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 Rod Neep |
Tell me about the Martin D12-28 |
Lead | |
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(06/08/09 7:42 AM) |
There seems to be very little mention of the Martin D12-28 on here.
Plenty about 35s and Js I am mildly gassing 
Tell me about your experiences with the Martin D12-28 Rod |
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Freeman |
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(06/08/09 11:24 AM) |
I have a 1980 D12-28 and while it is a very nice guitar I have never totally bonded with it (and keep thinking I should sell it). Mine had a bit of a belly
and needed a neck reset, which was done a couple of years ago by Bryan Kimsey - he also did some repairs, crowned frets and replaced the big rosewood
bridgeplate with a maple one. That work (and Bryan's incredible setup, which included individually compensating each string of each course) greatly
improved the playability.
As you know, D12-28's are short scale and are braced just like a non scalloped D28. In my opinion they are a big boomy dread, (duh) biased towards the bass. They are flat pick cannons and seem happiest played in the first positions (mine didn't intonate particularly well untill Bryan worked his magic). I like to down tune two half steps, it is OK with that but gets pretty muddy tuned any lower. The short scale is nice in that it makes fretting a little easier, but probably is some of the problems down tuning. Mine has aged beautifully - both the top and the rosewood are quite lovely. When I say I've never completely bonded with it, I am a finger style player and have ended up with two smaller bodied 12 strings which seem a little better balanced for that style of play (one is ladder braced and I play a lot of slide on it). But if strumming and flat picking is your style, the D12-28 would be a great guitar. My $0.02 - opinions will vary. Here it is with the OM12 and Stella clone 
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gfspencer |
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(06/08/09 11:25 AM) |
I had one. I liked it. It did everything well. I traded it on a Grand J12-40E because I didn't have an interest
in owning two 12-string guitars. If you like a standard D-28 (and I do) you will like a D12-28.
1969 Brazilian Rosewood D-35
2001 D-41DF - Dan Fogelberg 2004 LXM - Little Martin 2008 JC-16ME Maple Aura 2009 Grand J12-40E |
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desaljs |
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(06/08/09 1:10 PM) |
Rod,
I had one too, and never bonded with it either. I don't know what it was, I just never reached for it much. To be honest, I had better luck with Taylor 12-strings in terms of tone and playability. The Martin was a bit muddy when strummed. I like spruce over maple for an acoustic 12. I wish Martin would make an OM based 12-string, with a less beefy neck and a 1 3/4 inch nut (or the 1 13/16 like the new Jumbo and string spacing like this model). I love the sound of acoustic 12-strings, but they are a challenge for my smaller sized hands. Jim D P.S How you gettin on with that Weber mando? |
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Rod Neep |
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(06/08/09 4:08 PM) |
Weber make great manolins
Back to the 12 string.... I have owned a few in my time, and I have certain songs which work really well with one....but I always wanted a D-28 12 string. 
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teherie |
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(06/08/09 5:39 PM) |
I have just never warmed up to the D-28 12 but I have only played a few. The other posters to your inquiry seemed to have lukewarm responses for the most part
and the only performer I ever saw using one was South African folk singer Roger Whittaker.
If I could find one, I would opt for a used D-35 12 string because across the board, they seem to receive the highest marks. But the prices of the 35 and the J models are higher than a lot of people want to pay for their 12 string. Guilds seem to rank right up there too. After playing lots of different 12 strings (Guild, Yamaha, Alvarez, Taylor and a few others) I special ordered a Larrivee LV-03MT a few years back and walked out the door for considerably less than anything else I could have found. The L body is great for strumming and finger picking. I also played a really nice quilted maple Larrivee (L-09) that is/was still posted @ Trinity Guitars. I have to admit that Larrivees rarely generate any activity on this forum but I was able to play five or six before special ordering mine. It took 11 weeks from placing the order to accepting delivery. |
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mikeoso |
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(06/09/09 2:11 PM) |
just my .02 worth....if I wanted a 12 for fijnger-picking, I'd go with a J12-16....as it is, I'm mostly ma strummer, so the J12-15 does it for me.
