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#1
02-25-2024, 09:29 PM
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Martin D18 Report from a Taylor 818e owner
I hope this is not repetitive, but I can't not report this.
I've been playing my new D18 for about a week, and I am so impressed. My background is an old Sigma D10 (not bad for a dumb kid), a Taylor 818e a couple yeas ago as I near retirement (about time...), an Estonia L190 Grand Piano last year (simply amazing), and now a Martin D18, because I started as Martin child (Sigma D10 was essentially a cheap Martin) and missed the sound, and I already had a Rosewood guitar (the Taylor) and wanted a Mahogany with that purity and thump (the D18; also thought hard about at Gibson J45). I'm a lousy guitar player, but I have a good ear (I'm an old Barbershop Harmony Society Judge). I have to say I am a little stunned by the D18. You Martin guys will laugh and say "who's this guy, what a dummie, we've known this for almost 80 years," but because I never actually TRIED the Martins out in a serious way, I did not actually know this up close and personal (though I certainly suspected they were great based on the history and loving reviews, although I see some bad reviews too). Maybe I just got lucky. But the D18 (2024 standard edition) just PUMPS OUT THE SOUND (not even broken in) and honestly kind of blows me away. It's amazing. It makes more sound in some senses than my 818e (which I also find amazing and wonderful in its own way), enough so that I am just so surprised that this is coming out of an old-school Dreadnaught smaller than the 818e, which is really a jumbo. The D18 produces a massive fundamental on each string; it's balanced; it has a big thump on aggressive strumming that is very resonant when the massive fundamentals on each string are combined in a chord; and it has beautiful balance on finger picking. I suppose I sound like that naive grown up who is really a kid in a sandbox, and I suppose that's true. I thought this was the last one. But given the sound of the D28 I tried at the same time (which I loved, but didn't buy because I wanted that Mahogany clarity and thump), I suspect I'm gonna need one more, and that it'l probably be a D or HD28. Maybe the wife will allow it in 2 years, if my money doesn't run out. Or maybe I"ll find a used one. Martin's not paying me, LOL. I am just so impressed. It is certainly a luxury to have beautiful instruments in a world where music is more important than ever.
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Music -- String Theory -- Tiny Vibrating Strings: The universe is music. Harmony Ukelele (1970s) Sigma D10 (1970s) Cordoba Ukelele (2010s) Taylor 818e (2022) Martin D18 Standard (2024) 
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#3
02-25-2024, 10:13 PM
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Yup! There's something undeniable about that sound. Enjoy that D-18! And, yes, an HD-28 is probably in your future. I enjoy my Taylor guitars too. But when I play my Martins, it's something else.
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"Lift your head and smile at trouble. You'll find happiness someday."
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#5
02-26-2024, 03:43 AM
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Totally agree with you about the D18.
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Martin 000-16 McPherson Sable Fender Player Telecaster Last edited by PassingThru; 02-26-2024 at 06:18 AM.
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#7
02-26-2024, 05:07 AM
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Totally agree. Get some Monels on it and they’ll add a beautiful warmth to all that clarity and thump!
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John Brook ‘Lamorna’ OM (European Spruce/EIR) (2019) Lowden F-23 (Red Cedar/Claro Walnut) (2017) Martin D-18 (2012) Martin HD-28V (2010) Fender Standard Strat (2017-MIM)
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#10
02-26-2024, 09:59 AM
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Congrats on a great guitar! Enjoy!
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-Joe Martin 000-1 Rainsong CH-OM Martin SC10e sapele My Band's Spotify page https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KKD...SVeZXf046SaPoQ
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#11
02-26-2024, 10:13 AM
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Expressing the joy of hearing a new guitar is never sounds repetitive to me. While I love my HD-28 and don't own a D-18, I did recently purchase a new 000-18 and can echo your sentiment. While the 000 won't pump out the sound like your D, the sound coming from the 000 is one of most pristine and beautiful sounding guitars I've ever heard.
Congrats!! 
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2022 Martin 000-18 2022 Martin HD12-28 2022 Martin HD-28 2022 Gibson J-45 Standard 2022 Taylor American Dream AD27 Mahogany 2007 Breedlove AC250/SM-12 2006 Breedlove AD20/SR Plus 2003 Martin 000C-16SGTNE 2000 Taylor 410ce 1990 Martin Shenandoah (< 1990 a bunch of great old Yamahas I lost track of) My music: https://pro.soundclick.com/dannybowman
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#12
02-26-2024, 04:34 PM
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And think how many decades they have been doing it.
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2007 Martin D 35 Custom 1970 Guild D 35 1965 Epiphone Texan 2011 Santa Cruz D P/W Pono OP 30 D parlor Pono OP12-30 Pono MT uke Goldtone Paul Beard squareneck resophonic Fluke tenor ukulele Boatload of home rolled telecasters "Shut up and play ur guitar" Frank Zappa
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#13
02-26-2024, 06:37 PM
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Nice discovery, better buy! Make a lot of great music with is in good health for years to come… and get used to GAS!! LOL
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'09 00-18 Tim O'Brien | '11 000-18 Norman Blake | '53 D-18 | '68 D-21 | CS21-11 | '83 D-28V |'05 D-18 Authentic | '14 D-28 Authentic | CS D45 | Rockbridge 000 | Rockbridge Smeck | '05 Rockbridge D-21 BRW | Collings MT-2 | National Reso Rocket
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#14
02-26-2024, 06:46 PM
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I am very glad to read that you are enjoying your new D-18, Dan! That is very cool after all these years of playing!
- Glenn
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My You Tube Channel
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#15
02-26-2024, 06:56 PM
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Another vote for the Monels on an 18. I have a 000-18 and think that Monels sound better on it than anything else I have tried.
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Gibson and Fender Electrics Boutique Tube Amps Martin, Gibson, and Larrivee Acoustics
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