Martin Hd28 vs Larrivee D-03R

[Larriveeplayer67]

Which one do you like better and why?

[Redeemed]

Hmmmm....

as much as I love Larrivee's... The HD-28 is a pretty legendary Martin, one that I wouldn't mind owning one day.  But value-wise, you just can't beat an 03 series Larrivee.  I can't believe how happy I am with my plain-jane OM-03.  I love every aspect of it... from the understated appointments.. to the satin finish.. etc. (and to be honest, my poor L-09 has been "relaxing" in the closet for about a month or so)


-dan

[roknroll]

HD-28 hands down...I've owned both.  I miss the HD :<> :<>  Ok, let's not talk about it anymore.

[dberch]

My sympathies, r-n-r.  I played a Hd-28 at Samuel in Bloomington and was VERY surprised.  Went home and picked up my D-05 and smiled.  I made this choice several years ago.  Get a darn good Larrivee now, or wait to get a Martin (or Collings/Goodall/SCGC, etc) and hope the money doesn't get re-appropriated.  I got the Larrivee and I'm still happy.

It's funny, I didn't notice this when I bought D-05, but it's starting to sound more and more like a good Martin.  This happening to anyone else?  I bet the folks on the UMGF could come up with a good reason for this phenomenon.   :WNK>

David

[roknroll]

I love the sound of my L-03, sounds just as good if not BETTER than a lot of higher end martins I've played(ackem...ec model...err..ackem)...but that HD-28 is a special guitar...still kicking myself for getting rid of that and a lowden D-12 :<> :<>...ok, no more talk of this.  Someday I'll be wealthy, and I'll be able to own whatever I want! 

[Nephidoc]

I think you have two very different sounds.
The Larrivee sounds fantastic and so does the Martin.
For me it's like listening to music....
Somedays it's Death Cab and others its Haggard.

Stan

[roknroll]

does anybody else love to smell the inside of their larrivee?  Man it's awesome.

[mdrulez]

hm, it's apples and oranges...

the HD is way more expensive...

i'd compare the HD28 to a D-60...

that said, I still think the D-03R has a great sound.

The HD28 is more complex and bassy.  I love Martins, and the HD28 is a quintessential Martin dread

[Larriveeplayer67]

Great responses guys!I have actually owned both and wanted to get some different opinions  on the 2 than my own.I had to sell the hd28 due to cash shortage and I only had her for a few weeks

The difference I notice about the two besides the price tag ^_^ Is the hd28 is louder,more sustain and has more bass which is expected owning a Martin.I gotta say though the Larrivee can definitely hang,very impressive Jean!Thanks again guys for your replies :mellow:

[Big Bad Bill]

hm, it's apples and oranges...

the HD is way more expensive...

i'd compare the HD28 to a D-60...

I agree with you there. The D-60 is more of an appropriate comparison. Still my D-60BZ and a HD28 are two different animals altogether.
The Martin has that woody, deep Martin sound that you either love or don't care for at all. The D-60 doesn't have that kind of bottom end at all,
neither do any of the other Larrivees I've played. To me it's a different sound, much more complex high end, lusher, I guess more hi-fi is a way to
describe it - whereas the Martin tone I would characterize as dry. The Martin is also a lot louder.

I'm a sucker for the Martin tone and have been so all my life, but I find that I play my D-60BZ quite a lot too, makes a great addition to the Martin.

[Larriveeplayer67]

Martin definately has that bluegrass tone and Larrivee has that modern tone.IMO

[jwsamuel]

The HD-28 is a pretty legendary Martin, one that I wouldn't mind owning one day.

Buy the guitar, not the legend. Last year, I bought a D-28 because of the reputation of that model. I was very disappointed and sold it within six months. Try an HD-28 and if you like it, get one. But don't let the legend influence you.

Jim

[jimmyd]

Buy the guitar, not the legend. Last year, I bought a D-28 because of the reputation of that model. I was very disappointed and sold it within six months. Try an HD-28 and if you like it, get one. But don't let the legend influence you.

