A modified Martin HD-28 LSV

Checking out a modified HD-28 LSV with a Smokies Red Spruce top
Talking about the guitar
Saddle height and string break angle (16:20)
Capo talk (24:56)
Playing it (28:45)
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Playlists:
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Evaluating Guitars- • Evaluating Guitars
Guitar Repair Technique- • Guitar Repair
1970's Martins- • 1970's Martins
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Questions and Answers- • Questions and Answers
Just Playing- • Just Playing
Instructional- • Instructional
Mandolins- • Mandolins

[@patriciapace6302]

I like the talking makes it more interesting learn a lot more. Thank you Oldboy😂😂

[@gam1471]

An interesting post; thank you. A low action - but what string gauges are being used on the guitar? Horses for courses as the saying goes - I have joint problems due to age, and with light strings a guitar like this would be perfect! Maybe Martin should be looking at the way neck joints are constructed, and offer guitars with low, medium or high actions straight from the factory. In these days of precision CNC machining, I would imagine that this should be possible. I'm wondering what benefit removing the popsicle brace might have. I once heard (from Mandolin Brothers) that this was a weakness of pre-war dreadnoughts, causing a split in the top on both sides of the top next to the fingerboard. Certainly on a 1938 D-28 I bought years ago this had happened. The top had collapsed, breaking into the soundhole rings. I owned a 2012 custom shop D-28 for a few years, and it had the lowest action I've ever encountered on a Martin - but later on it had to go to raise funds for a three-point Gibson F2 mandolin.

[@Bryankimsey]

Light gauge strings, being under less tension, will oscillate with a greater arc and thus be more susceptible to fret buzz at the same action. You really are better off going with a heavier gauge and lower action if you want easy playing. Assuming you're not doing blues bends on an LSV. I also discussed the whole "high/medium/low" choice in an earlier video and suggested exactly the same thing. However, this would have to be a Custom Shop thing. I don't think production line can do that. As for the popsicle brace it's all covered here. I personally have never seen a guitar w/out a popsicle brace that had f/board cracks. That '38 would the be first. ALL the ones I've seen have popsicle braces and I've seen a few of them. And remember... I REPLACE the popsicle with the brace we use to repair neck block failures. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4qwnoeClLOFiZo

[@gam1471]

Thanks for your response and the fascinating link to your discussion about popsicle braces based on your lutherie experience - it's given me fresh insights and I've learned new things. Your comments about D35s reminded me about the custom shop D-28 (not a HD-28) I owned. It was one of a batch ordered from Martin by Westside Distribution, the UK's Martin agent. I bought it from a local dealer, and the specification stated that it had 4/16" braces. They were scalloped - I had a look inside. It had a lovely round bass quality, but over time I felt that the top strings were lacking in power and tone - a bit characterless, truth to tell. The neck profile didn't suit me either, so eventually I moved it on, despite my initial enjoyment of the guitar. That HD-28 LSV you're playing sounds great - good picking! I'm enjoying your videos, and I'm going to have a look at the others you've posted. Thanks again. @@Bryankimsey

[@Bryankimsey]

Check out this D-35.... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWPbh2CMmNesZpY

[@gam1471]

Thanks, I liked the D-35 the best, then the '70s D-28, followed by the '41 reissue. I've never owned a D-35, but I have had several D-28s and D-18s over the years. Maybe it's time I tried a '35, but because I live in the UK getting one to you to hot rod might be a bit complicated! @@Bryankimsey

[@119dozen55sweet]

That is loud! That soundhole really pushes out more volume. IIRC you said it sprayed the sound in a wider arc -- the tops are tilted back (upwards away from the mic) a bit when you play.

[@Ukedc259]

V interesting. Sound like the same trees that were salvaged for David Wilcox’s Adirondack Olsen??

