From the Factory, Players | January 22, 2025

Full Circle: Billy Strings and His New Martin Signature Models

Introducing the D-28 Billy Strings and D-X2E Billy Strings Guitars

When GRAMMY®-winning artist Billy Strings walked into Martin’s historic North Street factory with his prized 1940 D-28, it felt like a homecoming—not just for the guitar but for Billy himself. “There’s a great possibility that this is the first time this guitar has been back in this building since 1940,” Billy said with a grin. “Ask the guitar, ‘How does it feel to be home?’ It’s just amazing—full circle.” 

That moment sets the tone for Martin’s launch of two all-new Billy Strings signature models: the D-28 Billy Strings and the D-X2E Billy Strings. These guitars honor the bluegrass tradition that shaped Billy’s musical journey while introducing innovations that reflect his unique preferences and playing style. 

To celebrate this collaboration, Martin captured the experience in a special launch video below. Join Billy in the historic North Street factory, where he shares the inspiration behind his signature models and plays both his pre-war D-28 and the X Series guitar that now bears his name. 

The D-28 Billy Strings: A Modern Take on a Pre-War Classic 

The D-28 Billy Strings is a direct homage to Billy’s beloved 1940 D-28—serial number 76283. “It’s an incredibly beautiful guitar,” Billy says of his prized Dreadnought. “All these little herringbone things and the ornate details—they figured it out back then, and it’s still the best.” 

His signature acoustic features the same iconic 14-fret Dreadnought body size, delivering a powerful, projective tone with deep bass and rich overtones. Its solid East Indian rosewood back and sides pair beautifully with the solid spruce top and scalloped X bracing, creating a resonant instrument that’s perfect for any playing style.

One of the most exciting updates is the guitar’s 25.0-inch scale length, a first for Martin Dreadnoughts, which typically feature a standard 25.4-inch scale. “That little bit shorter scale gives it a bit less string tension,” Billy explains. “It makes it easier to press down and just makes it kind of a faster guitar to play.” 

The neck’s unique 1 23/32-inch nut width—a comfortable middle ground between Martin’s 1 1/16 and 1 3/4-inch widths—also offers a subtle yet significant improvement in comfort and playability. “It gives me just a little more room down there to get nibbly with it,” Billy says. 

Other standout features include: 

• A satin-finished genuine mahogany neck with a Modified Low Oval profile. 
• An ebony fingerboard, accented with abalone diamond and square inlay, and an ebony modern belly bridge. 
• Nickel enclosed gear tuners, exclusive to Martin. 
• Bold herringbone trim and antique toner on top, paired with antique white binding—a nod to the pre-war aesthetic. 
• Custom paper label with Billy's pre-printed signature and graphic. 

Every D-28 Billy Strings also includes a hardshell case to protect your prized guitar. 

The D-X2E Billy Strings: Bluegrass for Everyone 

The D-X2E Billy Strings ensures that players of all levels can experience Billy’s signature Martin at a more accessible price. Designed with affordability and durability in mind, this model uses Brazilian rosewood-patterned high-pressure laminate (HPL) satin back and sides paired with a natural solid spruce top to deliver Martin’s iconic tone. 

“When I started thinking about this project, I wanted to make sure there was a guitar people could actually get their hands on,” Billy says. “It doesn’t have to be worth thousands of dollars, but it should still be solid.” 

The D-X2E Billy Strings retains key features from his signature D-28, including its iconic 14-fret Dreadnought shape, unique 25-inch scale length and 1 23/32-inch nut width, and scalloped spruce X bracing. 

Other features of Billy’s signature X Series model include: 

• A satin-finished select hardwood neck with Modified Low Oval profile. 
• An ebony fingerboard, accented with faux abalone diamond and square inlay, and an ebony modern belly bridge. 
• Martin E1 electronics with a built-in tuner and volume, tone, and phase controls. 
• Nickel open gear tuners. 
• Custom paper label with Billy’s pre-printed signature and graphic.  

Each D-X2E Billy Strings guitar includes a custom hemp softshell case, perfect for life on the road. 

More than Guitars 

For Billy, these signature models are far more than just instruments—they’re a deeply personal connection to his roots, his family, and the music that has shaped his life. “That guitar that I was sitting on the other side of when I was a kid, hearing my dad play his Martin guitar that his dad got him—it’s my earliest memory,” Billy recalls. “It was kind of like one of the only things of value we had in the house. If he ever let me play it, it was a big deal, like, ‘I got to play Dad's Martin.’” 

Billy’s attachment to Martin guitars is rooted in their timeless quality and emotional resonance. “There’s just something that happens when you pick up a Martin guitar and you strum it. The tone is rich, it’s woody, it’s natural, and it’s big. I don’t know how they make a guitar so resonant while still being so structurally intact. They’re built like tanks, but they sound like they’re made from featherlight wood or something.” 

His admiration extends beyond their craftsmanship to what the guitars represent. “If you think of just the word ‘guitar,’ I think of a Martin D-28. Some people might think of a Stratocaster or a Les Paul, but to me, it’s just so American—it’s like baseball or something.” 

The sentimental connection to Martin guitars is tied closely to his father and the family guitar he grew up with. “Ever since I was a little kid, my dad told me, ‘Someday this will be your guitar,’ and that meant so much to me,” Billy shares. “I know my dad’s not always going to be around, but I’ll always have that guitar to play and remember him by. That guitar really is where I built my dreams.” 

Billy’s passion for creating these signature models was equally about inspiring the next generation of players. “I come off the bus and see kids out there picking, playing on some junky guitar like I used to play, and I think, man, that kid deserves a solid instrument. I want these guitars to be something they can actually afford—something they can learn on, play a few gigs with, and eventually, maybe it leads them to their dream Martin someday.” 

At its heart, these signature models are about creating instruments that meet players wherever they are in their musical journey. “Seeing these guitars in the hands of pickers, especially young folks just starting out, that’s going to be the most rewarding part,” Billy says. “But so far, the biggest reward has been just playing them. That’s the tone, the feeling—it’s visceral. It’s hard to explain in words.” 

Billy sums it up perfectly: “I’m a sentimental person—especially about this kind of stuff. The music, the guitars, bluegrass, my dad, Doc Watson…my whole life revolves around all of that. And Martin guitars are a big part of it.” 

Your Signature Sound Awaits 

Whether you’re picking up the D-28 Billy Strings or the D-X2E Billy Strings, these guitars are built to inspire and carry on the bluegrass tradition for generations to come. As Billy puts it, “If you’re playing bluegrass—or any genre, really—you’ve gotta have one.” 

Contact your local authorized Martin dealer to order one today. 

Martin Guitar would like to thank Billy and his team for their partnership and dedication throughout the creation of these signature models. To stay up to date on Billy’s news, tour dates, and more, visit billystrings.com and follow him on Instagram at @billystrings. 

Until next time, happy playing!