these tone balls pre-date them. :)

Thanks, Sandy. Yup, you know it, man! I'm a big fan of the D-50, but the HD-28 is one of those guitars that just blew my hair back at the music store (although I ended up buying this one used from someone at UMGF). It's truly a tone monster. Must be the tone balls.
 

evenkeel

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Chazmo said:
This is a terrific guitar, but someday I will trade it for a slothead, 12-fret version, which I consider to be the ultimate of the breed. A 12-string in that configuration would probably seal the deal. Martin's slotheads are to die for (IMO).

I had the opportunity to play mid '70's Martin D12-20 this summer. 12 string, slot head, slope shoulder, dread. 12 frets clear. Stunning sound. Blew me away.

I've owned a couple of six string, slot heads over the years. I'm incapable of re-stringing without stabing myself with the strings and drawing a bit of blood. A 12 string slot head I might need a transfusion.
 
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