First Posted On Acoustic Guitar Forum, July 4, 2025:

Like many of you out there in AGF guitarland, I've been watching this Martin/Sweetwater model collaboration since around 2021 when it came about. It's a variation on the now-discontinued Martin HD-28V. The difference is that this Sweetwater offering has an Adirondack Spruce Top and Adirondack Spruce Bracing. Over the last few years, I've scoped out this model, looking for what I consider an Adirondack Spruce Top that would compel me to order one. As sales of the model moved along over the years, I'd seen several decent examples enter and exit Sweetwater's Guitar Gallery. Finally, last Saturday, I saw one in the Guitar Gallery that met my Adirondack Spruce Top grain criteria of needing to have a straight, moderate width, evenly-spaced, quartersawn grain top (this top even has some silking), and ordered it. Having medium-sized hands, I also like the 1 11/16-inch nut width of its Modified V Profile neck. Yesterday, my order arrived and I gave it a look over at my FedEx Office Print & Ship Center, and all was well. Back at home, I tuned it to pitch and left it out on a stand overnight to settle in and acclimate to my climate-controlled room. Today, I'm playing it right now and l love the tone and feel of this guitar.

Okay, so I already have a 2020 Martin HD-28 Reimagined 1935 Sunburst that has forward-shifted bracing with a nice Sitka Spruce Top, and it sounds mighty fine. That guitar and my new 2025 Martin D-28 Select Special sound wonderful, but the new Adirondack-topped Martin D-28 Special sounds louder and brighter, so it's not a redundant addition to my stable. Given what I hear now from the Martin D-28 Special, when it opens up, it's going to be everything I could want in a Martin Rosewood dreadnought! I don't see any flaws or cosmetic issues in the guitar's construction. As received, the action height and neck relief are perfect for my bluegrass flatpicking, heavy, medium, and lighter strumming, and fingerpicking, i.e., not too high or too low. This guitar includes a top-of-the-line TKL 6-latch/3-hinge Geib-style case.

Thanks for looking in, and please ask me any questions you may have about the Sweetwater Martin D-28 Select Special.

Tech Specs
String Type: Steel
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
Body Shape: Dreadnought
Back & Sides Wood: East Indian Rosewood
Top Wood: Adirondack Spruce
Color: Natural
Top Bracing: Scalloped/Forward-shifted Adirondack bracing
Binding: Grained Ivoroid
Neck Wood: Select Hardwood
Neck Shape: Modified V
Radius: 16"
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay: Abalone Diamonds
Number of Frets: 20
Scale Length: 25.4'
Nut Width: 1.6875"
Nut Material: Bone
Saddle Material: Bone, Vintage Style Long Saddle
Bridge Material: Ebony
Tuning Machines: Open Gear Nickel
Strings: Martin, .013-.056
Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
Manufacturer Part Number: 10CMFGSWEETWATER0015