Description

The Martin D-28 Billy Strings is a masterfully crafted dreadnought that honors both tradition and the modern spirit of bluegrass, capturing the fiery energy and finesse of one of today’s most electrifying acoustic performers. Billy Strings has taken the bluegrass and jam grass world by storm, injecting new life into the genre with blistering speed, soulful improvisation, and a reverence for the past that’s matched only by his boundary-pushing creativity. His influence is unmistakable—he bridges generations, drawing die-hard flatpickers and new fans alike into the fold. The D-28 Billy Strings reflects this dual legacy, offering vintage-inspired tonewoods and construction with player-focused refinements.

Built with a D-14 fret body and a classic dovetail neck joint, this guitar features a solid spruce top and East Indian rosewood back and sides, all beneath a lustrous gloss finish that showcases its natural beauty. Its forward-shifted, GE-scalloped X-bracing allows for remarkable resonance and projection, ideal for Billy’s dynamic playing style. The modified low oval neck with a standard taper feels instantly familiar and fast, complemented by a satin finish for smooth playability. A 25" scale length and 1 23/32" nut width strike a balance between comfort and power, perfect for flatpicking flurries or expressive solos. Visually, the guitar is adorned with bold herringbone top inlay, multi-stripe rosette and back purfling, antique white binding, and a faux tortoise pickguard—all steeped in vintage Martin elegance.

The ebony fingerboard is inlaid with the timeless diamonds and squares long pattern in abalone, leading to a headstock bearing the classic CFM script overlay and butterbean tuners. Each detail, from the compensated bone saddle to the bone bridge pins, contributes to an instrument that feels both iconic and personal. And with a paper label bearing Billy’s signature, this model becomes more than a tribute—it’s a portal into the sound and soul of a modern-day bluegrass legend. Whether on stage, in the studio, or at home, the Martin D-28 Billy Strings is a tone machine built for players who refuse to settle for anything less than extraordinary.

Other specifications include:

Body Size: D-14 Fret
Finish Top: Gloss
Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint
Back and Side Finish: Gloss
Bracing Pattern: Forward Shifted X-Brace
Scale Length: 25"
Brace Shape: GE-Scalloped
Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1 23/32"
Top Material: Spruce
Neck Shape: Modified Low Oval
Back Material: East Indian Rosewood
Neck Taper: Standard Taper
Side Material: East Indian Rosewood
Electronics: None
Top Color: Aging Toner
Bridge Style: Modern Belly - Drop in Saddle
Binding: Antique White
Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/32"
Top Inlay Material: Bold Herringbone
Bridge Material: Ebony
Top Detail: None
Bridge Pin Material: Bone
Pickguard: Faux Tortoise
Bridge Pin Dots: Black Plastic
Pickguard Inlay: None
Saddle: Compensated Bone
Rosette: Style 28 Multi-Stripe
Saddle Radius: 16"
Brace Material: Spruce
Back and Sides Color: Natural
Brace Size: 5/16"
Back Detail: None
Back Purfling/Strip: Zig-Zag
Back Inlay Material: Multi-Stripe
Heelcap: Antique White
Side Detail: None
Endpiece: Antique White
Side Inlay Material: None
Endpiece Inlay: Multi-Stripe
Neck Material: Genuine Mahogany
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Finish Neck: Satin
Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/8''
Neck Color: Dark Mahogany
Fingerboard Inlay Style: Diamonds and Squares Long Pattern
Number of Frets Total: 20
Fingerboard Inlay Material: Abalone
Neck Joins Body At: 14th Fret
Fingerboard Binding Material: None
Side Dots: White
Headstock Shape: Solid with Square Taper and Diamond
Tuning Machines: Nickel Enclosed Gear
Headplate Material: East Indian Rosewood
Knob: Butterbean
Headplate Logo Style: Authentic Style CFM Script Overlay
Nut Material: Bone
Headplate Binding Material: None
Case: Hardshell
Left Handed Availability: true
Label: Paper Label w/Model Name and Pre-Printed Billy Strings Signature
Pleked: true
4 lbs 7 oz