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Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
VS
Playability
78
Sound
86
Build
94
Value
71
Score
86
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Playability
77
Sound
86
Build
89
Value
69
Score
84
FIND IT ON:
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Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western vs Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe

Reasons to Get
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western over Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe

Neck Profile
Acoustic V vs Acoustic Vintage Deluxe
Great if you like to hang your thumb over the fretboard
Nut Width
1.725'' (43.8mm) vs 1.811'' (46mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm) vs 24.9'' (632.5mm)
Easier bending, shorter fret separation and warmer natural tone
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
More curved fretboard helpful to play chords without muting strings
Value Score
71 vs 69
Better price/quality relationship

Reasons to Get
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe over Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western

Fret Material
Gold vs Nickel Silver
Almost as durable as stainless steel with an exotic look
Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Neck Profile
Acoustic Vintage Deluxe vs Acoustic V
Adapts to the natural shape of your hand
Nut Width
1.811'' (46mm) vs 1.725'' (43.8mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Scale Length
24.9'' (632.5mm) vs 24.75'' (628.7mm)
Lower action and brighter natural tone
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend

Other Key Differences
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western vs Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe

Back Material
Mahogany vs Rosewood
Different Back Material
Sides Material
Mahogany vs Rosewood
Different Sides Material
Saddle Material
Bone vs Compensated
Different Saddle Material
Bridge Material
Rectangular, Closed Slot vs Ebony
Different Bridge Material
Fretboard Wood
Rosewood vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood

Shared Features
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western vs Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe

Body Wood
Spruce
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Headstock
3-3
Same Headstock
Nut Material
Bone
Same Nut Material
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Hollowbody
Warm tone, lighter and acoustic sound
Switch Positions
0
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
0
Same volume control
Tone Knobs
0
Same tone control
Number of Frets
20
Same maximum octave
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Type of Frets
Medium
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings

Common Strengths

  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • High-Quality Nut
  • High-Quality Frets
  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Locking Tuners
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western is probably the better product overall with its final score of 86 compared to the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's 84 score, although not by a lot.

The Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western wins when it comes to playability, build quality, value for the money. On the other hand, the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe has the upper hand when it comes to.

If you got small hands, you'll probably feel that the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe is easier to play.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

Both meet 4 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players. If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, you can't go wrong with either of them.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Soft Strings
  • Locking tuners

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Overview

  • From Gibson's 2021 Artist Collection series
  • Nathaniel Rateliff Signature
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Adirondack Red Spruce top
  • Solid Mahogany back
  • Solid Mahogany sides
  • Mahogany neck
  • Indian Rosewood fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: LR Baggs VTC (Preamp/Active)
  • Rectangular, Closed Slot bridge
  • Acoustic V Set neck
  • 20 Medium frets
  • Gotoh Keystone tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe Overview

  • From Martin's 2022 Modern Deluxe series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.9"'' scale
  • 16" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Spruce with VTS top
  • Solid East Indian Rosewood back
  • Solid East Indian Rosewood sides
  • Genuine Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Fishman Gold Plus Natural I (Preamp/Active)
  • Ebony bridge
  • Acoustic Vintage Deluxe Set neck
  • 20 Medium Gold frets
  • Gold Side Mount tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The most important thing that will determine the tone of an acoustic guitar is the wood. Let's take a look at the differences between both .

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Rosewood wood pattern used for guitar building
Rosewood
Spruce wood pattern used for guitar building
Spruce

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Rosewood is an almost purple-looking wood that is used mainly for fretboards since it's heavy, rare, and expensive. It's sometimes used on acoustic guitar bodies to create stronger warm tones. Find out more about Rosewood.

Spruce has a light color with tight grain patterns. It's very stiff but relatively light. It's known for producing a well-rounded tone with a broad dynamic range. Find out more about Spruce.

Woods Used in the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe

Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe.

Electronics

Both come with electronics that allow you connect them to an amplifier or interface for recording.

