Billy Strings has redefined modern flatpicking with explosive virtuosity that blends both deep-rooted tradition and fearless innovation. He has captivated audiences across genres, inspiring a new generation of guitarists worldwide. Such a player needs an instrument they can rely on, a tool that can keep up with their artistry and deliver night after night. Inspired by Billy's 1940 D-28, the D-28 Billy Strings is the perfect guitar for the job.
With Herringbone trim around the top, the D-28 Billy Strings joins the lineage of classic Martin dreadnoughts. Yet, it differs from the Standard Series HD-28 in a key specs that ensure this signature model can keep up with Billy's blistering playing. First, the D-28 Billy Strings has a shorter 25" scale length. This subtly reduces the string tension and places the frets slightly closer together, so it's easier to play faster and move out of open position up into the fingerboard. Because of the 2025 GE-Scalloped Forward-Shifted bracing, the top is still voiced to produce a full, throaty sound, even with the lower string tension.
Second, the D-28 Billy Strings has a 1-23/32" nut width—just in between 1-11/16" and 1-3/4". Over the years, there has been much debate about which nut width is best for flatpicking, and many players find that this nut width offers the best of both worlds. With a little extra room to stretch out, the strings are still close enough together that you can play fast and cross pick with ease.
Lastly, the D-28 Billy Strings sports unique enclosed Grover tuning machines. A nod to the storied history of Martin dreadnoughts, these tuners have Butterbean buttons, and they're designed to keep everything stable and honest, night after night. Blending prewar style with modern playability, the D-28 Billy Strings is built for speed, tone, and bluegrass brilliance.
- Body Size: 14-Fret Dreadnought
- Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint
- Top: Spruce
- Top Purfling: Bold Herringbone
- Back & Sides: East Indian Rosewood
- Bracing Pattern: GE-Scalloped Forward-Shifted X-Brace
- Braces: Spruce, 5/16"
- Scale Length: 25"
- Neck Profile: GE Modified Low Oval w/ High-Performance Taper
- Fingerboard: Ebony w/ Abalone Diamond and Square Inlay
- Bridge: Ebony GE Modern Belly
- Saddle: Compensated Bone Drop-In w/ 2-5/32" Spacing
- Nut: Bone, 1-23/32"
- Tuning Machines: Custom Grover Enclosed w/ Butterbean Knobs
- Case: Deluxe Hardshell from TKL