[@Bryankimsey]

No idea.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

I believe so. I watched video.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

1,087 LSV’s built 419 had Adirondack tops, that’s 38% of the total 121 of the 419 had Smokies tops, that’s 11% overall This top has approximately 50 grains per inch

[@jasondonovan-oo3dx]

I wish you could do an evaluation video on the new D18s telling what you would do to hot rod them. Thanks

[@jasondonovan-oo3dx]

The new Standard d18s

[@Bryankimsey]

I only see what comes thru the shop. There are no big Martin dealers anywhere near me. I guarantee I'd be shaving rear back braces and pulling popsicles. Non-slotted bridge pins in a slotted bridge. Then we'd see where the X-brace scalloping starts. None of this is major stuff and when I had more time I did this to hundreds of "modern" Martins (from '94 to current).

[@jasondonovan-oo3dx]

We are out in Wyoming in the Summers and go back to Alabama for winters. You wouldn't happen to be between Amarillo Texas and Dallas? Or Dallas to the Louisiana border? We are headed back that way next week ~ we usually go Wyoming Colorado through a little bit of New Mexico then to Amarillo then on through Texas- I think it'd 280. I got a brand new D18 in Nashville this Summer. Between Gruhns and Guitar Center I was able to try out 17 brand new D18s! It was the best day ever. I picked the loudest best one- it be cool if you could check it out one day. If yiur ever in southwest Wyoming or Alabama- please stop through

[@thepokerpilotapp]

If that were my guitar I would just try and convince Bryan to perform the following mods to it. 1. Vintage thru slot on the bridge 2. New long bone saddle 3. Slot the bridge 4. Antique acoustic pins 5. Shave back braces #3 and #4 6. Scallop the x braces 7. Remove the popsicle brace 8. Check and adjust setup as necessary This would be a pretty interesting project to see just much improvement can he get out of a Standard.

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm near Taos or Los Alamos NM, depends on the unpredictable schedule. Amarillo and Dallas are both in the foreign country of Tejas.

[@jamesdepalma6341]

Boy that guitar really sounds great!!

[@ericecklund676]

It would be interesting to hear a comparison between this HD-28 LSV and the CS-Bluegrass-2016 (BG16) that Michael is sending you. Maybe you can do a before mods and after mods on the BG16. My BG16 (#73 of 100) doesn't need to be hot-rodded, and I think I'll keep it stock. The Dalmatian PG is what my BG16 came with, and it seems to look okay to me. It'll be fun to hear your views on the tones of the GRW on the BG16.

[@Bryankimsey]

I'll definitely compare them stock first

[@thepokerpilotapp]

It is scheduled to arrive next Friday October 13. Ordered a Holter pick guard too but don’t know when it will arrive.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Eric- how can you tell yours is #73. Is it marked in the guitar or did you have to contact Martin?

[@wyattheitkamp55]

Dang I’d love to get an lsv at some point. They are kinda hard to find though.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

This one is for sale. Inquire with Bryan.

[@BradleyMcTaggart]

That’s a cool guitar Bryan. I’d like to try one someday.

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm surprised you haven't!!!

[@joshuagoldberg92510]

I'd love to hear you expand a little on tonewoods. You mention near the end that Madagascar is better for your sound vs Brazilian. Could you talk a little about that? I'm about 4 months out from my Preston Thompson starting construction, and currently the build sheet calls for Madi.. However, they also have straight grain AAAAA Brazilian, large enough for dreads that I believe is reclaimed from lumber beams cut over 80 years ago.. Definitly has me thinking.. In fact I've called Christine over there and she's gonna send me a few sets to look at.. It's a big decision and I'm not quite sure which way to go.

[@Bryankimsey]

I did in this video, I think... kzbin.info/www/bejne/rGbcq3inp8iiqJI Basically... I feel like Braz is super-reverb-y. I like slightly less reverb, somewhere between mahogany and BRW. The woods that give me that are SE Asian RW and Madagascar. I haven't played enough Guatemalan to draw an opinion on it yet. The biggest draw of old BRW is the scarcity. Don't get me wrong... I'm not throwing a good BRW guitar out of the room!!! But I'm definitely not thumbing my nose at any of the other "hot" RW's either. Go with what the builder says is gonna give you the sound you like. Me, I like less reverb so I like "other" RW's. My two Proulx OM/D's are SE Asian RW/Red Spruce and Walnut/Englemann. I've played OM'D's in every possible wood and those two are still my favorites.

[@RobertsRoger-q6h]

There's a pureness to that smokies top that's impossible not to fall in love with.

