Martin For Gibson Players - D-18 Reimagined

hiddenmickey · #1 09-24-2018, 03:44 PM

Let me start by saying that Gibson has been my go-to brand for acoustics. I have been down to one acoustic fo a little while now - a Gibson Southern Jumbo TV. I have been looking to add a second guitar and naturally I have been looking at Hummingbirds and Advanced Jumbos.

I found an AJ that sounded good, but I didn’t like the neck. I found a really nice Hummingbird, but it was a bit hifi sounding and mid-scooped. At one time I had a standard J-45 and J-15, but those were replaced with the Southern Jumbo True Vintage. The SJTV sounds and plays just like a great guitar should, at least to my ears and fingers.

I have to admit I was becoming a little discouraged and decided to look outside of the Gibson family for something I may like. Anyway, I somehow wound up playing a 2017 Martin D-18 “Reimagined” and was quite taken with it. The tone is very close to my SJTV. The mids are there, just a little smoother. There is a little more bottom end (not boomy) than my SJTV. The neck, the nut and the string spacing is just right. I can’t believe how good this plain Jane guitar sounds. I will definitely go try a new D-28 just to see what that’s about - should be fun!

I have heard it said many times before that the Gibson Advanced Jumbo is the Gibson for Martin folks. I think the reimagined D-18 is the Martin for Gibson folks.

GuitarFundi · #2 09-24-2018, 04:22 PM

I play a Gibson SJ too. My favorite Martin is the D18 Golden Era. I don't think its "like" my SJ, but maybe it has some Gibson mojo to it... whatever it is I do love the Martin D-18 GE and will have one someday. Oh, it has the best neck of any guitar ever! The perfect deep modified-V, better than Gibson's modified-V. IIRC the D18GE modified-V is a bit more U-shaped with the V on the back being a bit more flat, but with steeper sides than the Gibson's modified-V. It fills the hand and still allows you to reach with fingers or the thumb IMHO. Good luck!

Rev Roy · #3 09-24-2018, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiddenmickey

I have heard it said many times before that the Gibson Advanced Jumbo is the Gibson for Martin folks. I think the reimagined D-18 is the Martin for Gibson folks.

I haven’t had the pleasure of playing a SJ. But there was a time when I owned both a J-45 and a reimagined D-18. Played them both daily. To my ear they were very different guitars. Both wonderful in their own way...but I fairly soon sold the D-18 and kept the J-45 as my hog guitar. The D-18 certainly wasn’t the Martin for this Gibson folk.

hiddenmickey · #4 09-24-2018, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

I haven’t had the pleasure of playing a SJ. But there was a time when I owned both a J-45 and a reimagined D-18. Played them both daily. To my ear they were very different guitars. Both wonderful in their own way...but I fairly soon sold the D-18 and kept the J-45 as my hog guitar. The D-18 certainly wasn’t the Martin for this Gibson folk.

Hey Rev - I noticed you have a D41. Are you finding the Martin rosewood dred a good compliment to your J-45? Also, where do you use the D41 where you wouldn’t use the J-45?

Rev Roy · #5 09-24-2018, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiddenmickey

Hey Rev - I noticed you have a D41. Are you finding the Martin rosewood dred a good compliment to your J-45? Also, where do you use the D41 where you wouldn’t use the J-45?

Yep, for me it’s the perfect complimentary duo. I cycled through many guitars from various manufacturers and different sizes before arriving at this perfect pair. I don’t gig. So I don’t really “use” one or the other for specific musical tasks. I just grab the D-41 when I want those lush rosewood overtones. And grab the J-45 when I want that hog warmth and quick decay. [emoji3]

rokdog49 · #6 09-24-2018, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

I haven’t had the pleasure of playing a SJ. But there was a time when I owned both a J-45 and a reimagined D-18. Played them both daily. To my ear they were very different guitars. Both wonderful in their own way...but I fairly soon sold the D-18 and kept the J-45 as my hog guitar. The D-18 certainly wasn’t the Martin for this Gibson folk.

I'm with Rev Roy here. D18 / J45... completely different but in a good way to me.
I find the "re-imagined" D18 to be a very different sounding guitar depending on the strings I use, sort of a chameleon.
The J45 is a J45 no matter what strings are on it. It definitely has a "signature" voice.

hiddenmickey · #7 09-24-2018, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev Roy

Yep, for me it’s the perfect complimentary duo. I cycled through many guitars from various manufacturers and different sizes before arriving at this perfect pair. I don’t gig. So I don’t really “use” one or the other for specific musical task. I just grab the D-41 when I want those lush rosewood overtones. And grab the J-45 when I want that hog warmth and quick decay.

Awesome pic!

hiddenmickey · #8 09-24-2018, 05:39 PM

I hear what you guys are saying, but my SJTV does not really sound like a J-45 Standard.

SalFromChatham · #9 09-24-2018, 05:59 PM

My J50, while a standard, sounds exactly like a southern Jumbo tv I sold a few years back. Love them both.

Anyways, I got a D18 last year.

God, I love both these guitars. Sitka and mahogany... yep.

Petty1818 · #10 09-24-2018, 06:19 PM

I played a redesigned D-18 a couple of years ago that just blew me away. I should have bought it but I passed. Although the other D-18's I have tried since sound great, nothing compared to that one.The D-18 is a killer guitar though. To me it's got that Martin tone but with a more responsive/Taylor style of projection.

Larry Mal · #11 09-24-2018, 06:47 PM

Didn't most of Martin's changes with the re-imagined series put them closer to what Gibson had been doing for some time? The wider nut, the scalloped bracing on all models, and so on.

#12 09-24-2018, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiddenmickey

I think the reimagined D-18 is the Martin for Gibson folks.

Then what was the CEO-8?

hiddenmickey · #13 09-24-2018, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willie Voltaire

Then what was the CEO-8?

Good point!

Rev Roy · #14 09-24-2018, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Mal

Didn't most of Martin's changes with the re-imagined series put them closer to what Gibson had been doing for some time? The wider nut, the scalloped bracing on all models, and so on.

Well, as far as the nut goes...close but no cigar. Martin spread from a standard 1 11/16” to 1 3/4”. A significant jump. Gibson remains in the middle with a 1.725” nut. I swap back and forth between my J-45 and reimagined D-41 and don’t even notice the .025” nut difference... for others, though, it’s a big deal.

Larry Mal · #15 09-24-2018, 09:04 PM

Maybe because it isn't really there... I have five Gibson acoustics, and only one of them is actually a 1.725". I measure them with digital calipers. One of them, my J-35, is pretty much exactly 1.75" and the others are around 1.74" or so.

Anyway, I get your point, but I was just saying that Martin was heading more towards Gibsons than not.