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I have to say this: just because it's a Martin, or an HD-28, doesn't mean that it's the end-all, or the right guitar for you. Over the last 40 years, I've played hundreds of guitars, and that includes many, many Martins. Some of those really worked for me, most didn't. You've got an opportunity to select the best guitar for you, and brand name not withstanding, maybe the HD-28 is the way to go, and maybe it's not. You've got to play it, and not just in the shop. You need to take it home, put new strings on it, and really examine it thoroughly. Check out the fit and finish. Is the guitar perfect, inside and out? Contrary to popular belief, even Martin occasionally sends out a guitar that shouldn't have passed quality control and been shipped. Check the nut, the saddle, the string break angle, the bridge, the heel. Examine the neck. Is it twisted? How does it feel? Is the width of the fingerboard suited to your hand and style of play? Look at the top. Is the grain straight and even, narrow or wide? Is there runout? Are all the woods precisely quarter-sawn and bookmatched? Do you like the appointments? Do the tuners work smoothly? And how about the sound? Does it suit your ear? Is is the tone balanced? Is the intonation spot-on? Do you get a free setup with the purchase, or is this an extra expense?

The last time I played a HD-28 I really liked was around 1992; a cherry sunburst, and it was great. Later releases, not so much. The most recent Martin I played was a 2008 D-45, and to be honest, I wasn't particularly impressed. I've seen more than one player walk into a shop, dead-set on buying a Martin of some kind, and end up walking out with something completely different. I myself was one of those people at one time, and despite how much I wanted one, the only guitar in the shop that called my name was a Gruhn-designed Guild GF-55, and I played that guitar for 18 years, until I gave to my brother, who had been dying to have it for a long, long time. I still miss it.

In the end, it's all about the tone, and what feels right under your hands. Remember, unless you intend on buying and selling, this guitar may end up being your primary instrument for years to come ... so you had better be sure that it's the one you really want, and not be so impressed with the brand name or model number. Some instruments will speak to you, and others are just duds, regardless of the manufacturer, and perhaps even more so when an instrument is a factory-made guitar. A high percentage will be average, some good, a few great. I know people who own collections of Martin guitars, many of them pre-war so-called Holy Grail instruments, and even among them, there are some that are only holding their value because of age and rarity, despite not sounding very good.

I don't own a Martin, although I'm certainly not adverse to the idea. It's definitely not because Martin doesn't make outstanding instruments, in this day and age, many companies are producing the finest guitars ever built, and Martin is no exception. But there have always been duds, guitars that just never open up, never really produce much volume, don't have good bass and resonance, have shallow mids, and produce jangly, shrill, harsh trebles. And most of those sad guitars will sound like that forever ... you can't buy a guitar based on the hope that it will improve. Most do not. If it's not the real deal from the first time you play it, put it back on the rack.

Buy the guitar you like the best, the one that insists you take it home and make music ... the one that makes you want to play it every minute of the day. It doesn't matter whether its a Martin, a Taylor, a Gibson, or a Takamine, etc, etc. The manufacturer's name, the length of time they have been in business, and even their reputation, that doesn't matter. When push comes to shove; quality, tone, playability, and how well the guitar fits you as a player ... that's what matters, regardless of whether the guitar costs 400 dollars, or 40,000. IMHO. Otherwise, you'll eventually find yourself disappointed, end up turning over the guitar, and while older and wiser, you'll still be looking for "the" instrument that advances you on your musical journey.

My 17.5 cents (adjusted for inflation.)

... JT