MARTIN000-28EC Eric Clapton - Natural

Very happy with this Guitar.I flat pick and finger pick. Very comfortable on my lap. I love the shape of the V neck. This guitar is full and rich with tone and the playability is excellent. The 1 3/4 nut, the short scale and the modified V-neck feel great andI find great for picking.

I owned an 000-28EC for a few months, purchased largely on impulse. It was a fine sounding guitar with a short 24.9" scale and 1.75" nut with. The guitar was purchased at GC, new with warranty for $2000. It was NOS and for that reason I was offered the guitar at a price I could not pass up!All good.What did not like about the guitar, and the primary reason I gave it up, was the design of the modified-V neck shape. I found this to be less than ergonomic for playing up the neck and, actually, the guitar caused some discomfort in my fretting hand.Not so good.I applaud Martin for the items listed in my first paragraph and for the simple fact that this model is among the best sounding new guitars of any make. If the guitar had a standard neck, or even a low profile shape, I would have kept it.For reference: I am a semi-professional musician who has been playing the acoustic guitar for over 30 years.Update April 2013I came across another 000-28ec, this time one made in 2008. My experience with this guitar is somewhat different, perhaps due to acquiring an OM-28v last year. The 28v made be the best sounding new guitar I have ever heard. It sounded so good, that I purchased the instrument despite the Modified V neck which I had come to believe was not workable for me. I have become adjusted to the profile and now like it quite a bit. In fact, I prefer the Modified V greatly over any low profile design.So I once again own a Martin 000-28ec. The guitar has a delightful sound - boxy, woody and somewhat compressed compared to other guitars. To the player it sounds very warm, almost dark, but recordings reveal a bit brighter sound out front.

This guitar is amazing!! The sound is so clean. It is hard to describe. I was not sure what to expect from the V shape neck, but it is very comfortable, making the guitar easy to play. I even love the smell from the wood. If I leave the guitar out, the whole room smells nice from the wood.The packing and service from Chicago music was also excellent.This is a guitar worth having.

First, I don't own this guitar. I simply played one. But there were no reviews so I thought I would add a basic one.The body is slightly smaller than many guitars, both in terms of the size of the soundboard (face), and the thickiness of the guitar. This does make it quite comfortable to play. The sound was typical of martins, but more delicate or gentle than say, a dreadnought, due to the slightly smaller body. It played like a dream and I'd love to have one but for the $3200 price, its a bit oversold. You're paying for Eric's endorsement, and a couple inlays and minor features that are not on the basic 00028.If money is no object, its an interesting piece and a nice guitar. But you might do better to pay a grand less and get the basic 00028. Unless you like guitars with other people's names on them. But hey what do I know. I have a Reverend Horton Heat Gretsch 6120, so....ya know...its about the feature set and what you really like. I didn't buy that for the name. On this guitar, this model gives you different tuning machine knobs and a couple inlays for a grand....not sure that's worth it.I downgraded one star on the price tag, because I don't think the value is there. But its a very nice guitar and if you buy one, I don't think you'll be disappointed. Its a fine instrument, just overpriced.

Sounds perfect!!!!!

I currently own a Martin D28, Martin 000-15m, Taylor 614, and Gibson J45, along with several parlor and electric guitars. I was searching for a smaller bodied guitar similar to the 000-15m but with more volume and a ebony fingerboard, which led me to the 000-28ec. I've been playing for 30+ years and now more interested in fingerstyle guitar, specifically blues. The D28 is a great guitar, but a bit too big for noodling on the couch and much better suited to flatpicking and if you are needing volume in a band situation.First in my decision to go with the Eric Clapton as opposed to the standard 000-28. Although the cost is a big leap, I'm at the point in my life where I can afford to spend a little more in order to get what I really want as far as features and have come to better appreciate the overall aesthetics of various guitars. I went with the tobacco sunburst and it is absolutely beautiful. The craftsmanship and special features such as diamond inlays and butterbean open tuners are really a throw back to the early Martin's. The EC signature is modest and a nice little touch and a big Clapton fan, but could have went either way with or without the signature.Second, I was a bit concerned after reading negative reviews on the modified v neck. I'm 6'0 and would say average hand size for my height and the first few days it did take a little getting used to. I did feel some soreness but not unlike what you would feel learning a new chord fingering. Within a week my hands adjusted and have to say I absolutely love the neck! There's something about the feel and grip that really connects me with the guitar. I have always enjoyed fingerstyle as I feel I have better control over the tone, as well as a direct connection to the instrument. The modified v neck produces a similar experience with the fretting hand.Now for the most important aspect of the review - the sound. This guitar is by far the most amazing tone I have ever come across on an acoustic guitar. Notes are balanced, full, and warm up and down the neck and it has the sweetest sustain for playing blues. It has the volume I was hoping for in a shorter scale, smaller bodied guitar being played without a pic. I feel almost guilty saying this, but my 20+ love affair with my D28 has come to an end. Don't get me wrong, it's still an amazing guitar and will have it's place in certain situations, but the 000-28ec, IMO, far outperforms when it comes to ease of play and overall tone for fingerstyle blues. If I was primarily a bluegrass, country picker, the D28 without question, but for blues, fingerstyle, and an overall joy of playing, the 000-28ec is the bee's knees.