Surprise!! NGD 000-18

[CharlieBman]

Ok, so I've been thinking about a 000-18 for the better part of a year, doing the usual mental negotiation with myself as to whether I really needed another guitar. After getting a J-45 a while back I found I really liked the short scale. While I like the sound of the J-45, I just find it uninspiring at times. I live in a remote little town in the middle of Illinois cornfields so it makes it hard to find guitars to try out that don't require a long trip. A few months back I found a shop only about 2 hours away that had one in stock, but I kept putting off the drive as the mental negotiations kept me second guessing. But for some reason I woke up this morning feeling like today was a good day to take a drive. After buying several guitars online the last couple of years I wanted to at least play a 000-18 before making the decision of buying one. So I hopped in my car and headed out with no real intention of buying...but only trying.

As the salesman put the guitar in my hands, I sat down next to an older lady reading a story to her granddaughter and started to play. It took one G chord to make my senses come alive. So I started playing, just improvising anything I was feeling. The lady next to me with her granddaughter on her knee asked how long I had been playing. I told her over 60 years. She said what I was playing sounded so beautiful it brought tears to her eyes. As you might imagine, that brought a huge swell of joy to my heart. I was sold.

I wasn't expecting to walk out of that store with a brand new guitar...but I'm still smiling that I did.

[jdinco]

Wonderful guitar ! Way to go....

[BlueBowman]

For the good ones, one strum is all it takes! Congrats, Charlie. IMO it's hard to do better than a great 000

[Special K]

Charlie, what a great story! Thanks for sharing. Hope you enjoy your beautiful 000-18 for many years to come. Cheers, Kevin

[mr. beaumont]

Such a great, versatile guitar. Enjoy it in health!

[DanR]

A Martin 000-18 is a terrific guitar.

Congrats and enjoy!

[Rev Roy]

Great guitar that came wrapped in a fun story. Doesn’t get better than that. Congrats!

[6L6]

WELL DONE!

I've been a dread guy all of my acoustic life. Then, a couple of months ago, I was cruising my local CL and found a 2017 Martin 000-18 for sale.

It was a NOS guitar built in 2017 and was being offered at a very attractive price. Now, I'm not a big fan of the MLO neck or 1 3/4" nuts, but when I played the guitar it was just WONDERFUL!

Next step was to take it to Gryphon and have a K&K pup installed.

No question this one will be staying in my stash at least until something I like better comes along.

Hope you enjoy yours much as I enjoy mine!

[Glennwillow]

Nice guitar!!! Congratulations! Have fun!

- Glenn

[Justbrandon]

Congrats! I love 000-18s

[waterlooz]

What a wonderful story : ) Now you have 2 iconic guitars. Nicely done.

[emtsteve]

Grandma made some commission today... just kidding! Congrats on a great NGD - 00018's are sweet instruments.

[jricc]

Great story, iconic guitar...thanks for sharing Charlie, and congrats!

[Jim Owen]

Yep. You were meant to buy THAT guitar THAT day. Still my favorite Martin. Bought my first in 72.

[RunningPirate]

Outstanding! However, do you think you were fooling yourself with “I’m just going to try it out”. I mean, I tell myself stuff like that all the time, and I just *know* I’m rolling myself!