All user reviews of 4/5 for the Martin & Co D-18

MODEL Martin D-18
CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: D-14 Fret
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
ROSETTE: Style 18
TOP BRACING PATTERN: Standard ''X'' Scalloped, Forward Shifted
TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16''
BACK MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany
BACK PURFLING: Style 18
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany
ENDPIECE: Delmar Tortoise Color
ENDPIECE INLAY: none
BINDING: Tortoise Color
TOP INLAY STYLE: Multiple Black/White Boltaron
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: none
NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
NECK SHAPE: Modified Low Oval Profile w/ Performing Artist Taper
NUT MATERIAL: Bone
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Square Taper
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood
HEELCAP: Tortoise Color
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-3/4''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-1/8''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Old Style 18
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss w/ Aging Toner; Sunburst available at additional cost.
FINISH NECK: Satin
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
BRIDGE STYLE: 1930's Style Belly w/ Drop-In Saddle
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2-3/16''
SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Compensated/Bone
TUNING MACHINES: Nickel Open-Geared w/ Butterbean Knobs
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin SP Lifespan Phosphor Bronze Medium Gauge (MSP7200)
BRIDGE & END PINS: Black
PICKGUARD: Delmar Tortoise Color
CASE: 445 Hardshell
INTERIOR LABEL: none

Very cool and classic martin acoustic made in Nazareth, PA. Mahogany back and sides as opposed to it's 'bigger brother' the 28, which is rosewood.

UTILIZATION

Martin guitars are one of if not the most traditional style guitars out there for acoustics. Especially when it's regarding the D-18.

SOUNDS

Again this always differs with every player but I'll try to break it down to make things simpler. This is basically a Martin D28 with mahogany, what's the difference between rosewood and mahogany you ask? Rosewood has a very rich and thick low midrange, while mahogany isn't brighter per se, but it is definitely more neutral sounding in the sense that there is no enhanced low midrange like you'd usually get from rosewood. And so of course, depending on the player, some might find rosewood to be too boomy sounding and mahogany perfectly tight and not too boomy at all.

So of course this depends on the player, although in the end, majority of guitar players do usually prefer rosewood over mahogany, but again the option is always there to choose a different type of tone from the lot. I think they both sound great in their own right, especially if one is mainly a finger picker but wants projection and thus needs a dreadnought-sized guitar but doesn't want overpowering low midrange so that each note comes out, a guitar like the D18 with mahogany back and sides might just do the trick.

OVERALL OPINION

Great guitar for the price. Martin guitars are always top notch. Though again, it's mainly just a big difference between rosewood and mahogany and you have to be able to play them both side by side to hear the difference so you know what you're getting into. There's no modifying the tone on acoustic guitars (except different strings) so you should choose wisely. It completely depends on what type of music you'd want to play and how versatile a guitar you'd need to be able to play the type of style or styles you play.

Otherwise Martin build quality is always top notch so you have that peace of mind with the guitar and the only decision left to decide is which tone is right for you.

It is my opinion that the Martin D18 is yet another one of the great acoustic guitars made in production today in the $1,700 price point. Martin has a long history of quality and innovation, and these guitars have stood the test of time by all means. The original D18s are highly coveted and expensive so this affordable reissue allows a wider market to acquire one of these venerable guitars. They're still made in the USA by CF Martin IV and his wonderful team.

It features a spruce top, mohogany rosewood back, sides and neck, and the common X bracing pattern that has become the standard for acoustic guitars over time. Here is the full list of specs:

MODEL: D-18
CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: D-14 Fret
TOP: Solid Sitka Spruce
ROSETTE: Style 28
TOP BRACING PATTERN: Standard ''X''
TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce 5/16''
BACK MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany
BACK PURFLING: Style 18
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany
ENDPIECE: Black Boltaron
ENDPIECE INLAY: none
BINDING: Black Boltaron
TOP INLAY STYLE: Multiple Black/White Boltaron
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: none
NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
NECK SHAPE: Low Profile
NUT MATERIAL: Bone
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Square Taper
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Raised Gold Foil
HEELCAP: Solid Indian Rosewood
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
SCALE LENGTH: 25.4''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 14
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 20
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-11/16''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-1/8''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Style 28
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss ; Sunburst available at additional cost.
FINISH NECK: Satin
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid East Indian Rosewood
BRIDGE STYLE: Belly
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2-1/8''
SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Compensated/Bone
TUNING MACHINES: Chrome Enclosed w/ Large Buttons
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin SP Lifespan Phosphor Bronze Medium Gauge (MSP7200)
BRIDGE & END PINS: Black w/ White Dots
PICKGUARD: Black
CASE: 640 Molded
INTERIOR LABEL: none
ELECTRONICS: Optional






UTILIZATION

The design of the D18 is quite good for bluegrass and country players who want a full and rich sounding dreadnought that resonates very well for chord work and certain lead based lines. The ones I have tried are usually quite light for an acoustic and they sit very well on the body overall, which is great for a smaller person such as myself. These D18s sound great right out of the box and only get better as time goes on so getting a good sound is not an issue whatsoever. The upper fret access is not bad, but it doesn't have a cutaway, nor enough frets for it to be considered stellar.

SOUNDS

The sound of the D18 is a wonderful thing. It is a very rich and full bodied instrument that I find to be heavier in the bass and low midrange, with a subdued treble response. This is excellent for chord work and more of a vintage C&W sort of tone overall I find. It's not quite as full sounding as the D28, but it lacks the very present midrange found in the rosewood D28. I found that I preferred the D28 over the D18 for most lead work, but I thought the D18 excelled for a pure vintage rhythm tone. If you're a serious acoustic player and HAVEN'T tried a D18... I'm not really sure how to respond. They're a must try for any guitarist because of their pure Martin sound!

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think the D18 is just an amazing acoustic guitar. It does many styles well and the craftsmanship is second to none. I compared it with the D28 and HD28 and found it compare very favourably to it's more expensive siblings. There is a reason that so many of the great players have used a D18... to me it's just a great stripped down dreadnought guitar at its best.