Grand Ole Opry Marks 100 Years with a One-of-a-Kind Martin HD-28
A limited-edition collaboration with Martin Guitar and Gruhn Guitars pays tribute to a century of country music history.
When the Grand Ole Opry turned 100 on November 28, 2025, the celebration wasn't limited to speeches and performances. It also arrived in the form of a guitar.
To mark the milestone, the Opry partnered with C. F. Martin & Co. and George Gruhn of Gruhn Guitars to create a limited-edition Martin HD-28 Grand Ole Opry 100th Anniversary model; an instrument designed as both a tribute and a working musician's tool.
Opry member Vince Gill became the first artist to play the one-of-a-kind guitar when it was unveiled to the public, debuting it during the Opry's centennial show.
Built on the foundation of Martin's longstanding HD-28 platform, the anniversary edition retains the Dreadnought body shape known for its strong low end, clear highs, and full tonal range. The guitar features a solid spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, along with forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing, hallmarks of the HD-28 design. Visual details include herringbone top trim, antique white binding, and an ebony fingerboard, paired with a Golden Era Modified Low Oval neck profile intended for comfortable playability.
What sets this model apart are the commemorative elements created specifically for the Opry's centennial. The headplate carries a custom inlay of the historic WSM microphone in mother-of-pearl and abalone, referencing the radio broadcasts that helped bring country music to a national audience. The inlay theme continues along the fingerboard, nodding to the artists and moments that have shaped the Opry since its founding in 1925.
The collaboration reflects the long relationship between Martin guitars and the Opry stage. For decades, Martin instruments have been part of the sound heard from Nashville's longest-running live radio broadcast, one that has introduced generations of performers and songs to listeners across the country and beyond.
As the Opry moves into its second century, the Martin HD-28 Grand Ole Opry 100th Anniversary guitar stands as a tangible reminder of that history; an instrument rooted in tradition, but built to be played on today's stages.
About Chris Roditis
Chris Roditis has been an active musician since 1995 in various bands and projects across a variety of genres ranging from acoustic, electronic to nu metal, british rock and trip hop. He has extensive experience as a mixing engineer and producer and has built recording studios for most of the projects he has been involved with. His passion for music steered his entrepreneurial skills into founding MusicNGear in 2012.
Contact Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@musicngear.com
In this section of the Musicngear blog you can find reviews, how-tos, buying guides & comparisons across a wife range of music gear.
Are you interested in writing a story for this section as a guest or joining the Musicngear team as a Contributing Author? Contact us at info@musicngear.com
Would you like to send us sample gear for reviews? Reach out to Chris Roditis at chrisroditis@musicngear.com
