I like to age my own Martin tops with normal use.

I'll do my own aging thank you very much 🙂

I see an advantage in both, and recently demoed one of the new custom shop VTS D-18 37s on my channel. While I have nothing against torrefied tops, I prefer the sound of nontorrefied tops for my playing. You guys do a wonderful job, and I appreciate and enjoy these videos very much!

Man Quinton can sure make them Dreadnoughts boom and come alive! I think the aged one's the best. And Paul's knowledge is awesome! Love your demos guys!

Quinton, you have the basics down: if it sounds great and plays well, that's what one needs. Great demo. Thanks Paul and Quinton

NGL, I was listening to this in the background (with good headphones), and when the video ended I was like, "wait, he didn't play both guitars." XD

I didn’t hear 2700 dollars more tone . Madagascar does have some of the Brazilian “reverb” , but it didn’t seem to shine through digitally. The lack of an adjustable truss rod on the VTS model is a non-starter for me. Good comparison though.

I think they sound very close - because they ARE very close. I feel the aged top is a tad less harsh, but that can easily be tweaked with strings. The main thing to consider is that the Aged top likely won't change much over the next 50 years and the other top will. If I were considering the two I would choose the Aged, as I don't have 50 years to wait!

My ears prefer the non aged top. YMMV. Great demo on both.

I like the aged it sounded sweeter to me the other was a little crisper .

I think I just bought that same 2021 Martin Authentic 1937 Aged guitar in the video! I've now played it about 1.5 hrs and here's my first review of it: Loud, bluegrass cannon! My other guitar, a 2013 D18, sounds almost as good as this D28 in most situations, except when you really hammer the D28 it is better at filling a room. You can pick lead lines very hard and it sounds even better. I always thought my D18 had a maximum pick force level and above that it just fell flat. Not true with this D28. It explodes with sound. It is deep, rhythmic, punchy, and well balanced. When I first picked it up a couple of months ago (I think it was the same guitar) the large neck size was off-putting. After playing it in the store for 30 minutes I decided I like it. It does take more effort to grab a minor chord at the 7th fret where my thumb grabs the 6th string. It has the absolute perfect setup. Someday I'll take this one and my D18 to my favorite guitar tech and have him do a neck/fret/truss adjustment to get my D18 to feel more like this Authentic 1937 D28. It has the truss rod. I don't think I would have bought it if it was a true copy of a 1937 without a truss rod. On the other hand, this neck is so big and the guitar has gone through so much at the Martin factory to get it to this point, I don't expect it to move around much while I own it. I played 3 other guitars for a long time before I said I was bored and what else can I try. I was handed this one and my story changed. The factory stock HD28 that I was playing before this one sounded really, really good. That one was tempting. It was also $1000 cheaper than this 1937 Aged D28. Disclaimer: Until I bought that 2013 D18 last year, I'd not really owned a great guitar and I'm 62 years old. The D18 was a world better than the $400 guitars I'd played up to that point. It launched me off into a non-stop practice/jam/practice schedule and I've become a much better player. I practice or play about 20 hrs./week. I hold my own with the D18, volume-wise, in any jam situation. It will be fun to bring this D28 to the next old time music jam and see how it is different than the D18. One thing I like about this guitar is it is not flashy at all. 99.9% of players who see it in a jam won't think it is anything special. I had briefly considered the D45 but was put off by all the bling everywhere. If I was to change anything, I'd tell Martin to not bother with weathering the tuners. They just look like dirty new tuners. They don't really look old. To address the Aged/Non-Aged discussions in the comments: I only played the non-aged one a few minutes. I didn't do a direct comparison. The aged one that I bought was used (barely) and therefore about 20% cheaper than the new Non-Aged same guitar.

I just got the HD 28 Adirondack, it’s a amazing and Resonates clear and has depth as well .

i guess i like the aged one better, but i wouldn't kick either of them out of my music room. when q plays the aged, and I close my eyes, i hear steve earle on stage. sounds great.

I have a custom shop vts 000 18 style with addy top, one day I hope to get a bourgeois or boutique brand but I think Martin, especially with the vts or authentic series, is making the best guitars out there, mine is light and airy but has plenty of low end power and punch too. It’s hard to beat a Martin, I think in the past 5-6 years it’s pretty hard to beat a Martin. Thanks y’all !

