Martin’s 00-size body has been used for many of its models, but after the company’s switch from 12-fret necks to 14-fret necks in the early 1930s, 00s were rarely built with rosewood backs and sides. Martin built thousands of the more affordable 00-17s, 00-18s, and a few other models, but only a relatively small number of 00-28s. Now Martin is giving the instrument another chance by adding a 00-28 to its Standard Series.

The 00-28 is built with Indian rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top, and has the white body binding, black and white purfling and rosette, and pearl-dot position markers that are typical of style-28 instruments. With their small bodies and short scales, 00s are known for their excellent playing comfort, and the 00-28 is no exception. The guitar has Martin’s “modified low-oval” neck profile, which, combined with a 1¾-inch nut and the company’s “high-performance taper,” leads to great playability everywhere on the neck.

The guitar has a beautifully balanced sound with a robust bottom-end that belies its small size. The 00-28 was a lot of fun to fingerpick, and it also sounded great with a flatpick, making it well-suited to players looking for a versatile, traditional-sounding, small-body flattop.

SPECS: 14-fret 00-size body. Solid Sitka spruce top with scalloped X-bracing. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides. Select hardwood neck with dovetail joint. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 24.9-inch scale. 1¾-inch nut width. 2⁵/₃₂-inch string spacing at the saddle. Open-gear tuning machines. Made in the USA. $3,599 (list). Martinguitar.com

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