Martin Custom Shop 28 Style 7-String Dread Adirondack/Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood w/case

Serial: 3093246

The Martin Custom Shop 28 Style 7-String Dread Adirondack/Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood is a distinctive custom-built acoustic guitar that combines the powerful voice of a traditional Martin dreadnought with an extended seven-string configuration. Specially designed for Tone Shop Guitars, this instrument features an Adirondack spruce top, premium Wild Grain East Indian rosewood back and sides, and hand-shaped Golden Era scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing. Its additional low B string expands the guitar's range while preserving the familiar feel and acoustic character of a full-size Martin dreadnought. With traditional Style 28 appointments, a comfortable Golden Era Modified Low Oval neck, and carefully selected premium tonewoods, this Custom Shop instrument offers a unique combination of extended-range versatility and classic Martin craftsmanship.

The Adirondack spruce top provides the foundation for this guitar's powerful acoustic response. Known for its strength, dynamic headroom, and ability to respond to a wide range of playing techniques, Adirondack spruce is particularly well suited to the demands of a seven-string dreadnought. The top features 5/16" forward-shifted Golden Era scalloped X-bracing, crafted from Adirondack spruce and individually hand-shaped to enhance resonance and responsiveness. This construction allows the soundboard to produce a full, projecting voice while maintaining articulation across the instrument's expanded frequency range. Whether used for traditional flatpicking, fingerstyle arrangements, or extended-range chord voicings, the combination of Adirondack spruce and Golden Era bracing provides a responsive tonal foundation.

The back and sides are crafted from premium Wild Grain East Indian rosewood, a distinctive tonewood selection chosen specifically for this Tone Shop Guitars Custom Shop build. The wild grain figuring gives the instrument a unique visual character, with natural grain patterns that distinguish it from more traditionally figured rosewood guitars. East Indian rosewood is valued for its rich harmonic content, deep bass response, and clear trebles, making it an excellent complement to the Adirondack spruce top. The two-piece back features a traditional HD-style zigzag backstrip with thick black strips, while antique white binding and bold herringbone top purfling reinforce the guitar's classic Style 28 heritage. The gloss body finish highlights the natural character of the rosewood and the warm appearance of the aging-toner spruce top.

The seven-string configuration is the defining feature of this Custom Shop dreadnought. Designed for low B tuning, the additional string extends the instrument's range below the traditional six-string guitar, opening up new possibilities for chord voicings, bass movement, and melodic arrangements. The low B string provides access to deeper notes without requiring the entire guitar to be tuned down, allowing players to retain familiar standard-tuning relationships across the upper six strings. This makes the instrument particularly appealing for solo acoustic performance, fingerstyle arrangements, contemporary acoustic music, and players seeking greater harmonic flexibility. The custom seven-string Modern Belly bridge and Grover seven-string tuning machines are selected to accommodate the expanded string configuration while maintaining traditional Martin design principles.

The neck is crafted from select hardwood and features Martin's Golden Era Modified Low Oval profile with a High Performance Taper. This combination offers a comfortable, streamlined playing feel while retaining the traditional character of a Martin dreadnought neck. The 25.4" scale length provides familiar string tension and projection, supporting clear articulation across all seven strings. A traditional dovetail neck joint creates a strong acoustic connection between the neck and body, while the adjustable truss rod allows precise neck relief adjustments. The satin neck finish provides a smooth playing surface, and the long diamond volute adds a traditional visual and structural detail. The 1 3/4" nut width and 2 5/32" bridge string spacing reflect the custom configuration specified for this instrument.

The black ebony fingerboard features a 16" radius, 20 frets, and long-pattern Diamonds and Squares inlays crafted from select abalone. These traditional appointments complement the guitar's Style 28-inspired design while adding a refined visual detail. The solid headstock features a premium Wild Grain East Indian rosewood headplate with a Golden Era Martin decal, providing a cohesive connection to the instrument's back and sides. Chrome Grover 205C7M seven-string tuning machines offer dependable tuning adjustments for the expanded string configuration. A bone nut and compensated bone saddle provide traditional string contact points, while the black ebony seven-string Modern Belly bridge features bone pins with faux tortoise accents. The guitar is entirely acoustic, with no onboard electronics, preserving its traditional construction and natural resonance.

The visual appointments balance classic Martin styling with the distinctive character of the custom seven-string design. Bold herringbone top purfling frames the Adirondack spruce soundboard, while a Style 28 Boltaron rosette surrounds the soundhole. Antique white body binding, a faux tortoise pickguard, and the traditional HD-style backstrip reinforce the instrument's vintage-inspired appearance. The aging-toner top provides a warm, traditional aesthetic, while the premium Wild Grain East Indian rosewood back and sides display the natural beauty of the selected tonewood. Built by the Martin Custom Shop in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, this instrument represents a unique interpretation of the traditional HD-28 platform, combining extended-range capability with premium materials and Golden Era construction techniques. A five-ply hardshell case and Martin Custom Shop Credentials Book are included.

