28 or 29

[MR GIBS]

what?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytCBt87cOYY

 

[dchristo]

I like both

[duluthdan]

Sounds different. That 28 is a tough one to beat. Wish I still had mine, kind of.

[MissouriPicker]

I've always been an HD28 fan, but in all sincerity, I think the J29 more than holds-its-own. Two excellent instruments. The HD28 deserves to be the legend it is, but it hasn't got much, if anything, on the J29. I think comparisons like this are going to sell J29s.......Also, I come to really like the slope-shoulder models. I could live with either guitar easily. Thanks for the link, Mr. Gibs.

[Pittgibson45]

I haven't come across a J 29 yet in spite of my best efforts, that one sounds really good in the video. So have all of the other rosewood Gibson that I have ever had the chance to play or heard someone else play. It is hard to tell by the video if it is as loud as the Martin. To me, loud isn't everything though.

[duluthdan]

In Denver for a couple days ,got to swing into a GC and smudge up a few Guitars. The J15 was very interesting, and one that I could enjoy. The J29 was ok, but seemed somehow a bit uninspired. Quilted Maple HB was quiet. I was bit shocked. The J45 Standard was a predictably fine guitar. HB Pro was ok, they had a Martin 1941 D-28 Authentic that I purposely avoided playing because I'm afraid it might seep into my subconscious and later cost me 7 Grand. Tomorrow, Wildwood maybe, if I can convince my wife that we should simply skip the museum, and instead dash up towards Boulder, getting slightly mid-directed getting there...

[EuroAussie]

Have to admit in this case I thought the Martin sounded significantly stronger. The J-29 just sound like it had no bottom end and rather thin. The Martin sounded more balanced (suprisingly) and overall much fuller.

 

But I played one J-29 a few weeks back and felt very underwhelmed by its tone, just didnt grab me and sounded a bit more Taylorish than Gibsonish.

[BluesKing777]

I just bought a used (2006) Martin HD28V which is a beautiful unit!

 

Not a J29 in sight at the same shop, so I have NOT tried one, but the video looks like the Martin is a class above. I will listen with my headphones later to be fair, but EA nailed it to me - the Martin was 'Fuller'. The D28 family has a lot of history to put a new guitar against.

 

BluesKing777.

[Martin 1940D28]

Both sound good . The Martin sounds like a long scale Martin. The Gibson sounds like a short scale Gibson. Myself, I would not want a Martin or Gibson built after 1999.

[Gearhead88]

Both sound good . The Martin sounds like a long scale Martin. The Gibson sounds like a short scale Gibson. Myself, I would not want a Martin or Gibson built after 1999.

 

 

What happened after 1999 that makes those instruments less desirable ?

[Smurfbird]

I wasn't aware that the Gibson J29 series was considered to be in the same league as the iconic D28 series from Martin.

 

Seems a bit like comparing the iconic J-200 series with a Martin D-18 or something.

 

Are I way off base?

[Working Mans Blue]

What happened after 1999 that makes those instruments less desirable ?

 

I don't understand either. Quality in the 2000s for both gibson and martin have been equal or more often better than the 80s or 90s. And certainly way better than the 70s gibson and martin. AND I'd say much better than even 60s gibsons.

[Working Mans Blue]

I wasn't aware that the Gibson J29 series was considered to be in the same league as the iconic D28 series from Martin.

 

Seems a bit like comparing the iconic J-200 series with a Martin D-18 or something.

 

Are I way off base?

 

I would say your off base because the j29 and the d28 have very similar specs. Whereas a d18 and a j200 don't compare at all really

[J-1854Me]

In _this_ particular taste test, I liked the HD-28 better.

 

But I am not sure that the comparison is 'even', in the sense that the two guitars have some significant design differences.

 

I would have thought that a r/w J-60 would be a better comparison, or perhaps, an AJ....?

 

Fred

[music4love]

That particular HD-28 was better than that J-29.

[Working Mans Blue]

I really wish they would do an aj vs hd28 comparision. In fact i might email them and ask.

 

Does the bone crusher really crush the bone?

[onewilyfool]

I liked them both…both different….both good….I wonder how the street price compares???

 

Guitar Center is advertising the natural tops @ $2399.00. They advertise the J-29 at $2490.00???