Would be an honor to buy one from these guys to add to my killer D-18 which I picked up at Music Villa. I've heard the aged is where it's at but the non aged is what I would buy. My fingers have the final say in the matter.

I just got one like the non aged and played a sunburst aged and the pale one I bought is the best Martin D-28 I've ever played.I got to try many.And just like Nicolas Cages' character in Raising Arizona "I think I got the pertious one mama"!.No seriously I think Martin is making the best guitars in the world right now.

Great video, however could be considered a bit confusing? Martin does make a D 28 Authentic with Madagascar Rosewood back and sides without aging. It includes aVTS top. To my mind that would be a more apples to apples comparison and a true reflection of the impact other than cosmetic of aging. Love to see that comparison. Keep up the great work.

Thank you for your work

Im surprised. I like the non aged sound more. Maybe Quinton is into it a bit more?

Truss rod is another difference. The Authentic has a non adjustable lollipop. The other has an adjustable one.

the aged is stunning

Quinton has a great right hand. Fantastic playing!

I sounded older y lower than when I was in my teen years…I am built mostly of liquid or moisture…I sound better singing wise but playing iam still growing

Amazing guitars.

This is a good sounding new Martin,most out of Guitar Center need a set up strings rattle on a fret somewhere . You have to play alot of Martins in a Guitar center to find a good one,that won't cost you another 200 to set up,cause guiter center won't do it.A real martin dealer won't charge for a set up, especially when you are paying $3000 for a guitar. Just sayin from experience!

Merci, je viens d’acheté une D-28 modern de luxe, et j’ai aimé entendre la différence avec la vintage.

I think you guys got a little turned around here. You're not comparing two D-28 Authentic 1937s--one aged, and one not. Instead, what you've got are a D-28 Authentic 1937 Aged and a Custom Shop D-28 1937 (EIR). The latter is not part of the Authentic Series. If you were comparing two D-28 Authentic 1937s, aged and non-aged, each would have Madagascar B&S. The nomenclature gets confusing, and that's on Martin.

Both sounded marvelous...the Non aged was 'brighter'.

I keep coming back and watching again. Quentin. Amigo. I’d kick in good bread if you just, “showed up at our Campout.” Sanity’s coming back slowly but surely. Semper Fi

What about a Takamine do you have any of those to review? I was looking at the P5DC-WB but there are none around me to play. I think that color whiskey brown looks awesome. I have one Takamine already and like it i'm sure the pro series is even better.

PLease do a fingerstyle review on these guitars given the wider widths at the nut and bridge.

Don’t own either but have played both a number of times and I’d own the non aged version.

John's guitar stuff does great reviews...

Isn’t the non-aged guitar one of the new Custom Shop Authentics? It sure sounds like it based on the specs you mention (non-VTS top, EIR, etc.) If so that’s not made clear in the vid. Those Custom Shop Authentic D-28 1937s (non-aged) are superb instruments. I know. I’ve got one:)

The non-aged for me all day long, not the looks but tone ..beautifull.

I think I prefer the non aged sound

To my ears the non aged sounds brighter. The aged looks old due to the tinted top and relic process. The sound is important but so is the feel of the guitar. A blindfold test and opinion from the player / reviewer would be interesting I reckon…

I like both for different reasons

since when do the not aged ones have Indian rosewood and no vts? was that for a specific time period?

Meant to be played like this dud3 y I loved the comparison (:

I vote “Aged”.

Love the authentics but I don't think "aged" is the correct term for torrefication. Love your videos by the way.

Someone loves bluegrass..!

I prefer the non aged. It was brighter sounding and not in a bad way. Also clearer sounding. If I had $6,000 to spend on a Martin guitar, I would not purchase one with the VTS pre aged top. Sorry, I just do not like the idea. I prefer that the guitar age naturally without fake aging. That’s just me.

If I was positioned to choose between these two guitars, I would choose the non-aged top. It sounds so much better for tone, dynamic range, and output volume (it's so much more resonant). than the VTS top. They both sound like very nice instruments.

