Tinkering with a masterpiece is dangerous work, however good you are. So has CF Martin improved its already super HD35 Dreadnought in this ‘reimagined’ 2018 version? Ben Morgan-Brown gives his verdict.
Martin describes the HD35 Dreadnought as one of its best kept secrets and yet it’s hard to see why it isn’t already a well known model. The guitar is part of the venerable US company’s ‘reimagined’ series and was originally based on the much loved D-35 but with a three piece back and very traditional Martin looks. Perhaps to boost its popularity, Martin has ‘reimagined’ it for 2018, this time adding scalloped, forward shifted X-bracing and a new ‘low oval’ profile neck with a narrow taper, designed to improve playability.
Despite its ‘reimagined’ status, the HD35 is every inch a real, traditional Martin Dreadnought. It features a spruce top (very good quality on our sample) and a three piece East Indian rosewood back with the same wood used for the sides. The one curiosity on this otherwise deeply traditional guitar is a neck made from ‘select hardwood’. We can’t help wondering why Martin is so coy about saying what wood they are using. That aside, the neck is topped with a fine piece of ebony for the fingerboard, a bone nut and enclosed tuners, (helping the guitar achieve an attractive, slightly 1960s, vibe, Ben felt). A faux tortoiseshell pickguard and aged toner make the guitar look a little older, even when its brand new out of the box.
A Martin Dreadnought produces what must be one of the acoustic guitar’s most recognisable sounds and the HD35 lives up to expectation with a vengeance. Put on your best headphones and hear for yourself that unmistakable sound!
Though not cheap, the US-made HD35 is priced about right for a guitar of this class (ours was impeccably made and finished) and comes with a hardcase but without a pickup. We don’t think that latter is a problem as it means if you want a pickup you can choose the one that most suits your style. Overall, this guitar really impressed, with a rich tone that you have to hear and a playability that will suit its intended market down to the ground.
For anyone needing an affordable pro class Dreadnought, this has to be on your audition list!
AR Reviews are recorded in a top quality studio with the finest equipment. To get the best from our reviews and really hear the instruments perform make sure you listen on good quality speakers or headphones!
Specifications:
Martin Reimagined HD35 2018
UK price £2,899
BODY SIZE:
D-14 Fret
FINISH TOP: Gloss
CONSTRUCTION: Dovetail Neck Joint
BACK & SIDE FINISH: Gloss
BRACING PATTERN: Forward Shifted X Brace
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4″
BRACE SHAPE: Scalloped
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1 3/4”
TOP MATERIAL: Sitka Spruce
NECK SHAPE: Modified Low Oval
BACK MATERIAL: East Indian Rosewood
NECK TAPER: High Performance Taper
SIDE MATERIAL: East Indian Rosewood
ELECTRONICS: None
TOP
TOP COLOR: Aging Toner
BRIDGE STYLE: Modern Belly – Drop in Saddle
BINDING: Antique White
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2 5/32″
TOP INLAY MATERIAL: Bold Herringbone
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Ebony
TOP DETAIL: None
BRIDGE PIN MATERIAL: White Plastic
PICKGUARD: Faux Tortoise
BRIDGE PIN DOTS: Faux Tortoise
PICKGUARD INLAY: None
SADDLE: Compensated Bone
ROSETTE: Multi-Stripe
SADDLE RADIUS: 16″
BODY
BRACE MATERIAL: Sitka Spruce
BACK & SIDES COLOR: None
BRACE SIZE: 1/4″
BACK DETAIL: None
BACK PURFLING/STRIP: Zig-Zag
BACK INLAY MATERIAL: Multi-Stripe
HEELCAP: Antique White with Multi-Stripe
SIDE DETAIL: None
ENDPIECE: Antique White
SIDE INLAY MATERIAL: Multi-Stripe
ENDPIECE INLAY: Multi-Stripe
NECK
NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Ebony
FINISH NECK: Satin
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2 1/8”
NECK COLOR: Dark Mahogany
FINGERBOARD INLAY STYLE: Style 28
NUMBER OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD INLAY MATERIAL: Mother of Pearl
NECK JOINS BODY AT: 14th Fret
FINGERBOARD BINDING MATERIAL: Antique White
SIDE DOTS: Black
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: SP ACOUSTIC 92/8 PHOSPHOR BRONZE MEDIUM (MSP4200)
HEADSTOCK
HEADSTOCK SHAPE: Solid with Square Taper
TUNING MACHINES: Chrome Enclosed Gear
HEADPLATE MATERIAL: East Indian Rosewood
KNOB: Large
HEADPLATE LOGO STYLE: Script Old Style Overlay
NUT MATERIAL: Bone
HEADPLATE BINDING MATERIAL: None
MISC
CASE: Molded Hardshell
LEFT HANDED AVAILABILITY: Yes
LABEL: None
PLEKED: Yes
