Martin 5-28 Terz Aging Toner Travel Acoustic Guitar #3940

The Martin 5-28 Terz brings back one of Martin's most historically significant body sizes — and does it justice. Built around a compact 12-fret Size 5 body with a 21.38" scale length, this guitar is voiced for Terz tuning, pitched a minor third higher than standard, which gives it a focused, bell-like clarity that sits in an entirely different sonic space than a standard dreadnought or even most parlor guitars. It is the smallest guitar in Martin's current lineup, and that compactness isn't a compromise — it's the whole point.

The solid spruce top delivers a focused, bell-like response with warmth at the top of its range — exactly what you want in a guitar tuned a minor third higher than standard. The solid East Indian rosewood back and sides add depth and sustain, keeping the Terz register from sounding thin or brittle. On fingerpicked arrangements, the 5-28 Terz has a shimmer that sits above a standard-tuned guitar without competing for the same sonic space. It can also be strung for standard pitch if needed, though its true voice comes alive in Terz tuning.

Style 28 appointments throughout — mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays, antique white binding, ebony fingerboard and bridge — give it a refined, classic look that matches the seriousness of the instrument. The nickel open-gear tuners and satin neck finish keep the playing feel fast and comfortable on the short scale. For fingerstyle players, recording guitarists, or ensemble players looking for a high-register voice that adds shimmer and texture without competing with the main guitar part, the 5-28 Terz occupies a niche that almost nothing else fills.