Recording King
RD-26
submitted 9/8/2008
|
Submitter |
HD28 |
Where Purchased |
Cliff Fitch (Fitch Banjos) |
Year Purchased |
2008 |
Price Paid |
300.00 ($US) (bought USED) |
Sound
|
This guitar has solid Mohog. back and sides with a solid spruce top. The sound is compariable to a D-18 that I use to own. It is very loud due to the higher action on it with not a lot of bass response. This guitar has great mids and highs which makes it very bright but great sounding for flatpicking in my opinion. |
Sound Rating |
8 |
Setup
|
The guitar had what I think was a factory set up on it with the action being a tad high. I bought this guitar for a beater and will experiment on it over time. |
Setup Rating |
8 |
Appearance
|
This is a catagory that is in the eye of the beholder but I think the guitar is very pleasing to look at.
Most folks do not like the pickguard but it dont really bother me to much. I did not notice any flaws of any consern right off the bat. This guitar as most that I have heard about does have a little belly below the bridge but not as much as some I have talked to.
I do not care for the headstock logo and crown I would like to see something else on the headstock, I will prob. in time sand it down to nothing. |
Appearance Rating |
8 |
Reliability
|
Hey what can you expect for a PacRim guitar. This one is one of the better ones in my opinion, but could use some new tuners. I will play it till it falls apart. |
Reliability Rating |
9 |
Customer Service
|
I bought this guitar used from Cliff Fitch who is a banjo maker in TX. I have had great communication with Cliff and he has done a great job keeping me informed via email during the entire sale of the guitar.
I will not return the guitar for any reason but I am sure Cliff would do his best to make anything right.
Kudos to Cliff! |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
Nothing really stands out on this guitar as extrodinary. It is a basic D-18V copy with SOLID Wood. It has a modified V-Neck and a volute at the headstock.
I do not like the cheap tuners and will upgrade them and I will change out the bridge pins to ebony to get a less bright sound out of her. |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
|
I think for the money you will not go wrong with this guitar no matter what you do.
A solid wood guitar that sounds great for around $500. oo new and used for cheaper.
This will make a great guitar for anyone wanting a backup or a beater or someone wanting their first guitar.
I do enjoy playing this guitar to is fullest and I will play it till it falls apart. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Martin
DM
submitted 9/1/2008
|
Submitter |
HD28 |
Where Purchased |
GC Auction |
Year Purchased |
2000 |
Price Paid |
350.00 ($US) (bought USED) |
Sound
|
This guitar has a good sound to it. This was the first in the "road" series that I have ever bought and was plesently supprised. |
Sound Rating |
7 |
Setup
|
Basic setup straight from the factory. I never changed nothing on this guitar |
Setup Rating |
6 |
Appearance
|
Just your basic look and feel. It took me about a week before I noticed the bridge pins had a maroon inlay in them which I thought was very pleasing to look at. This guitar had the Martin tortis pickguard. |
Appearance Rating |
6 |
Reliability
|
This guitar was a 99' model and I basicly wore it out and used it at every campfire I went to and she held up no matter what I did to it. |
Reliability Rating |
8 |
Customer Service
|
I bought this thru the Guitar Center Online Auction and it has no warranty (2nd hand). The only reason I rated it a 1 is because there was no customer service available. |
Customer Service |
1 |
Components
|
Basic ping tuners are the only component to mention on this guitar. |
Components Rating |
8 |
Overall Comments
|
Overall I would recomend this guitar for anyone looking for a decent starter or beater. I have never done anything other than use it as my beater and it has been the best one I have ever had. Stood up to all the abuse I put it thru. |
Overall Rating |
9 |
|
Epiphone
DR
submitted 9/1/2008
|
Submitter |
HD28 |
Where Purchased |
Guitar Center |
Year Purchased |
2006 |
Price Paid |
150.00 ($US) |
Sound
|
The sound was suprising for a laminated guitar in a beginnger pack that it came in. I enjoyed it finger picked more than flatpicked. The action was really hight making the guitar really loud. |
Sound Rating |
7 |
Setup
|
Set up was something to be desired but on a $150.oo guitar what to you expect.
I found the action really high and when I went to lower the saddle I found a brass strip between the saddle and the bridge which was wierd to say the least. I guess they thought no one would notice or take the saddle off.
|
Setup Rating |
4 |
Appearance
|
This guitar is very easy on the eyes believe it or not. I got the sunburt finish which had some runs in it but that is something I expected in a guitar such as this.
