Martin Guitars Custom Shop 000-28

Sonic Evaluation

My coworkers practically had to use a vice grip to pry this fantastic Custom Shop 000-28 from my hands (probably because they wanted to play it, too!). We've long held the 000-28's versatility in high renown here at Wildwood, and this serial is one of the best acoustic all-terrain vehicles in recent memory. On a scale of vintage woodiness and modern lushness, this serial sits somewhere near the middle, as it produces a perfect blend of powerful, punchy fundamental tones and sweet, rich overtones. It has a round, church bell-like attack that springs forth with immediacy, and it also has tons of headroom, so it sounds open and dynamic even at higher volumes. Speaking of which, this serial is loud enough to make some timid dreadnoughts run for the hills and make haste for the wooded realm!

The low-end is powerful and present but not so much so that it overwhelms the other frequencies, the midrange is more robust than usual for a rosewood-bodied guitar, and the trebles have just the right amount of sparkle. Though it certainly sounds rich, it also has superb string separation and clarity, making for an excellent balance.

As a strummer, this guitar delivers campfire-worthy joy when you dig in, but it also has plenty of capacity for nuance, so it's great for flatpickers looking for a slightly more sculpted tone. As a fingerstyle guitar, its responsiveness, balance, and full tone at lower volumes make it a supreme champion in that arena, too. No matter what your musical proclivities may be, this serial will take you wherever you want to go in style!

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