Mike the Bear
HJ-28 B1 J12-15 |
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Roger Kern |
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(06/09/09 2:25 PM) |
Don't overlook the D12-20 if you're looking at a short scale dread 12. I think the mahogany really makes that body style shine. I will have my '71
at Naz this year if you'd like a test drive, Rod (or anybody else there, for that matter).
Roger
Martins (standard): 1883(?) 1-21(?) custom(?), 1919 Style A Mandolin, 1931 5-17T, 1933 R-18, ~1937 Style 1 uke, 1951 00-17, 1971 D12-20 Martins (custom): Maury's Music 00-28VSMM1, Buffalo Brothers 000-16SK2 Pictures 
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Petespix |
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(06/09/09 9:56 PM) |
My 12-28 is a mid 70's model. Its an easy playing guitar with a warm lush full sound. Can get a bit muddy but I like the lower level of jangle. Having
several guitars including a 1970 D12-20 and a mid 70's Guild G212 12 string and assorted 6 stringers, I have a habit of not picking up an individual guitar
for weeks or months. Among all the guitars that have not been played for a while and then picked up again, the 12-28 is the guitar whose sound quality is the
most surprising and striking. It has a beautiful sound.
Peter |
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kvalois |
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(06/10/09 8:33 AM) |
I've played anumber of D12-28s through the years and I agree-- they tend to be "muddy" and even "dark" sounding!!! I must admit that my
preference is for "brighter" sounding guitars.
In fact, my Roger McGuinn D12-42RM is the sweetest sounding 12-string I've ever played. After I brought it to an authorized Martin luthier, it came back with lower action (very easy to play) and even more sustain and complex overtones-- absolutely NOTHING like the D12-28s I've tried!!!
D12-42RM
D7 (Roger McGuinn) HD 7 (McGuinn) |
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Martin Seagull |
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(06/10/09 8:12 PM) |
"In fact, my Roger McGuinn D12-42RM is the sweetest sounding 12-string I've ever played. After I brought it to an authorized Martin luthier, it came
back with lower action (very easy to play) and even more sustain and complex overtones-- absolutely NOTHING like the D12-28s I've tried!!"
.............kvalois
To what do you attribute the difference. I'm curious, given that the two guitars are virtually identical except for the trim. Just the difference between individual guitars....................? I have an 07 D12-28 and though overtone rich (it ain't mahogany), I wouldn't call it muddy. Like your D12-41RM mine has been set by a Martin approved luthier. It suits me to a tee. I flat pick and finger pick, flesh and nails, though the latter mostly rythmical folky stuff, which sounds really sweet on it. I find it a very good instrument for backing my voice. By the way, the Martin Flex Core Custom Lights sound really good on it. I'm really into those base notes. Regards. |
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12barz |
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(06/11/09 7:09 AM) |
Mine's old enough to go out without a chaperone, as long as she's back before midnight. Got a great set up, w/ a bone saddle, added bone pins, and use
DR Sunbeam round cores. The usual opinion of the sound compares it to a grand piano. I'm happy with it!
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Rod Neep |
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(06/11/09 7:47 AM) |
Keep it coming folks. I am finding this interesting.
As we all know, sound qualities are hard to describe in words, and I am trying to sort out the mud from the trees here. Basically most people prefer "jangly" treble in a 12 string, wheras the D12-28 is generally described here as "darker" or "muddy" (having less resonance). Generally speaking, I prefer the darker deeper round sound of a standard D-28 (or variant) in a guitar. That Martin rosewood sound. So I guess that I would prefer the D12-28. If it turns out to be "muddy" then I can always play around with strings and bridge pins to tweak the sound. Maybe. 
