Martin 00-18VS

MartinMan1990 · #1 03-21-2018, 04:21 PM

Was wondering if anyone has played this specific custom model. I see that MyFavoriteGuitars does a run of these and they look fantastic, especially in the amber tone

Methos1979 · #2 03-21-2018, 04:57 PM

I had the UMGF model (I think the last one made) in Ambertone. It was a phenomenal guitar in every way.

Looks like they're still making them! Just saw a new one on MFG.

MartinMan1990 · #3 03-21-2018, 05:06 PM

Thanks for the response. What ultimately made you part with it? The Adirondack toped ones look nice as well, so many decisions! Are there discounts on customs? I notice a lot of sponsors list actual price for custom models, so I'm assuming that is final price compared to MAP.

sayheyjeff · #4 03-21-2018, 08:11 PM

I have one of these too. Also ambertone. Nothing I can think of will get me to part with mine. You find a lot to read about these guitars. . My impression is that a couple change hands every year if you are thinking of looking for a used one.

Jeff

Methos1979 · #5 03-21-2018, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinMan1990

Thanks for the response. What ultimately made you part with it? The Adirondack toped ones look nice as well, so many decisions! Are there discounts on customs? I notice a lot of sponsors list actual price for custom models, so I'm assuming that is final price compared to MAP.

At the time I had two 00 12 fretters - the UMGF and a Santa Cruz 1929 00. I needed to let one go to cover a custom Emerald I had on order. It was the hardest decision. In the end I went with the SC. I've since seen my guitar come back on the classifieds twice and both times I've almost bought it!

The SC is now gone in favor of the 000-18GE custom in my sig line which has just a tad more bottom end than the 12-fretters did. But I keep thinking how beautiful those two Ambertone guitars would look hanging side by side on the wall! Mine was serial number 120 and that one on MFG is 122 so looks like they are only making them rarely.

I generally only keep a couple guitars so one wood and one carbon fiber. But if I came into some cash I'd grab another one. But between the two (UMGF and my 000-18GE Custom) I'd have to stay with the 000-18GE. To me the 000-18GE (and 000-X8 guitars in general) are the Swiss Army Knives of the guitar world. They just really do it all.

JohnC88 · #6 03-21-2018, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinMan1990

Was wondering if anyone has played this specific custom model. I see that MyFavoriteGuitars does a run of these and they look fantastic, especially in the amber tone

For the record, you can order almost any Martin with that same ambertone finish for about a $200 upcharge.

MartinMan1990 · #7 03-22-2018, 06:12 AM

Thanks for all the comments so far. This sounds like a dumb question but besides the neck and ambertone finish, is there any difference between MFG's UMGF 00-18VS and Ted from LAGuitars CS-00-18s?

JohnC88 · #8 03-22-2018, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinMan1990

Thanks for all the comments so far. This sounds like a dumb question but besides the neck and ambertone finish, is there any difference between MFG's UMGF 00-18VS and Ted from LAGuitars CS-00-18s?

The UMGF guitar uses quilted hog vs regular hog and the UMGF guitar, I believe, has Waverlys. Tonally they should be the same unless you believe the necks would have an impact on the tone.

MartinMan1990 · #9 03-22-2018, 12:07 PM

Thank you John.

JohnC88 · #10 03-22-2018, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MartinMan1990

Thank you John.

You're welcome. I was very interested in a 12 fret 00 for a while myself. I just ordered a 14 fret custom Martin instead.

Good luck in your search.

woodbox · #11 03-22-2018, 01:24 PM

I've had two UMGF 00-18VS models.
One of the original run in Natural finish, and a later model in Ambertone.
They are tonally sweet, the specs are right on, and they look great.
And as a "quiet" guitar, they are wonderful.

But I let them both go simply because of my predominant playing style being more aggressive,
opting for my 000-18GE as my number one player.

To quote Methos1979:
" But between the two (UMGF and my 000-18GE Custom) I'd have to stay with the 000-18GE.
To me the 000-18GE (and 000-X8 guitars in general) are the Swiss Army Knives of the guitar world. They just really do it all. "

If I could only have one, it would be my Martin 000-18 Golden Era.
Then my M36, D18, the J45 Gibson, and the...but I digress.

This is not to say the little 00-18VS UMGF is sub-standard..no, they are top shelf indeed!
I simply found myself reaching for other guitars more often.

Methos1979 · #12 03-22-2018, 05:18 PM

Great minds think alike, woodbox! I couldn't agree more!!

I looked up my old NGD for the UMGF. Great photos. The hog back was a beautiful quilted set of mahogany. There's also a couple sound clips of the UMGF A/B'd with the sitka/rosewood Santa Cruz:

NGD: Martin 00-18VS UMGF plus SCGC OO shootout! UPDATE to add new soundclip

Then there was this one a short time later after buying the SC 1929 00 where I A/B/C'd all three with a video shootout!

NGD: Santa Cruz 1929 OO - plus triple double O video shootout!

Then just a few short weeks after that yet another one when I bought another SC 1929 00 because it had the burst finish I liked better. No real sound or video clip comparisons. Just more photos to make you salivate even more! (You're welcome!):

NGD: Santa Cruz 1929 OO #2!