Martin Guitar HD-28 Semiquincentennial: Limited Edition Model for America’s 250th Birthday
Celebrating the HD-28's 50th birthday, too!
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Martin Guitar HD-28 Semiquincentennial: Limited Edition Model for America's 250th Birthday · Source: Martin Guitar
In honor of the 250th anniversary of the USA, Martin Guitar has released a very special-edition acoustic guitar: the HD-28 Semiquincentennial. Not only does it come with a special look, but also with one of the most unique tonewoods ever found in an acoustic guitar.
HD-28 Semiquincentennial: 250 Years of America
To mark the 250th birthday of the United States of America, Martin Guitar is releasing a very special acoustic guitar: the HD-28 Semiquincentennial. It’s based on Martin’s legendary HD-28 series, but comes with a few very unique features.
Here, we have a very limited edition of just 250 guitars built to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence. The timing of this release coincides with another significant milestone: the HD-28 itself is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, having first been introduced in 1976, the year of the US Bicentennial.
The HD-28 Semiquincentennial’s headline feature is a very historic tonewood. Martin sourced the wood from the Basking Ridge white oak, also known as the Holy Oak. This tree stood in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, for around 600 years before being taken down in 2017, at the end of its natural life.
Back to Washington
George Washington’s troops reportedly drilled within sight of the tree, and Washington himself is said to have picnicked beneath it with the Marquis de Lafayette. Whether or not you believe the story about the picnic, the tree predates the United States by several centuries.
The oak appears in the guitar’s endpiece, the heel cap, and a Liberty Bell inlay on the headplate. Structurally and tonally, however, this acoustic guitar is first and foremost a rosewood dreadnought. As for the very upfront artwork, the Sitka spruce top features custom ink artwork by Robert Goetzl, the artist responsible for Martin’s Biosphere guitars, the 00L Earth and several hand-painted Dreadnoughts for Martin.
The motifs include a bald eagle, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and a colonial-era American flag.
HD-28 Semiquincentennial
Besides this commemorative layer, the HD-28 Semiquincentennial comes in a very typical HD-28, high-end acoustic guitar fashion. You get a dreadnought (D-14) body, solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, a reclaimed Sitka spruce top with herringbone top inlays and scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing.
The guitar’s neck is made of selected hardwoods, and it features a special GE-modified low-oval profile and an Ebony fingerboard with semiquincentennial star inlays in paua and mother-of-pearl.
Each of the 250 guitars is individually numbered with a pre-printed CFM IV signature.
How much does the Martin Guitar HD-28 Semiquincentennial cost?
The Martin Guitar HD-28 Semiquincentennial is available from Thomann* for $8,599 / £7,799 / €8,999. A special hardshell case is included.
More on the new Guitar from Martin Guitar
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