Martin Custom Shop D-28 Quilted Pommele Sapele with Adirondack Spruce With Case

Truetone Music was invited to Nazareth, PA for a very special visit. We had the chance to spec out guitars to be custom built by Martin. We were also thrilled by the prospect of being able to hand select our own wood at the factory, aided by Custom Shop representatives and tonewood experts.  That began a relationship that has continued for multiple custom runs over a number of years.

We knew we wanted to represent an interesting variety as far as models and exotic woods, but we also wanted the guitars to sound as best they could, never sacrificing tone for bling.  This Martin Custom Shop version of a D-28 with Quilted Pommele Sapele and Adirondack Spruce is a true example of that theory coming together in the best possible way.   It's a simple move to make - essentially a classic D-28 with a unique pairing of wood, made with the best materials and craftsmanship from the top luthiers at the Martin Custom Shop.

The wood we chose for the back & sides is what really stands out - it's  Quilted Pommele Sapele, something you rarely ever see.  In fact, we've never seen it on a D-28 like this.  Obviously, it's stunningly beautiful, which you can see in the photos.  The grain is truly something special.  We hand-selected this exact spread - even as raw wood, it was hard to take our eyes off of it.  Finished, it's even more captivating.

However, it's not just about the aesthetics - this is a great tonewood.  It offers a consistent and balanced sound, making it suitable for a variety of musical styles. Comparable to mahogany, its increased density leads to a brighter sound with an extra sparkle in the higher frequencies, which is why we wanted to use it for this guitar.  Most D-28 have rosewood, so the sound of this lands somewhere between a D-18 and D-28.  Brighter than a D-18 and warmer than a D-28.  Sapele is an excellent, all-purpose tonewood, capable of providing a consistent and balanced sound across various playing styles, from fingerstyle to strumming.  We were lucky enough to be at Martin when they had a small selection of Quilted Pommele Sapele, which is hard to find, and we were able to pick what we saw as the perfect spread for this guitar.

It's matched with an Adirondack Spruce top, accenting the overtones, and adding volume.  We worked with the wood expert in the Custom Shop to pick out the best piece of Adirondack Spruce on hand.  The rich, balanced tone projecting out of this guitar is something to behold - the forward shifted X bracing creates a louder and more responsive instrument.  It's one of the best sounding Martin guitars we've ever had here, and that's saying a lot.  The guitar is finished in gloss and has Aging Toner on the top, giving it a vintage vibe.  

The look of the guitar itself would be enough, but the materials, construction and appointments make it all the more special.  In some ways, compared to other Martin Custom Shop guitars we've done, this is a simple design, but it's much more than that.  In the end, it's all about feel and sound - and this guitar has it all.  The grain on the back is especially intriguing.  Be sure to zoom in on the photos, not just to see the wood but also the purfling and other intricate details on the guitar.

The guitar is finished in gloss, with a satin finished Mahogany neck.  It has Martin’s popular modified low oval with high performance taper, making it very comfortable to play for hours. The radius is 16” with a nut width of 1 3/4”.  It's a very "easy to play" guitar.  Other features included Foden Style inlays on the fretboard, a tortoise pickguard, nickel Grover tuners and the modern belly bridge.  It comes with a Martin hard shell case and certificate of authenticity.  

Any D-28 is going to be a spectacular guitar, but this on a whole different level - that's what you get with a Martin Custom Shop acoustic.  Come to Truetone Music today to experience this amazing guitar, or order right here today.

 

• Configuration: C22-054140
• Serial # 2750458
• Body Shape:  Dreadnought
• Inspired by:  D-28 Style
  
• Base Model Note: Wood Selected by Truetone
  
• Appointment Level: Standard
• Adhesive: Modern Adhesive
• Top Material:  Adirondack Spruce
• Bracing Material, Top: Adirondack Spruce
• Bracing Pattern, Top:  X Brace - Forward Shifted
• Bracing Pattern Number, Top:  3-A DOMLE
• Bracing Shape, Top:  Scalloped
• Bracing Style, Top: Standard
• Bracing Size, Top: 5/16"
• Back and Side Material:   Quilted Pommele Sapele - Premium Upgrade
• Binding Material: Antique White
• Rosette Style:  Style 28 Black White Fiber Antique White
• Neck Material: Mahogany 
• Neck Profile: Modified Low Oval
• Neck Taper: High Performance Taper
• Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1 3/4"
• Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/8"
• String Spacing: 2 5/32''
• Tuning Machines:  Grover Nickel V97-18NA StaTite 18:1 Vintage Button  
• Fingerboard Material: Black Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlay:  Foden Style
• Finish Type: Standard
• Finish Package: Gloss Body w/ Satin Neck
• Top Color: Aging Toner
• Frets Clear: 14 Frets Clear of Body
• Total Frets: 20 Total
• Scale Length: 25.4"
  
• Neck Joint: Dovetail
  
• Truss Rod: Adjustable 14 Fret
• Bridge Style: Modern Belly
• Saddle Style: Drop in Saddle
• Saddle Material: Compensated Bone
• Bridge & End Pins: Black
• Case:  3-Ply Hardshell with Domed Top