Rod |
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Petespix |
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(06/11/09 8:53 AM) |
kvalois wrote: Thats funny because low action, a lot of sustain and complex overtones are appropriate descriptions of my 12-28. I wonder if our different reactions to the model has anything to do with its age? Mine is a 1975 (I think). Peter |
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12barz |
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(06/11/09 10:04 AM) |
Yeah, Rod, the term 'jangly' does not fit the D12-28. I've got a B-25-12 that has jangled since I bought it in '67, I must say that I
haven't played it but a couple of hours since '95. Basically, the Martin makes the Gibson sound more like a percussion instrument.
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 MikeHalloran |
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(06/11/09 10:45 AM) |
Because of Roger Whitaker, finding out what they sound like isn't hard. They aren't as bright as a mahogany - well - anything. A good singer's
guitar and those who like them tend to not let go. It's been the Martin lineup since 1971 - dealers love them and customers keep buying them. Remember that
we are a tiny fraction of the 12 string universe here.
With a list of $2399, a MAP of $1,867 and certain dealers who would probably sell it below $1,500, it almost makes sense to buy one new - certainly more sense than the one at Elderly needing major work for over $1,100. Even being on the other side of the pond, you are resourceful guy as we all know. Rod, the only way you are going to know is to know - ya know? (I can't believe I wrote that - oh yea, I had a stroke) The prices on used ones - and the relative lack of availability - tells my that you have little to lose if you want to check one out.
Mike Halloran
'49 00-28G, '03 000C-16SGTNE, '03 000-15S, Backpacker Mandolin, '60s Style 0 uke, '67 D12-35, '75 D-35S, Cowboy X, Cowboy II (I think that's all the Martins) Many Guilds, Gibsons and Goyas |
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D28or6to12 |
I got mine from Maury in February | ||
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(06/11/09 8:41 PM) |
I've been extremely pleased with it. Next string change I want to try something to give a little more bass. Any suggestions?
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Augie12 |
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(06/12/09 8:02 AM) |
Even though I had a Martin D12-35 (60's), I had the GAS for a 14 fret Martin 12. Think it was in 72 that I went to Chuck Levins (Wash.MusicCtr) and my good
buddy/salesman Jim Ratcliff let me have my choice of the first run of D12-28's from Martin. I selected one (around $475?) and kept it for a while. A couple
years later I acquired a Guild F512 and the 12-28 wasn't used much. Since this was in the era of "our guitars are manufactured to higher standards and
need no adjusting devices (adjustable neck rods)" the 12-28 developed a twist in the neck that made it difficult to play or tune. I eventually sold this
guitar to David Allen Coe who's equipt manager traded me his double-neck Ibanez and $400 boot. He said that it would be David's "limo
guitar". I believe it was used for the soundtracks of a couple of "prison farm" movies that Coe was featured in. With today's adjustable
neck rod I would probably try the 12-28 again if I needed a Dreadnaught 12, which I don't. I would go for the new Jumbo, though.........Bert Delap
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kydave |
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(06/12/09 8:30 AM) |
I had an early 70's D12-28 for a year as a loaner. While I've never been incredibly fond of Martin 12 string necks, the D12-28 is one of the most
lovely sounding 12 strings on the planet.
Kentucky Dave's Martins: 00-28H (2006 Custom); SP000-16R (1999 Special Edition);
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sangemon |
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(06/12/09 2:31 PM) |
Rod Neep wrote:Does this mean that you're buying a D12-28, Rod?
Tom
My fingers don't hurt anymore, I just can't feel anything with them. Guitars: 2009 Martin Grand J12-40E Special, 2006 Martin 00-18VS UMGF Custom #58, 1998 Martin HD-35, 1994 Martin HD-28, 1968 Martin D12-35, 2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional, Yamaha FG 730S Amps: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe, Ultrasound AG50DS4 |
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Martin Seagull |
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(06/12/09 3:47 PM) |
D28or6to12 wrote:For a heartier bass you might try these. http://www.martinguitar.c...play_set.php?display=164 I like 'em. It's a hybrid set; high side extra light, low side light. I just wish they made them in 80/20. That may be coming. The FXs are relatively new, and I noticed that they have added silk and steels to the line. clif |
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