Winner:Tie.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Sustain 90
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 86
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
Sustain 90
Versatility 85
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 86

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western compares to the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. Both in this comparison where made in United States.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

In this case, both have Bone nuts. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

In this comparison, the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

Winner: Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe.

Tuners

Both come with regular tuners. The Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's are Gotoh Keystone while the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's are Gold Side Mount

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Bone Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
  • Gold Frets
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Electronics
  • Compensated Saddle
  • Solid Top Wood
  • Solid Side Wood
  • Solid Back Wood
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Quality of materials 96
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 94
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
Quality of materials 81
Features 85
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 89

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Nut Width
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Nut Width
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe Nut Width
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe has the wider nut with 46mm (1.811'') vs 43.8mm (1.725''). This is a 2.2mm (0.086'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's Scale Length
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's Scale Length
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's Scale Length
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's Scale Length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

The Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe has the longest scale: 24.9". The Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western is only 24.75" long. This is a 0.15'' (3.8mm) scale length difference.

This longer scale means that the strings need more tension to get in tune. This is good if you want to avoid fret buzz, which can happen when the strings are too loose and touch the frets while vibrating. This is especially important when playing in lower tunings. This will also let you reduce the gap between fretboard and strings (low action) to make them easier to press down. However, this higher tension will also make it harder to perform bends and vibratos as the strings will feel stiffer.

This also means that the frets have a longer separation between each other, so this will make it harder for people with smaller hands when playing some chord positions.

Another characteristic of a longer scale is that it makes the guitar sound 'snappier' or brighter. This is due to the extra separation between harmonics and overtones produced by the tension. This influences tone more than any other factor (except the pickups).

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Neck Profile
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's neck profile
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe Neck Profile
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western has a V type of neck. This neck shape was more common during Fender's early years. Some people like it because they use their thumb over the edge of the fretboard to press the lower strings. It's rather thicker than most modern necks, so it's not usually used for playing fast solos.

The Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe, on the other hand, has a Asymmetrical neck. Even though this neck shape looks like a poorly-made job, it's, in fact, the neck that most naturally adapts to the arc of your hand when grabbing a guitar neck. You'll notice that the lower part of your palm makes a more pronounced, deeper curve while the upper part makes a more subtle arch. This is the shape that adapts the best to that natural arch your hand makes while playing.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Fingerboard Radius
Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's Fingerboard radius
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe Fingerboard Radius
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's Fingerboard radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

In this case, the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe.

Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western favors large hands more than the Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe.

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western:
Big Hands
Small Hands
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western and Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe Frets Size
Both have a similar Medium fret size

Both have a Medium fret size. If you like feeling the fretboard when you play, but also appreciate some easiness to press down the frets, this size offers a good balance for that.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 78
Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
Chord Playability 80
Solo Playability 70
Playability 77

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western vs Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
General Gibson Nathaniel Rateliff LG-2 Western Martin 012-28 Modern Deluxe
Brand: Gibson Martin
Year: 2021 2022
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States United States
Series: Artist Collection Modern Deluxe
Colors: Sunburst Natural
Left-Handed Version: No No
Body
Type: Hollowbody Hollowbody
Body Material: Solid Adirondack Red Spruce Solid Spruce with VTS
Sides Material: Mahogany Rosewood
Back Material: Mahogany Rosewood
Bridge: Rectangular, Closed Slot Ebony
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Gotoh Keystone Gold Side Mount
Fretboard: Indian Rosewood Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Genuine Mahogany
Decoration: Pearloid Parallelogram Abalone Diamonds and Squares Long Pattern
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.9"
Shape: Acoustic V Acoustic Vintage Deluxe
Frets: 20 Medium Nickel Silver 20 Medium Gold
Fretboard Radius: 12" 16"
Nut: Bone Bone
Nut Width: 43.8mm (1.725'') 46mm (1.811'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: LR Baggs VTC (Preamp / Active) Fishman Gold Plus Natural I (Preamp / Active)