Martin Custom Shop “D” Dreadnought 28 Style Acoustic Guitar, European Spruce/Sinker Mahogany

The Martin Custom Shop “D” Dreadnought continues the lineage of one of the most influential acoustic body shapes in guitar history. First introduced in the early 20th century, the dreadnought became a benchmark of volume, projection, and clarity—an identity Martin Guitars helped define and has refined ever since. This Custom Shop build represents a fresh yet reverent take on that tradition, with exclusive material selections and meticulous attention to detail.

The top is built from certified high-altitude Swiss spruce, selected not just for its visual character but for the controlled, tight grain that has become increasingly sought-after by the Martin Custom Shop’s luthiers. The top is bound in a dark, black ebony offering an upgraded visual and tactile edge treatment. The back and sides are constructed from a matched set of premium sinker mahogany, handpicked by Russo Music from Martin’s dragon's stash of gorgeous tonewoods. This pairing not only speaks to long-standing tonal preferences but also demonstrates the trust between Martin’s Custom Shop and one of its most experienced Expert Dealers.

Beneath the top lies a forward-shifted X brace carved from Adirondack spruce and scalloped in the Golden Era spec at 5/16". It’s a familiar format for traditional Martin fans, subtly refined here for optimal top movement. The rosette and purfling—Style 28 Boltaron and HD Zig Zag with thick black strips—anchor the guitar visually with HD-28'esque accoutrements.

The neck is carved from select hardwood, featuring a long diamond volute and Martin’s GE Modified Low Oval profile with a High Performance taper. A 16" radius black ebony fingerboard features long abalone Diamond and Squares inlays across 20 frets. Matching ebony is used for the GE Modern Belly bridge, fitted with a compensated bone saddle. Grover StaTite tuners with vintage buttons complete the headstock, while the 1 3/4" bone nut sets proper spacing for both fingerstyle and flatpicking players.

There are no electronics—by design. This guitar is purpose-built for unamplified performance, where wood and air do the talking. The finish includes an antique toner top, gloss body, and satin neck for optimal comfort and understated elegance.

As always with Martin Custom Shop builds, this dreadnought is the result of decades of collaborative refinement between skilled hands and experienced ears. With Russo Music’s deep involvement in the spec and selection process, it also speaks to the relationship between builder and dealer that has produced some of the most considered instruments in Martin’s modern output.