Does the first song played at the end of the video with martin D28 aged have a name? or it's just improvisation ? Thank you

Wow, I’d be proud to own either of the Martin D-28 Authentics in this comparison. Both are standout sounding guitars? Even so, the contrast between Madagascar and EIR vs.Torrifaction add a comparison challenge that will likely make a greater sonic difference as each guitar matures? However, given the $2789 price difference and without a live comparison, I’d recommend you grab the Natural Authentic before its gone?

FYI the actual music comparison doesn't start until 7:00! Too much yapping, not enough playing! (Calling Tony Policastro...) Both guitars are excellent. To my ears the non-aged had more string separation and more sparkle; the aged had more warmth.

I have a 1970s aged Japanese Yasuma which cost peanuts, and plays like this Martin!

I prefer the natural light color of the wood when new. Not a fan of yellow guitars. Can’t even get a HD28 new anymore without it being yellow

I bought a torrified top to build a guitar and it was a disappointment. Cutting rings for the rosette the wood between the rings easily chips and crumbles. Every gimmick in the world is used to sell guitars for increasingly higher prices. PLAYING a WELL made guitar over time gives it that "old sound" better than aging, glue, etc.... I have been lucky enough to play some old Martin guitars, including 58957, and it AIN"T the guitar, it's the player. The gentleman demonstrating these guitars could likely get great tone out of an average guitar.

P.S.thanks to Chris and the crew at the Tall Toad Music in beautiful Petaluma California for helping my dream come true.

Let each other talk!!!!

Usually I don't like the vts but in this case, much more bass and mid punch love it! But imo it's mostly the Madagascar rosewood! I absolutely adore this wood, closest thing to Brazilian that I've played. I been learning yo build acoustics and so far I've built three with Maddy rosewood and they are utterly awesome!

I'm not sure what the question really should be here. The non-Aged D-28 is a $5,200 Custom Shop Authentic with a non-VTS Adi top, EIR back and sides. And the Aged D-28 is a $8,000 D-28 Authentic with a VTS Adi top and Madagascar rosewood back and sides. It's not really a fair comparison, but I'm pretty sure that my D-18 Authentic 1939 Aged sounds better than either of them. But, that's just me.

I “committed” to a non aged a few days ago, but the aged sounds WAY more mature.

The guitar they show at 3.15 is this new enhanced D28, but its identical to an HD28 and the specs confirm this apart from the nut width. An HD28 is actually the way they made them in 1937 - and now so is the new enhanced D28. So why is the new enhanced D28 $2,000 more than the HD28? Anyone who buys the new authentic but not aged 28 is obviously spending 2 grand they don't need to since they could simply buy the HD28. But hey, marketing is a great thing and If people will pay 5 grand instead of 3 for the real deal, who am I to stop them? I'm very disappointed in Martin for duping the public like this - you should be ashamed. Incidentally, I have a 2003 HD28 which really is authentically aged - not fake aged. I'd question how the aged one would be when it really is aged both in sound and in value. I'd take my aged HD over either of these.

Aged sounds better

I'd rather not age multiple reasons. Aging is part of the fun. The character of the guitar. Responds to how it's played and taken care of. Watching that too age is where its at too. Part of the fun. Also, I don't like forced aging. I think its ridiculous and a bad idea. Just like making guitars look beat up already. No thanks. Ridiculous

How do you spell scam? Didn’t Quinton say with a blindfold he’s not sure he could tell? His wallet sure could.

A bit later in this one, I mentioned a video I'd seen from Guthrie Trapp - again, if you're not familiar with him, take a little tour of his channel - you won't be disappointed. That said, I was completely off on the guitar I saw him play - it's 2012 00-21: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZsWeZdF7s7acf58.html

My problem with these “authentic” martins is they are not putting truss rods in them ,

Non-aged is brighter.

Check my uploaded videos, I posted a D 28 AA versus a Pre War Guitars Model D, D28AA is long gone.

I’d get the non-aged if only to not have to explain the guitar to people over and over.

not a nickles worth of difference I think artificial aging is a hype

No difference. If there is one, it could be ignored. HD-28 is still my favorite.

The two guys keeping talking on top of each other.... I gave up after 2 minutes.

Solo - not aged, chord - aged end of story.

Aged sounds better