Highlights

• Tone Shop Guitars Custom Shop 28 Style dreadnought with seven-string low B configuration

• Adirondack spruce top with hand-shaped Golden Era scalloped 5/16" forward-shifted Adirondack spruce X-bracing

• Premium Wild Grain East Indian rosewood back and sides with bold herringbone purfling and HD-style zigzag backstrip

• Golden Era Modified Low Oval neck with High Performance Taper, 25.4" scale length, and ebony fingerboard with select abalone inlays

• Custom seven-string ebony Modern Belly bridge, chrome Grover seven-string tuners, five-ply hardshell case, and Custom Shop Credentials Book

Specifications

Body

• Brand: Martin

• Series: Custom Shop

• Model: Custom Shop 28 Style 7-String Dread Adirondack/Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood

• Body Shape: Dreadnought

• Body Style: 14-Fret Dreadnought

• Style Inspiration: HD-28

• Construction: Acoustic

• Number of Strings: 7

• Top Material: Adirondack Spruce

• Top Grade: Grade 3–4

• Back Material: Premium Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood

• Side Material: Premium Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood

• Back Construction: Two-Piece

• Top Bracing Material: Adirondack Spruce

• Bracing Pattern: Forward-Shifted X-Bracing

• Bracing Pattern Number: 3-A DOMLE

• Bracing Style: Golden Era with Hand Shaping

• Bracing Shape: Scalloped

• Bracing Size: 5/16"

• Back Bracing Material: Spruce

• Back Bracing Pattern: Dreadnought 14-Fret

• Center Strip: Spruce

• Side Strips: East Indian Rosewood

• Ribbons: Spanish Cedar

• Body Depth: Standard

• Body Binding: Antique White

• Top Purfling: Bold Herringbone

• Back Purfling: HD Zigzag with Thick Black Strips

• Back Inlay: Black/White/Black Boltaron

• Endpiece Material: Antique White

• Endpiece Inlay: White/White/Black Boltaron

• Rosette: Style 28 Boltaron

• Pickguard: Faux Tortoise, Pattern 1B

• Top Color: Aging Toner

• Body Finish: Gloss

• Cutaway: None

• Orientation: Right-Handed

Neck

• Neck Material: Select Hardwood

• Neck Profile: Golden Era Modified Low Oval

• Neck Taper: High Performance Taper

• Neck Joint: Traditional Dovetail

• Neck Finish: Satin

• Neck Stain: Mahogany

• Truss Rod: Adjustable, 14-Fret

• Fingerboard Material: Black Ebony

• Fingerboard Radius: 16"

• Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1 3/4"

• Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/8"

• Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/32"

• Fingerboard Binding: None

• Fingerboard Inlays: Diamonds and Squares Long Pattern

• Inlay Material: Select Abalone

• Side Dots: White

• Number of Frets: 20

• Frets Clear of Body: 14

• Fret Wire: Standard

• Scale Length: 25.4"

• Compensated Scale Length: 25.470"

• Nut Material: Bone

• Nut Position: Angled

• Headstock Type: Solid

• Headstock Volute: Long Diamond

• Headstock Ears: Authentic

• Headstock Taper: Square

• Headplate Material: Premium Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood

• Headplate Logo: Golden Era Martin Decal

• Headplate Binding: None

• Heelcap Material: Antique White

Hardware

• Bridge Material: Black Ebony

• Bridge Style: Modern Belly 7-String

• Saddle Style: Drop-In

• Saddle Material: Compensated Bone

• Bridge Pins: Bone with Faux Tortoise

• Endpin: Bone with Faux Tortoise

• Tuning Machines: Grover 205C7M Seven-String

• Tuner Finish: Chrome

• Nut Material: Bone

• Strings: Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0

• Listed String Gauge: Medium

• Strap Button: None

Electronics

• Electronics: None

• Pickup System: None

• Onboard Preamp: None

• Output Jack: None

Miscellaneous

• Manufacturer: C.F. Martin & Co.

• Build Type: Custom Shop

• Custom Configuration: C25-030723

• Custom Configuration Name: Tone Shop Guitars 28-Style HD 7-String Wild Grain

• Style Inspiration: HD-28

• Custom Configuration: Seven-String Low B

• Top Material: Adirondack Spruce

• Back and Sides: Premium Wild Grain East Indian Rosewood

• Bracing: Golden Era Hand-Shaped Scalloped Forward-Shifted Adirondack Spruce

• Number of Strings: 7

• Intended Tuning: Low B Seven-String

• Scale Length: 25.4"

• Orientation: Right-Handed

• Country of Origin: United States

• Manufacturing Location: Nazareth, Pennsylvania

• Included Case: Martin Five-Ply Hardshell Case

• Included Documentation: Martin Custom Shop Credentials Book

Why Buy from Tone Shop Guitars?

Tone Shop Guitars is the premier Martin dealer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area — and beyond. Our staff are players and enthusiasts who know these instruments inside and out, and we hand-inspect every guitar before it leaves our doors. When you buy a Martin from us, you’re not just getting a great guitar — you’re getting the expertise, the care, and the follow-through that a purchase like this deserves. Stop by any of our three DFW locations or shop online with confidence. We’re here to help you find the right one.