What are your two favorite Martin guitar models?

[woodbox]

I get why you would limit this to two, (to keep it simple and fun) but wow, what a tough call.

But I'll play along:

--000-18GE
--M36

These are my two favorite players.
Why?
As a singer/songwriter, lead singer/rhythm player in an acoustic duo,
these two compliment but don't compete with my vocals.
But I can dig into either of them and they have power in reserve when needed.

Let me add that my M36 is a Custom, not a Standard.
I'd had a Standard M36 and loved the sound,
but did not like the 1 11/16 nut, nor the brilliant white binding.
I was also not fond of the orange top toner.

So when I saw this Custom with 1 3/4 nut, cream colored body binding and no neck binding, and a less pumpkiny top, I grabbed it!
It had been previously owned by a prominent AGF member (who can outplay me ten-to-one) but I'm not sure if he was the original owner who ordered it.
Mine also has an Ebony bridge (instead of Rosewood on Standards) and Ebony tuning knobs.
Its a great guitar.

Honorable mentions:
--My Madagascar/Alpine OM, buts its a Custom Shop model.
--I'm very proud of my 1928 0-18.

[BrunoBlack]

While I haven’t owned Martin guitars for a few years, I’ve owned & enjoyed a number of fine examples. My 2 favorites were an HD-28 and a D-41. Here’s my D-41, the last one out the door.

[Shades of Blue]

My favorite two models are probably the two I own, well, since I own them.

[Guildman]

I'd put my 000-18e retro up against any boutique of twice the price. It sounds and plays so well I smh with a smile every time I play it. The other would be a D-28 which I no longer own due the o'l neck, shoulder pain.

Originally Posted by billder99

I'm with you Andrew, 12-fret tone is the schnizzit... combine with short scale, a wider neck, and a slotted headstock... and you have both aesthetic and tonal beauty that is wondrous. So, the D-18S and the 000-28VS would be my preferred Martin guitars.

Both of those models are long scale, which you may know, but I'm not sure everyone does. Many people automatically assume 12 fret equals short scale. In fact, all traditional 6 string Dreadnaughts are long scale in either 12 or 14 fret configuration, as are all traditional 12 fret 000's. However, 14 fret 000's after 1934 are short scale.

Originally Posted by llew

Problem is there aren't many Martin models I don't like? And while I've owned a couple smaller Martin's (00/000/0000/OM) the dread is king in my world. So in no particular order:
D-18
D-28
Is it fair to include ALL the different variations of those two models?

Those are big questions for me too. For example, if I choose a D-18, does it have to be a model/version in current production?

Generally speaking, I'm right with you. The D-18 and D-28 combined as a class of instrument pretty much sum it up IF I was picking my personal favorites. Now, if you said you can only have two Martin guitars for the rest of your life, maybe I'd pick a D-18 and an OM or 000.

So, in the spirit of where I think Wade was going with this, I'll stick with reasonably recent, reasonably affordable models. First, I would rule out anything with the currently popular MLO necks. I just don't like them. My first choice is the D-18A 1937. I love everything about that guitar, have played 2-3 dozen and owned 4 over time. Some I sought out and some were part of trade deals that just worked for me. Any of them could have been "lifetime" guitars for me, but I settled with a 2005 that to my ear and hands was the best fit overall.



Picking the second is much more difficult. Do I choose from what I own, or what I would own IF I had to choose ONLY two forever? I think I'd go with an OM-28 Marquis. I like every one I've played, quite powerful for a modern OM, and it would give me some rosewood content. That said, I don't own one, so how could I pick it as a favorite? Maybe I need to buy one now....

[Nctom]

My two favorites are the CEO-7 and the OM-21. Both sound and play great, have the two most used tonewoods in the Martin lineup and both have simple but beautiful appointments. As much as I like seeing D-18s and -28s played by others neither is among my favorites.

[pegleghowell]

000-28ec and 0M-28V,in the"standard",non-vintage sense.

[zhunter]

I own an old D18 and a 000-28 old enough to have herringbone and not be an H model. The only new acoustic only (no pickup) I have bought is a D18 so Wade's picks are pretty solid for me.

I will add that one of the best sounding "modern" Martins I have come across was a original issue of the Paul Simon OM-42 back in the 90s. First new Martin in years to really get my attention. And yes, Indian rosewood.

hunter

[drplayer]

My favorite two models are the two I own. I know that sounds pretty cliche', but what can I say...it's true.


Martin 000-28EC (with some added bling by David Nichols/Custom Pearl Inlay)


Martin Custom Shop 0000-14 fret (Adirondack/Mahogany)


However, I sure wouldn't mind owning a Custom Shop "00" or "000" 12-fretter...

[SalFromChatham]

I have heard so much about the unbranded Clapton 000-28H model....

Anyways my favorite two Martin models are the D18 (redesigned) and the M21 Steve Earle... If any of you see one of them, grab it. they dont come for sale often and they are special.

[jaymarsch]

I'm a rosewood gal so I would have to go with their rosewood OM models. I owned an M-38 for 10 years and it was a stellar guitar. My friend has a Martin D-35 and while it is too big for me to commit to, the tone is fabulous. And those Martin small mahogany guitars can be very sweet indeed as kerbie has already mentioned.

Best,
Jayne

[Rmz76]

Hi Wade,

I can't play the "favorite two" game, but I have four 2018 Martin production models that I love about the same.

Jason Isbel Signature D18
HD28V
000-18
000-15

Of those four my favorite is the HD28V... The others all give different flavors of sound and playablity... can't really put them order.

[Neil K Walk]

Limiting it down to just two is tough but I'd have to say that my favorite two models are the HD-35 and the 2000s era D-21 Special (with the ebony pyramid bridge and aged toner top,) with the GC-MMV and HD-28V looking in just over the cutoff line. Yes, they're all dreads and the MMV is cheap compared to some of the chintzier models that have been named by others (the 000-28EC and CEO-7 just seem like "gimmick" models to me) but my tastes are simple and the dreadnought is Martin's flagship (no pun intended.)

[Mr. Paul]

Like what Martin does with rosewood OMs. Would love to play a 000-30 1919 Authentic.

[BahPa]

I have two of my favorites, a 000-18 and a 000-28, however I just played a HD-28 in a local shop that sounded great.