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HD-28e Sweetwater Edition
Anybody familiar with these?
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/HD28SE I just stumbled across it while looking into the HD-28e Retro (I'm in the market for a good gigging guitar). The Sweetwater Edition looks similar except for: - Adi top (!) - Narrower nut (which I prefer) - Open Gotoh tuners - Different pickup (Fishman Ellipse blend instead of F1 Aura Plus) I thought I had it narrowed down to a D-18e Retro or HD-28e Retro, but this one is interesting to say the least. My main concern is with the pickup - I really like the idea of the specific images in the Retro's F1 Aura Plus. But I also don't know if I like the knobs / display on the side. And I do have an Aura DI, so I could still go the image route, it just wouldn't be the specific images that are in the F1 Aura Plus. Help? I should also point out one con to the Sweetwater Edition: not being able to play it first. I'd much rather buy local and play first, but the specs on this guitar make it seem like it's worth a look. Last edited by mwalk; 03-04-2016 at 12:09 AM. |
#2
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Hi mwalk. I have played the "Sweetwater edition" HD28 and D18 (because I work there) They are fantastic guitars and the Adi top is very different from their "normal" counterparts with Sitka. The time I played the HD28 it had D Addario's new Nickel Bronze strings on it though which was a little different than what I am used to tone-wise.
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#3
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Have you by chance been able to a/b the Sweetwater HD-28 with a Standard HD-28? Acoustically and plugged in? I'm really liking the specs on this Sweetwater edition, but it is more expensive - about $600 more than what I could get an HD-28e Retro for, and about $1000 more than the D-18e Retro. (And for that kind of price difference it may be worth dealing with the wider nut in the D-18e Retro) |
#4
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#5
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Very kind of you to offer! I'd definitely be interested to hear your comparison, but I won't be ready to buy for another month or so. The website says there are 4 of them in stock and since I'm in IL, im actually thinking about making the drive.
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#6
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I bought the D18 SWE. Great guitar! The iBeam only lasted a couple of weeks. I yanked it in favor of a JJB.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
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Gibson J45tv / LG2 AE / Dove Ltd. Trans Ebony / AJ Martin D18 (custom shop) / HD35 / 00-16DBM Taylor DN3 / Baby Guild GAD25 Yamaha FG413S / FG200 / FG800 |
#7
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The D-18SE has an Adi top, too, right? You like it? |
#8
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I wish Sweetwater would have installed the Fishman Ellipse Aura in the first place! The nice thing is that the Ellipse preamp of each system is held in place by a magnetic-mounting plate on the underside of guitar's top and you can easily swap-out the Fishman Ellipse Blend Preamp for a Fishman Ellipse Aura Preamp by pulling the preamp free of the mounting-plate and detaching and reattaching the 9-volt power-supply and Matrix pickup wires.
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Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#9
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#10
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It's one less thing to trip over and one less device in the signal chain.
__________________
Martin HD-28 Sunburst/Trance M-VT Phantom Martin D-18/UltraTonic Adamas I 2087GT-8 Ovation Custom Legend LX Guild F-212XL STD Huss & Dalton TD-R Taylor 717e Taylor 618e Taylor 614ce Larrivee D-50M/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Blue Grass Special/HiFi Larrivee D-40R Sunburst Larrivee C-03R TE/Trance M-VT Phantom RainSong BI-DR1000N2 Emerald X20 Yamaha FGX5 Republic Duolian/Schatten NR-2 |
#11
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Good luck. I'm still waiting to get my electronics replaced. However they worked long enough last night to do a 45 min set. I have to say that it sounded super. In a small coffee house i was using 80% image through a PA and it was really impressive. I suggest you play examples of these pickup options. In a loud band, the higher image blend won't be as useful, so the Aura+ becomes less necessary. In quieter/solo situations , I'm sold on the technology.
However, if you are looking for an Adi top, the SW edition is a nice way to go. But, understand that guitar doesn't appear to have forward shifted braces like the HD28V and HD28E Retro. It has standard placement scalloped bracing. Might not be a big deal to you. Sweetwater is a good place to buy from. You might get good pricing with one of he sponsors, also. Sent from my DROID MAXX using Tapatalk
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"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday." Last edited by martingitdave; 03-06-2016 at 05:28 PM. |
#12
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Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
__________________
Gibson J45tv / LG2 AE / Dove Ltd. Trans Ebony / AJ Martin D18 (custom shop) / HD35 / 00-16DBM Taylor DN3 / Baby Guild GAD25 Yamaha FG413S / FG200 / FG800 |
#13
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Is it possible to negotiate prices with Sweetwater?
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#14
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I had one 2 years ago and sold it 6 months later. Loud. Nice set up. Just not enough low end. But truly a pickers dream guitar. Loved the adi top.
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Custom Martin D 35 Taylor GS Mini w/ES2 Koa GPC12PA4 Martin 12 string [/B]"What does it profit a man to gain (all the greatest guitars in) the world and lose his soul" Paraphrased |
#15
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Actually it does have forward shifted scalloped bracing. (Check out the spec list on the link in my OP). I believe the only differences between this and the standard HD-28 are the pickup, Adi top and tuners. Oh and the fretboard inlays.
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