Jim

Good advise. Forget the name on the headstock. Buy what appeals to you and if at all possible audition the guitar. They don't all play and sound the same.

[mazareth]

Definitely apples and oranges. The bracing is different on the two guitars. As already stated, Martins up and down the line tend to be bassier. Larrivees have plenty of bass for me, but are more balanced.

I think the HD28 is a great choice where there is only one guitar, but too me it muddies the sound when you have multiple guitars in an ensemble. Personally, I like the sound of the D-35 better.

[DrLeeDetroit]

I notice a lot of people saying that this question is an "apples and oranges" question. But can't we (or the originator of the thread) legitimately ask whether we like apples or oranges better? As long as you say why, you've answered the question.  -_-

I have an HD28 that I am in love with, and would agree with the characterizations most have given. I also have an L03 (yes, I know, NOT a D-03R!) that I also am in love with.

Before deciding on the L03, I played a LOT of Larrivees. Loved nearly all of them, but yes a different sound from the Martins. One thing I noticed fairly consistently is that the rosewood Larrivees had quite a bit more ... I don't know ... "pop" (?) to them than I was used to. An immediacy of response, maybe, and a dry woodiness to them that I usually associated only with mahogany guitars. I'm not very good at talking about sound -- sorry. But more than once I double-checked which Larrivee I was holding after hitting a couple of chords. Interesting, and I liked it quite a lot. But different.

(NB -- I cannot actually answer the question, and so perhaps should have remained silent, because I don't have enough experience with the D03R...)

--Lee

P.S. "Clarity" and "focus" are perhaps words that would have been good to use for the rosewood Larrivees...

[Randy_R]

I agree with you there. The D-60 is more of an appropriate comparison. Still my D-60BZ and a HD28 are two different animals altogether.
The Martin has that woody, deep Martin sound that you either love or don't care for at all. The D-60 doesn't have that kind of bottom end at all,
neither do any of the other Larrivees I've played. To me it's a different sound, much more complex high end, lusher, I guess more hi-fi is a way to
describe it - whereas the Martin tone I would characterize as dry. The Martin is also a lot louder.

I'm a sucker for the Martin tone and have been so all my life, but I find that I play my D-60BZ quite a lot too, makes a great addition to the Martin.

BBBill;

welcome to the Larrivee forum. So you got one of thos very few D-60's in Braz recently made? got any online pics yet? does it have a sitka top?

I tossed around whether to get a D-60braz or D-10braz, and finally decided I wanted a D-10 for various reasons. I've been very happy with my choice so far. pics of my D-10braz on my web page link.

Last saturday I played a C-09walnut with a friend who has a HD-28. The Martin sounded great, and the two guitars sounded well together.

[DaveyO]

Whats the difference between the d28 and the HD28?
Anyways,whenever i go check out other guitars ,i come home and play my D05 on think i made the right decision.
Larrivee is the best for the money.

[CF Larrivee]

I believe the main difference between the two guitars is that the bracing is scalloped on the HD and not on the D-28. The HD also has herringbone trim, hence the "H" next to the D.

[Big Bad Bill]

BBBill;

welcome to the Larrivee forum. So you got one of thos very few D-60's in Braz recently made? got any online pics yet? does it have a sitka top?

I tossed around whether to get a D-60braz or D-10braz, and finally decided I wanted a D-10 for various reasons. I've been very happy with my choice so far. pics of my D-10braz on my web page link.

Last saturday I played a C-09walnut with a friend who has a HD-28. The Martin sounded great, and the two guitars sounded well together.

Randy, thanks for the welcome!

Yes, I got one of the few braz D-60's just made. Mine is in sunburst, and it's just a gorgeous guitar. Canadian sitka top and braces. AAAA Braz back and sides.
Haven't put a picture up yet, should probably do that. It's a stunner, and I am thoroughly impressed with the craftsmanship on this one.

It's a great addition to my Martins and Gibson acoustics, it's a more modern sound, not as bassy, but with a sheen to the high end that none of my other guitars have got.

Never played a D-10, what's it sound like compared to a D-60?

[UK Mike]

HD28 for its warmer bass