Martin O’ahu HG-28 – Solid Koa & Spruce Sloped-Shoulder Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Martin O’ahu HG-28 Acoustic Guitar | Solid Koa & Spruce | Special Edition

 The Martin O’ahu HG-28 is one of the most interesting new additions to the Martin lineup—a completely new body shape inspired by Martin’s deep connection to Hawaiian music and the early development of the modern Dreadnought. Combining a solid Hawaiian koa back and sides with a solid spruce top, the HG-28 delivers a beautifully balanced, articulate voice with plenty of the power and character players expect from a Martin Dreadnought.

But there’s a twist: the HG-28 is significantly more comfortable than a traditional Dreadnought. Its unique HG-14 Fret body is a smaller, sloped-shoulder design with the depth of a Martin 000, giving players much of the tonal character and projection of a Dreadnought in a more comfortable package.

And visually, it is absolutely gorgeous. The natural golden brown koa, bold herringbone trim, antique white binding, ebony fingerboard and distinctive Martin O’ahu headstock logo give this guitar a vintage-inspired look unlike anything else in the current Martin lineup.

✅ Professionally installed pickup available. Contact us for options.

💵 0% Financing Available on Most Guitars at Tobias Music

✅ Why You’ll Love This Guitar

The HG-28 is a guitar that makes a lot of sense the moment you pick it up.

It has the voice and presence associated with a Dreadnought, but the smaller body and 24.9” short scale make it noticeably easier to hold and play. The sloped shoulders give it a distinctive vintage appearance, while the shallower body depth makes it particularly comfortable for seated playing.

The combination of solid  Hawaiian koa and spruce is another major attraction. Koa brings warmth, clarity and a beautiful natural compression to the sound, while spruce provides the headroom, articulation and dynamic response that players love in a traditional Martin.

This is a guitar that looks special, feels special and sounds unmistakably Martin.

✅ Our Expert Opinion

We think Martin really hit the mark with the HG-28.

This isn’t simply another variation on an existing Martin body shape. The HG body is genuinely different, and the inspiration behind it makes the guitar particularly interesting. Martin developed the O’ahu concept while researching the important role Hawaiian music played in the company’s history and in the evolution of the steel-string acoustic guitar.

The result is a guitar that has some of the tonal authority of a Dreadnought without the physical size of a Dreadnought.

The short-scale neck is especially appealing. At 24.9”, the HG-28 has a relaxed feel that makes fretting and bending comfortable, while the Golden Era Modified Low Oval neck profile provides a familiar Martin playing experience.

And then there is the koa. The solid colorful Hawaiian koa on this model is not only beautiful—it gives the guitar a wonderfully balanced tonal character that sits somewhere between the warmth of mahogany and the richness of rosewood.

For players who have always loved the sound of a Dreadnought but don’t necessarily love the size, the HG-28 deserves a very serious look.

✅ Tone Profile

Bass: Warm, controlled and surprisingly full for the body size
Mids: Balanced and articulate with excellent note separation
Treble: Clear and sweet without becoming overly bright
Projection: Strong and focused, with impressive volume for its smaller body
Overall Voice: Balanced, warm, articulate and highly responsive

The koa + spruce combination gives the HG-28 a broad tonal palette. It responds beautifully to lighter playing while still having enough headroom for stronger strumming.

It is equally comfortable with fingerstyle, flatpicking, singer-songwriter accompaniment and traditional strumming.

Martin also specifically notes that the HG-28 works beautifully in slack-key open tunings such as Open G, making it particularly appropriate for players interested in Hawaiian-inspired guitar styles. 

✅ Construction & Specifications

• Model: Martin O’ahu HG-28
• Series: O’ahu Series
• Body: HG-14 Fret
• Body Shape: Smaller sloped-shoulder Dreadnought-inspired design
• Top: Solid Spruce
• Back & Sides: Solid Hawaiian Koa
• Top Finish: Gloss
• Back & Side Finish: Gloss
• Top Color: Clear/Natural
• Body Binding: Antique White
• Top Inlay: Bold Herringbone
• Rosette: Style 28 Multi-Stripe
• Bracing: Scalloped X-Bracing
• Brace Material: Spruce
• Brace Size: 1/4”
• Neck: Select Hardwood
• Neck Shape: Golden Era Modified Low Oval
• Neck Taper: High-Performance Taper
• Neck Finish: Satin
• Scale Length: 24.9”
• Number of Frets: 20
• Neck Joint: Dovetail
• Neck Joins Body: 14th Fret
• Nut Width: 1 3/4”
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlays: Old Style 18, Abalone
• Bridge: Ebony
• Saddle: Compensated Bone
• Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/32”
• Pickguard: Tortoise Pattern
• Headplate: Ebony
• Headstock Logo: Martin O’ahu Script
• Tuners: Nickel Open Gear with Butterbean Buttons
• Nut: Bone
• Electronics: None
• Pleked: Yes
• Recommended Strings: Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 Phosphor Bronze Light 
  
• Deluxe Structured Light Beige Soft Case

✅ The Story Behind the Martin O’ahu HG-28

The O’ahu HG-28 is rooted in an important—and sometimes overlooked—part of Martin history.

During the Hawaiian music craze of the 1920s and early 1930s, Hawaiian music had an enormous influence on the development of the steel-string acoustic guitar. Martin’s research into that period helped inspire the O’ahu collection and this completely new HG body design.

The HG-28 is Martin’s modern interpretation of that history: a 14-fret, sloped-shoulder body that combines Dreadnought-inspired tone with the comfort of a smaller 000-sized body depth. 

It is a fascinating connection between Martin’s past and its present.

✅ Who It’s Perfect For

The Martin O’ahu HG-28 is an excellent choice for:

• Players who love Dreadnought tone but want a more comfortable body
• Fingerstyle and flatpicking players
• Singer-songwriters
• Players who prefer a shorter-scale guitar
• Hawaiian and slack-key guitar enthusiasts
• Players looking for a unique Martin outside the traditional body shapes
• Collectors who appreciate historically inspired Martin designs
• Anyone who wants a beautiful, visually distinctive acoustic guitar

✅ Why Buy From Tobias Music?

At Tobias Music, we’ve been a Martin dealer for 47 years. That experience gives us a perspective on Martin guitars that goes well beyond simply selling them.

Every guitar we offer is carefully inspected and professionally evaluated before it reaches our customers. We understand how these instruments should feel and sound, and we’re committed to making sure your new Martin arrives ready to play.

When you purchase a Martin from Tobias Music, you’re buying from a shop with nearly five decades of experience with the Martin brand and a deep understanding of acoustic guitars.

✅ Tobias Music Insight

The Martin O’ahu HG-28 is one of those guitars that photographs beautifully—but is even more impressive in person.

The combination of Hawaiian koa, spruce and the unusual sloped-shoulder HG body gives it a personality that you simply don’t get from another Dreadnought.

What really makes it special, though, is the balance between tone and comfort. Martin has managed to capture much of the presence and authority of a larger guitar while creating an instrument that feels considerably more approachable in your lap.

For someone who has always wanted a Martin Dreadnought but found the traditional size a little cumbersome, this could be the answer.

And for the Martin enthusiast who already owns several traditional models, the HG-28 offers something completely different.

It’s a new Martin with an old soul—and one of the most distinctive guitars in the current Martin lineup.