Bluegrass music has enjoyed a considerable renaissance in the last decade, with a slew of talented bands and artists pushing the genre’s commercial and artistic boundaries. Perhaps no one represents this new popularity and potential better than Billy Strings, whose wild rise from grassroots guitar god to arena-packing superstar has helped revive the dreadnought as the instrument of choice for a young generation of aspiring guitar heroes—many of whom might have preferred a Les Paul or Stratocaster just a few years ago.
It was only natural that C.F. Martin & Co., who built Strings a custom D-45 a few years ago for his personal collection, would collaborate with him on a signature D-28 modeled after his treasured 1940 D-28—a guitar that rarely sees stage time but remains Strings’ constant companion for writing and practice.
In that spirit of making a Martin accessible to up-and-coming players, Strings and Martin opted to create two signature dreadnoughts rather than one: the D-28 Billy Strings ($3,799 street), a premium instrument with Strings’ requested modifications to the neck profile and scale (more on that below), made with a spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides; and the D-X2E Billy Strings ($899), an affordable, lightweight dread featuring a spruce top with HPL (high-pressure laminate) Brazilian rosewood back and sides and a pleasing satin finish.
With its classic herringbone trim, some might argue that the D-28 Billy Strings could just as well be called an HD-28. While that’s a small cosmetic distinction, the more significant departure from a prewar D-28 lies in the guitar’s 25-inch scale length and custom nut width.
Martin aficionados will recognize two common D-28 nut widths, depending on the instrument’s era: either 1-11/16 or 1-3/4 inches. Strings’ model splits the difference ever so slightly, at 1-23/32. “I actually have pretty small hands,” says Strings, “but even I feel like the string spacing on some D-28s gets a little narrow in those first five frets.”
Likewise, the guitar features a slightly shortened scale length: 25 inches rather than the typical 25.4. Does it change the way the guitar plays? You bet. The shorter scale means string bending is noticeably easier, without sacrificing much in the way of tension or bounce—even with .013s, which Strings himself uses. It should also prove helpful to anyone who’s ever found the dreadnought body style a bit unwieldy.
The 1-23/32-inch nut width works beautifully for ripping bluegrass flatpicking licks that require precision within the first few frets. Even up to the 14-fret neck joint and beyond, the shorter scale and modified low oval neck shape make wide position shifts and cascading runs feel easy and natural. The mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard combine for a fast, responsive feel, befitting its virtuosic namesake.
With its antique toner top finish, antique white binding, and abalone diamond-and-square fretboard inlays, the D-28 is a looker. Its East Indian rosewood back and sides add to the elegance, but the real magic is in the sound. The low end is warm and round, the mids have a vintage smoothness (especially when played with the rounded side of the pick), and the high end delivers the sparkle and clarity that flatpickers crave.
The D-28 is well voiced, with no boxiness or muddy low-end boom. It pairs beautifully with a large-diaphragm mic and needs little EQ to sit perfectly in a mix. (Note: it does not come with an internal pickup.) The guitar has the kind of velvety tone that invites new ideas, and thanks to its superb playability, you may find yourself losing track of time while you play.
Martin D-X2E Billy StringsD-X2E Billy StringsRecognizing that many young players couldn’t afford the D-28, Strings and Martin created a more affordable model with the same core specs but different materials. “There’s so many kids out there that really want to learn how to pick,” says Strings, “and they need access to a good instrument that they don’t need to take out a loan for.”
The D-X2E Billy Strings more than meets that goal. While experienced players may note the downgrades—especially the HPL back and sides—the guitar is still built to perform. It ships gig-ready with Martin’s E1 internal pickup system, an onboard tuner tucked under the soundhole, and accessible volume and tone controls. Like the D-28, it features a 25-inch scale length and 1-23/32-inch nut, though here the nut is white Corian, not bone, and the bridge pins are white plastic.
The ebony fretboard is a welcome inclusion, but the neck is made of “select hardwood” rather than mahogany. The real abalone inlays of the D-28 are faux abalone on the D-X2E, and the saddle is white Tusq instead of compensated bone.
Tonally, there’s no question that the D-X2E doesn’t match the richness and complexity of its big brother. HPL may look like rosewood, but it lacks the refinement and depth of the real thing. That said, the D-X2E sounds surprisingly good when amplified, with a nicely sculpted tone and natural resonance. Even unplugged, it has a pleasant, balanced tone—not lush, but still charming.
The rugged HPL materials make this dread well suited to rougher use, whether that’s life on the road or in a teenager’s bedroom. HPL also handles temperature shifts better than rosewood, though the solid spruce top still requires care. A smart touch: the open-gear nickel tuners with butterbean knobs are stylish and functional. The D-X2E ships with a cool, durable hemp softshell case embossed with Strings’ logo. It’s a fun, funky, and playable entry-level guitar for aspiring pickers.
Martin D-X2E Billy Strings, Courtesy of C.F. Martin & Co.The VerdictIs it worth paying about $500 more for the D-28 Billy Strings than for a standard D-28, which typically retails for around $3,299? That depends on what you value. The Strings model is a serious professional instrument, with noticeable upgrades in playability, especially in the neck feel and string response. It may convert skeptics who have found dreadnoughts too stiff or imposing.
As for the D-X2E, it faces stiff competition from similarly priced, all-solid-wood options by makers like Eastman and Blueridge. But Strings’ name carries weight, and his endorsement may be just the inspiration a young picker needs. Specs and materials matter, but sometimes what matters more is who the guitar reminds you of. It’s easy to imagine the D-X2E becoming a beloved first guitar for many, tucked under Christmas trees alongside Highway Prayers.
Martin D-28 Billy Strings, Courtesy of C.F. Martin & Co.D-28 Billy StringsBODY 14-fret dreadnought; solid spruce top with forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing; solid East Indian rosewood back and sides; bold herringbone top inlay; zig-zag back purfling; Style 28 multi-stripe rosette; ebony modern belly bridge with bone bridge pins (2-5/32″ string spacing); compensated bone saddle with 16″ radius; antique toner top; gloss finish
NECK 25″-scale genuine mahogany with modified low oval profile; dovetail neck joint; ebony fretboard; abalone diamond-and-square inlays; 20 frets; 1-23/32″ bone nut; 2-1/8″ width at 12th fret; nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs; satin finish
OTHER Hardshell case; available left-handed
MADE IN United States
PRICE $3,799 street
D-X2E Billy StringsBODY 14-fret dreadnought;
solid spruce top with scalloped X-bracing; Brazilian rosewood HPL (high-pressure laminate) back and sides; ebony modern belly bridge with white plastic bridge pins (2-5/32″ string spacing); Tusq saddle with 16″ radius; hand-applied satin finish
NECK 25″-scale select hardwood with modified low oval profile; mortise-and-tenon neck joint; ebony fretboard; faux abalone inlays; 20 frets; 1-23/32″ Corian nut; 2-1/8″ width at 12th fret; nickel open-gear tuners with butterbean knobs; satin finish
OTHER Martin E1 electronics with built-in tuner; hemp softshell case with Billy Strings logo; available left-handed
MADE IN Mexico
PRICE $899 street
martinguitar.com
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2025 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.