13% larger than the standard models?

If you love the classic feel and sound of Martin guitars but want more projection, bass, and harmonic richness, the new Martin Super Series might be exactly what you’re looking for. Martin has taken two of its most recognizable dreadnoughts and made them bigger: the Super D18 and the Super HD28. But with several hundred dollars separating them, which one should you actually buy? I’ve spent hours playing both guitars side-by-side, comparing their specifications, feel, playability, volume, projection, and tone. And after putting these two guitars head-to-head, I have a pretty clear favorite.

What Is the Martin Super Series?

The Martin Super Series takes the familiar D18 and HD28 formulas and gives them a larger body. Both guitars are approximately 13% larger than the standard models. Martin says the larger body increases internal airflow and provides roughly 20% more volume. After spending time with both guitars, I can confirm that they are noticeably louder than the standard Martin dreadnoughts I’ve played. There’s also more bass, projection, and dynamic range.

The Super HD28 takes things even further with a particularly rich harmonic response. Despite their larger bodies, neither guitar feels cumbersome. After a few minutes of playing, they simply feel like modern Martins.

Martin Super D18

The Super D18 stays close to the traditional D18 formula. It features a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, an ebony fingerboard and bridge, abalone dot inlays, and black binding. The spruce and mahogany combination produces a warm, clear sound with excellent note separation.

Martin uses its GE Modified Oval neck profile with a High Performance Taper, along with open-gear tuners and the classic Martin headstock. Like the standard D18 and Modern Deluxe models, there are no electronics.

Martin Super HD28

The Super HD28 shares much of the Super D18’s construction, but adds more premium appointments and a different tonewood combination. It features a spruce top with an aged toner, an ebony fingerboard and bridge, abalone square diamond inlays, herringbone binding, and a decorative back seam inlay.

East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides

The biggest difference between the two guitars is the back and sides. The Super D18 uses mahogany, while the Super HD28 uses East Indian rosewood. The rosewood gives the HD28 a deeper, richer character, with more low-end presence and harmonic complexity. The HD28 also features a diamond volute on the back of the headstock.

Super D18 vs. Super HD28: Price

At the time I recorded my review, Martin was offering both models for $250 off as part of its America 250 promotion. That brought the Super HD28 to under $3,600 and the Super D18 to under $3,200, putting roughly $400 to $450 between the two.

Sound Comparison

I recorded both guitars in the same room using the same setup and my Lewitt LCT 540 S microphone. There was no EQ during recording, with only light compression added afterward to level the performances. I tested both guitars with strumming, fingerstyle playing, and higher-register passages.

Strumming

The increased projection of the Super Series is immediately noticeable. Both guitars produce significantly more volume than their standard counterparts, but they don’t simply sound louder. There’s more depth and air behind the notes. The Super D18 delivers the familiar warmth and clarity of the D18 formula, while the Super HD28 adds more low-end depth and harmonic complexity.

Fingerstyle

Fingerstyle playing highlights another difference. The Super D18 has excellent note separation, making individual notes easy to hear. The Super HD28 has a broader, richer sound, with more harmonic content surrounding each note. Both sound excellent, but they approach the sound differently.

Higher Registers

I also spent time playing both guitars higher up the neck. Both maintain their projection and clarity in the upper registers, while the Super HD28 continues to deliver the rich harmonic character that stood out during the rest of my testing.

How Do the Super D18 and Super HD28 Feel?

This was one of the biggest surprises for me. These guitars are physically larger than standard dreadnoughts, but I stopped noticing the difference surprisingly quickly. I’ve spent more than two hours playing them in a single session, and I never felt fatigued. Whether sitting, standing, or performing, I found both guitars comfortable to play.

Which One Should You Buy?

Choose the Super D18 If…

I’d lean toward the Super D18 if you’re a singer-songwriter, record frequently, or prioritize clarity and note separation. The mahogany and spruce combination gives you the familiar D18 character, while the larger body adds significantly more projection and volume.

Choose the Super HD28 If…

I’d choose the Super HD28 if you want huge open chords, deeper bass, rich harmonics, long sustain, and maximum unplugged projection. The combination of the larger body and East Indian rosewood produces an enormous sound.

My Pick: The Super HD28

For me, the Super HD28 is the clear winner. The Super D18 is an excellent guitar, and I think it makes a lot of sense for recording and players who prioritize clarity and note separation. But I tend to play and perform unplugged more than I record in the studio. The HD28’s additional projection, bass, volume, and harmonic richness are exactly what I want from a large acoustic.

To my ears, this is one of the biggest-sounding Martins you can currently buy.

Final Verdict

Martin has successfully taken the classic D Series formula and pushed it further. The Super D18 and Super HD28 deliver more volume, projection, bass, resonance, and sustain without feeling like oversized instruments.

The Super D18 is the better choice for players who want clarity, note separation, and a powerful recording instrument. The Super HD28 is the better choice for players who want huge chords, deeper bass, rich harmonics, sustain, and maximum unplugged projection.

For me, the Super HD28 wins. If you want the classic Martin character with more of almost everything, the Super Series is absolutely worth checking out. The Super HD28 is the one I’d take home.

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