[@billdedrick1914]

What a sweet woody, dry toned Martin...I used to own a 2001 like that and it was the same in tone.. Should have kept it.

[@michaelrogers25]

Get another one freind. One on Reverb now. Life is short. I bought one in 2000. Love playing it on the front porch.

[@johngeddes7894]

I’d take a shadow in front of the bridge before some ugly, oversized bridge, which btw, will affect tone negatively in my opinion. The old prewar width affords the right bite to get the full range of tone and volume. That’s just in general. Guitar models can and do have outliers. Woods vary even same species.

[@SimiPair]

Good specs for a finger style acoustic.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Wow! Sounds great and that’s with old strings that came with the guitar. That right there is a credit to your work. Like another commenter here I would be interested in seeing what a contemporary standard 18/28 could sound like with your mods. I know it would improve but would be interested in comparing it to all your awesome sounding guitars you have.

[@michaelrogers25]

I would like to try a set of those strings on my LSV. wonder what the string brand, and specs are? Pretty sounding for sure.

[@Bryankimsey]

Strings don't make it sound like that. The fact that I was still using the "whatever" strings just means that it'll sound good with anything. I don't want a guitar that needs this or that string to sound good. I have no idea what it had on it... maybe the Stringjoys that the owner likes? Anyway... strings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqqnh5igmLaHgsU

[@thepokerpilotapp]

More learning moments for me again in this videos. Finish and gap under the bridge- check. Too steep of a break angle- check. Fully scalloping assisting with a bellied top- check. A couple more videos like this and I’ll be ready to take all that work you’ve been having to turn away, lol.

[@Bryankimsey]

You can be my East Coast extension shop!!! :)

[@mrgoodsound]

Great video! Do you ever sell guitars you have worked on? I recently purchased a brand new standard series D28 because it was better than everything else in the store but I'm not sure what I'm missing.

[@Bryankimsey]

These are all customer's guitar. I will occasionally facilitate the sale of one but it's very rare. It doesn't make any financial sense for me to buy, modify, and resale because I'm already overflowing with work. I'd have to make MORE on the resale than I make on working on customer's and that's a stretch. Your best bet is to watch the Buy/Sell on the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum.

[@mrgoodsound]

Thanks for the reply@@Bryankimsey

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Martin Standards are great guitars on their own. Can you get better- sure. You could get a Martin Authentic and it will be 99% there. Now, there are differences between the Standard and Authentic line where you can make some mods to get some features while other things you can’t get. Here’s what you could have modded. Shaved/lowered #3 and #4 back braces. Scallop the bracing. Slot the bridge. Install unslotted antique acoustic pins. Slot the bridge for a thru saddle in bone. Remove the popsicle brace. Here’s what you won’t be able to get unless you buy a different model guitar. Hot hide glue. Adirondack top. Adirondack bracing. A thin and small bridge plate. A tucked bridge plate. A thinner finish. A t-bar truss rod. VTS top and bracing. Thinner headstock. To get it all you are arguably better off starting with an authentic. You need to try one first because maybe YOU don’t think the difference in tone justifies the extra expense. Only you can place a value on that.

[@jspendleton3898]

The HD-28 LSV looks to be very similar in spec to the D28 Marquis. Do you have a preference between the two models?

[@thepokerpilotapp]

My guess he likes the LSV better. I guess this because he’s stated several times across a few videos that he likes large sound holes.

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm a sucker for large soundholes and white binding. So... LSV. However... kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoXOpKScd9mUppI and see: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXbTZXhuirFpadU And finally... kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaDRlJyrqd2iodU

[@thepokerpilotapp]

1997, one of the very first ones.

[@williamburroughs2273]

What is the name of the song you play at 28:52?

[@Bryankimsey]

Brown County Breakdown. Credited to Bill Monroe. The late great Byron Berline showed me how to play the first part right. At the time he showed it to me, he was playing fiddle and I....was... playing... his Lloyd Loar F5. It just doesn't get better than that!!!! He also penned "The Gold Rush" and I played my stuff for him and he grinned and said "Good job!!" I passed out.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

Also now has a Holter pick guard