I've have GAS for a rosewood dread and have just run across a pretty remarkable Martin D28 Marquis. It was one of those one strum and I'm hooked type of guitars. I was leaning towards a Colllings D2H but now this Martin has me confused. Do any of you have a Martin D28 Marquis? Or played one? I have a D1A and a OM2HA that's why I was wanting a sitka top for my next Collings for a different flavor. The Martin is an addy but still has that Martin sound (as in when they're good, they're good). What to do?!

If it's good, it's good. In general, if you've found a good one, don't let it get away.

I've played a D28 Marquis in GC several months ago. There were no Collings guitars there to compare it to, but it was easily the best guitar I played. It was clear and punchy. It didn't get muddy at all, and I've played many muddy rosewood dreads. There was also a 60's Brazilian D28 there that I played too. The Marquis was significantly better.

Can you test drive a D2 anywhere?

As far as tonal differences, there's something to be said for having a Collings and a Martin.

Good luck. Nice problem to have.

Hi, I own a new Marquis and played a D2H this weekend, I believe the Marquis is more powerfull and punchy. The Collings was easyer to play and more open from the beginning.

You played the guitar, and you know. If you had to have a dealer pick a random guitar from a batch of Marquis and a run of D2H's, I'd go with the Collings every time. But I, too, have played some Martins that were superb. I'm talking recent Martins, not that whole "pre-war" thing, which has somehow fudged up to 1944, which is pre Korean War, but I don't think that's what the term meant). If that particular guitar is a killer, and the price is good, I can't think of a reason not to buy it. My brand loyalty to Collings lasts exactly as long as their quality keeps getting better. And better. I played Martins for 20 years. Now I don't, but it's not the headstock, it's the tone.

Pre-war Martin has become another term for Holy Grail, but only about half of the pre-wars I've played have been outstanding. Those that fall into that category were AMAZING, but pre-war does not guarantee anything.

I have an HD-28V, which is a strong lean towards a pre-war D-28, and it's an outstanding guitar. It's not easy for me to call it better or worse than my D2H because they're different and my preference for one depends on my mood at the time of playing. I've played a Marquis or two and found them to be very good guitars. I never got to know it well enough to know if I'd ever prefer it to a D2H, but the D2H has a bit of an edge. Again, two different guitars and the "mood" sets my preference.

Yeah, I've played some later thirties and early forties Martins that were nothing special at all. The best vintage guitar I've ever heard was a Recording King J-45 or Advanced Jumbo mahogany plain jane with a huge neck, but an unforgettable sound. It belonged to a student of mine in Jackson Hole, and I think she got it from some relative.

I own a Custom Martin. It is basically a HD28 with a Adi. top and forward X bracing. I have nevered played a D2HA but did own an outstanding D2H once that I wish were still home. The Martin & Collings were used and the comparisons are close. The Custom shop is so light it floats out of the case and the Collings you actually have to give it a tug but so what. IMO the Custom,GE and Marquis stuff from Martin is rival to the small shop maker. But I still always look for a played, beat to hell D1`s !! I bet they kill !!

The D28 Marquis and the D2H are two very different animals, since the marquis is red spruce/eirw and the D2H is sitka/eiwr, so its kind of apples and oranges. The marquis is a seriously great guitar. If it sounds great new, wait until that adi top opens up. If you fell for it on first strum, get it. Many people have made the mistake of not getting that "special" guitar they try out, and all have lived to regret it.

New Martin can be great but quite rare. If you can find one that is really up to the quality of Collings, buy it!

My suggestion is to bring along your Collings and perform a side by side comparison. It happened to me once when I tried every Martins in the shop (about 30) and liked a OM42 Koa. It had an open sound that reminds me of my old OM1A. I bought it on the spot without thinking much because I have always wanted a 42 style guitar. And the Koa looks great!

When I reached home and played it for a while, it doesn't sound as good as as it was in the shop. Probably because I am more familiar with the environment and how my Collings usually sound like. I then took out my OM2HAV and compared to it side by side. The OM42 Koa sound muffed, quite, more like it was stuffed with cotton inside the guitar. I ordered some FWI bridge pins/saddles for it and it won't help. I ended up selling it on ebay with a lost after owning it for a month.

I guess I never closed the loop on this thread. I had put this particular Marquis on layaway and asked the shop to take out the nasty Martin label. When they did this, they used a heat gun of all things to do it which in turn bubbled the lacquer in about a 4" area on the back - I was sick! It was such a rookie mistake. The shop in turn offered to refinish the back and give me a discount on the guitar. The time it took to refinish was about 4 months... needless to say I was losing interest, plus knowing that a brand new spanking guitar had been damaged was a turn off. While waiting for this guitar to be repaired an incredible D2HABAAA came in. I bit the bullet $ wise and went with the brazilian Collings and could not be more happier. I now have a D1A and a Braz D2HA. I could not want for more. About 3 months ago I got a Martin D18V thinking I missed the Martin sound, but my 2 Collings dreds just blow it away and I may end up selling the Martin. I am still a Martin fan though.

I would like to kick in my 2 cents on this topic, let me first say that my Collings is a D-1A so it is not on topic.
I have a good friend that is a dyed in the wool Martin guy , & recently I have been picking at his house where
he has a rather large collection of Martin dreds
The first time I went over he had out a 1957 HD-28 in the stand ( he usually plays mandolin when we play ) I
was eager to play this thing it had everything to the eye ,straight grain Braz., patina , finish checks, surface cracks , a hump behind the bridge , finish wore of the neck and around the pickguard , I was going to get to play a vintage Martin , well to the ear it was a dog he knew it too, I was as polite as possiable , it had all the vibe but no tone , I was disapointed , so I played my D-1A, then he got out a very nice to the eye sunburst
marquee , no volume , & tone wise it did not grab me , last time we played he pulled out a somewhat rare HD-28
with tortis binding I forget the model # , but it did nothing for me , he also has a D-18V that I liked more, but it isn't like my D-1A , he also has a early 40s D-18 I am hoping to play it some time , I once played a 1947
D-28 that was never played sort of a NOS I really liked that guitar but no way I could ever pay 13 grand for a guitar but it sold for that and quickly , it could be I am just hooked on adi / hog boxes mine sounds better every time I play it about 19 months now , it is not as harsh as when new ( tho I did not find it to be bad when new ) it is just aging very well & picking up a few charachter marks here & there & I prefer it when the strings
have lost some sparkle , even a bit dead , anyway I keep trying to play Martins & get hooked on one maybe I am
expecting to much from them, well I think I will go pick on my Collings

BAR, congratulations on your new guitar! A D1A and a D2HBaaaA!!! The perfect couple!

I am a huge Martin fan but after 3 trial, OM42Koa, OM28VR and a 1936 018, I think I’ll probably stay with my trusty Collings interpretation.

There’s great Martin guitars out there, but rarer. I once played a friends early OM45GE. It can easily be the best guitar I ever played.