Martin Guitars Custom Shop 000-28

Sonic Evaluation

Sitting here looking out the window of my office at the Rocky Mountains with the sun high in the sky on a clear, crisp 55-degree afternoon, I have to say that this Martin 000-28 matches both the weather and my mood perfectly! "Sunny" is the perfect way to describe this guitar: it's bright and vibrant, yet it has a warmth to it that makes you feel content to sit and wile away the afternoon strumming and picking. It has a springy, piano-like attack, allowing this serial to ring out with immediacy and force. It also has tons of headroom, and when you max out the top and start inducing compression from digging it, it has a lovely percussive snap.

The midrange quite punchy, and on a scale of focused to broad, it lands squarely in the middle, giving notes satisfying weight without overwhelming other frequencies. The trebles have a glorious sparkle and chime to them, and they're sweeter than grandma's cookies dipped in fudge. The low-end is woody and will rattle your ribs with the powerful fundamental tone it produces. Speaking of which, this guitar has an excellent blend of fundamental and overtone presence, sounding lush and full without losing that signature Martin thump.

This serial's rapid response and sweet tone make it a perfect choice for a fingerstylist, but it's just as good as a strummer because of its headroom, midrange presence, and delectable high-end. Anyone seeking an acoustic ATV with the marvelous tone of koa will love this sunny sweetheart!