I hated the pickguard with that big E on it, I took it off and it became a lot better looking.
Tuners are very cheaply made and would have to tune the guitar about every two or three songs I would play on it. |
Appearance Rating |
5 |
Reliability
|
This guitar for me was another beater for the camp and it did everything I wanted it to do. I have no troubles with it being dependable. I would never gig with it but it makes a great camp guitar sitting around the fire. |
Reliability Rating |
6 |
Customer Service
|
Did not ever need any or want any with this guitar. I would cost more to ship it and work on it than what I paid for it. |
Customer Service |
3 |
Components
|
If you wanted maxium playability out of this guitar you would have to upgrade everything. ie; nut, tuners, saddle,bridge pins. |
Components Rating |
3 |
Overall Comments
|
Like I said this was a great little camp guitar for the money that came with a cheap audible tuner, strap and gig bag. For $150.oo new you could not beat it if you are looking for something to throw in your camper and stay there. |
Overall Rating |
6 |
|
Martin
D-18
submitted 9/1/2008
|
Submitter |
HD28 |
Where Purchased |
Mack & Daves in Huntington, WV |
Year Purchased |
2008 |
Price Paid |
1800 ($US) |
Sound
|
What can I say, the D-18 is a great sounding guitar with great mids and highs. This guitar does not have the bass like the 28's but sounds great playing lead on. |
Sound Rating |
9 |
Setup
|
Setup was typical Martin setup with nothing done from the factory to my hands. I typicaly like the action to be just a tad higher than what it was but I had no problems with it what so ever. |
Setup Rating |
9 |
Appearance
|
Your basic drednaught appearance with black pickguard. finish what flawless and had a little bear claw look to it. |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
I did not have this guitar very long so I cannot comment on how well things will hold up on it. |
Reliability Rating |
5 |
Customer Service
|
Mack & Daves in Huntington, WV made sure I was taken care of in every acpect of anything that I wanted or needed. Very helpful and I would recomend them to anyone! |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
|
Components Rating |
not rated |
Overall Comments
|
Overall one of the best guitars I have played, it was just a shame I had to part with it so soon. Oh well blame the economy on that one. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
|
Martin
HD-28
submitted 8/30/2008
|
Submitter |
HD28 |
Where Purchased |
Guitar Center |
Year Purchased |
2005 |
Price Paid |
1800 ($US) |
Sound
|
When I first got this guitar the sound was your typical Martin HD sound great but not a WOW factor.
Now after playing it about every day (no lie) The guitar has really opened up and is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever owned and I get compliments on it everywhere I go. |
Sound Rating |
9 |
Setup
|
This guitar had the standard Martin set up on it when I recieved it. I have sense changed Bridge pins and twiked the truss rod a little. |
Setup Rating |
8 |
Appearance
|
This guitar is the standard of which all drednaughts try to mimick. There were no flaws of anykind on the guitar and was in pristine condition. Kudos to Martin on this one! |
Appearance Rating |
10 |
Reliability
|
After 3yrs of playing just about every day there is a little wear starting to show. I need a new fret job on 1-5 and 6-10 dressed. The top has started to darken quite nicely looking back at older photos of her.
The tuners which I assume are Martin Pings are starting to slip a little on the 6th string which I think is common.
My only problem is would like to see Martin use a stronger material for their frets. |
Reliability Rating |
9 |
Customer Service
|
This guitar has a long story behind it which envolves the Guitar Center Kids trying to screw me over but then making it right after I got Martin involved in the process.
Martin will not take crap from anyone when it comes to their products I found this out first hand. When dealing with Martin Customer Service I spoke to a rep. every time who knew my name with out having to tell it to them. They did me right and took care of business the way Professionals do. |
Customer Service |
10 |
Components
|
The components are your standard Martin items. Nothing weak or cheap about anything. This guitar is very aduquate right out of the box. |
Components Rating |
9 |
Overall Comments
|
Let's face it, ever since Martin envented the Drednaught 28 series it is the most copied guitar on the planet. Everyone wants to copy a martin pre-war guitar just like everyone wants to copy a Gibson Banjo or a Gibson Loar. There are a lot of fine quality guitar makers out there and kudos to them for making a quality product. But at the end of the day you still have a Martin clone.
There are plenty of guitars that sound better out of the box than a new HD-28 if it be a custom guitar or even another Martin. But you will never go wrong with the original design of the HD-28.
I will NEVER get rid of this guitar and I do mean NEVER! It is all I ever need on stage or off. |
Overall Rating |
10 |
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