Martin HG28 Special Edition O'ahu Koa with Case

The Martin HG-28 Special Edition O'ahu is a unique and specialized acoustic guitar that pays tribute to Martin's history with Hawaiian music in the 1920s and '30s, a period that was instrumental in the evolution of the modern steel-string guitar.

This model is notable for blending the tonal power of a Dreadnought with the comfort of a smaller body size, and it is built with high-end, all-solid tonewoods.

Key Features and Design

• Body Shape: This guitar features a unique HG-14 Fret body size, which is best described as a smaller, sloped-shoulder Dreadnought but with the shallower depth of a 000-sized guitar. This makes it significantly more comfortable to hold and play than a traditional Dreadnought.

• Back & Sides Wood: Features solid, highly-figured Flamed Hawaiian Koa back and sides. Koa is prized for its stunning visual appeal and its tonal characteristics, which deliver a bright, balanced, and midrange-rich sound with great clarity.

• Top Wood: Solid Spruce (typically Sitka) with a Gloss finish.

• Tone: The combination of the solid Koa body and Spruce top, along with scalloped bracing, gives the guitar a lively, open, and articulate voice that is sensitive to a light touch.

• Aesthetics: Includes classic Bold Herringbone top trim, Antique White binding, and an O'ahu script logo overlay on the headstock, giving it a vintage, "Style 28" aesthetic.

 Technical Specifications

• Body Size: HG-14 Fret (Sloped-Shoulder, 000-Depth)

• Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint

• Bracing: Scalloped X-Brace (1/4-inch Spruce)

• Scale Length: 24.9 inches (Short Scale). This results in lower string tension, enhancing playability and contributing to a warmer tone.

• Neck Material: Select Hardwood with a Satin finish

• Neck Profile: GE Modified Low Oval with a High-Performance Taper, designed for smooth, fast playability.

• Fingerboard Material: Ebony

• Nut Width: 1-3/4 inches (44.45mm), providing comfortable string spacing for fingerstyle.

• Fingerboard Inlays: Old Style 18 Abalone Dots

• Nut & Saddle Material: Bone (Compensated Bone Saddle)

• Tuning Machines: Nickel Open Gear with Butterbean Knobs

• Case: Typically includes a Martin Softshell Case (or sometimes a padded bag).

The HG-28 O'ahu is ideal for players who want the punch of a Dreadnought with the comfort of a smaller guitar, and who appreciate the unique look and tone of high-grade Koa.