Martin D 28 (USA) vs Levin LN 26 (Sweden) vs Ibanez Artist 2605 (Japan)

[@douglasspence6267]

I bought a 1967 Levin LN26 back in the early 70's - - - - Still have it !

[@GavinAtkin]

Me too...

[@Mazzattack]

The Levin sounds soooooooooooooooooo good ! As does the Martin they are both great in different ways but the Levin HAS A SOMEWHAT MAGICAL FINE QUALITY

[@heinrichpeffenkoffer4894]

I also have such an Ibanez Artist but in natural finish. It was the first good guitar I bought. When I had enough money I went shopping with a classmate who could already play. He found this guitar that blew away everything else in the pricerange, it was so much louder, overtones like a bell, stronger bass. It was just hard to play for me because of the high string Action, so I sanded down the bridge inlay. Later I thought that the neck is not quite set at the appropriate angle. I still have it, still sounds great, the neck is still perfectly straight although it had to take some heat and dryness during summer for some years.

[@EagleSpecial]

+Der Bätscher Thats cool man! Would love to see/listen to a video with it if you ever make one! I enjoy mine to, got it second hand a few years ago for a bargin compared to what a great guitar it is. Thanks for commenting and keep playing! :)

[@TheRycooder]

LOVED the Levin.....Ibanez out classed all the way around.

[@timothy8402]

martin sounds just like the well known acoustic guitar sound. the ibanez sounds great, but not my cup of tea. i think the levin is the best (just hear those clarity and overtones). btw i use a good old levin w32j as my favourite recording guitar besides a yamaha a3r, even though i have more expensive ones at hand. the martin definitvely shines live but the levin does something special. maybe it is my playing style or the kind of music (acoustic rock, bluegrass, country, folk) but nothing can do the things the levin does for me :)

[@eodren]

Levin for me

[@andyc3586]

The Levin is a wonderful old warhouse. It proudly shows its scars and has clearly lived just the right amount. Was it just a tiny tiny bit out of tune on one or two strings (not a criticism, these things happen)? Love the Martin too and well played sir. Sometimes, on different days or different songs one will be the guitar of choice, the other not. How lovely to have that choice.

[@EagleSpecial]

Thanks for the kind words Andy! It is a privilege indeed to have the choice. Hope you upload some of your own playing some time! Best regards from Denmark

[@donb5637]

The d28 sounded the sweetest, but the Ibanez had the most "personality".

[@pedrogomez-balboa5485]

Levin's brightness and clear tone make the other two dissapear. You can identify each note that it is played in the swedish guitar. Martin's really sounds good but it is predictible. The Ibanez in my opinion has a subdued tone.

[@EagleSpecial]

Pedro Gomez-Balboa thanks for commenting. I have grown to love the Levin more and more as time goes by. It's a great instrument indeed.

[@robertmatthews2308]

The Ibanez schocked me!

[@johnnycmajor]

D28 hands down.

[@r0nng]

i guess, like many of the other posters here, that i am biased towards the guitar which i own. i am seriously surprised that the levin stacks up so well against the d28, & i think that a preference between the 2 really comes down to personal taste. for me personally i prefer the tone of the levin. the ibanez doesn't feature for me. what strings are you using? i absolutely love my pair of levins (ln 26 & 111 ) & i don't think i would part with either of them. i paid around usd500 for the ln 26, & around usd 60 (no that's not a typo!!!) for the 111. seriously don't think i would have got that value with a martin..

[@EagleSpecial]

ron g that's great value for sure! Thanks for commenting. I use d'addario 80/20 bronze 12s for the Levin, I'm not sure what kind was on the Martin at the time, but I string it with 13s. Happy playing with your Levins. :)

[@2011Noud]

They're so different! Hard to say which is THE best as there is no THE best. What is remarkable to me that in the first take the Levin is a bit thin sounding. I have a Levin dreadnought W32 that is absolutely stunning. No thin sounding higher strings although another (heavier?) set of strings can also make a huge difference!

[@breathplay112]

It could be due to that W32 is mahogny b/s while LN26 is maple.

[@2011Noud]

@@breathplay112 My W32 had not a satisfying lower end at first but by knocking on the body it appeared that some braces were loose. When fixed, the lower part was there immediately. And the lower frequencies are there in the first playing session on the Levin here as well! Nice guitar! I would opt for the Levin!

[@fp3359]

Ibanez for me and Martin as 2nd.