An Appalachian Tale

MARTIN GUITAR D-28 RICH ROBINSON

- Paul Riario

YOU COULD SAY signature guitars are akin to vanity plates for an artist. Some are fun and evocative, while others serve individual expression. But after coming across the Martin Guitar D-28 Rich Robinson, I knew this signature guitar was something entirely different. When I asked the founding member of the Black Crowes what the impetus was behind it, he said, "I wish I had a great Martin like this, but I'm not taking my dad's on tour..." What he's talking about is his vintage 1954 Martin D-28, which was passed down to him from his father, Stanley "Stan" Robinson, who was a traveling musician with his folk band, the Appalachians, in the Fifties and Sixties; they even scored a single on the Billboard charts.

According to the younger Robinson, the original D-28 his father used was the guitar he learned to play on, write songs, and recorded with on every Black Crowes' record. For Robinson, what started out as a search for a "gold standard" Martin to take on the road evolved into an "aged" signature acoustic that's a tender tribute to his father, who had a profound influence on him and his music. Now, the D-28 Rich Robinson reflects all of that and more as an exact replica, right down to all the visible dings and wear and tear. And what's more, you can hear the soul of a classic Martin D-28 recreated in stunning detail.

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