Blown Away! Martin D18 GE- wow!

[bluemoon]

Every D-18ge I played was a great guitar. Some needed minor things, some were amazing but I couldn’t handle the V neck. I had similar results with the HD-28LSv but they were less consistent guitar to guitar I played.

[shockfinder]

Originally Posted by Augfive

Has anyone else played a Martin D18 GE( golden era) and been Amazed
at the tone, understated beauty and sheer power of this Dreadnaught!?
I was meeting a friend who sells / trades guitars to check out a Collings.
I asked if he had any other dreads And he said yeah I do have a 10-year-old Martin GE ,let me go get it. Barely a mark on it. I played the Collings d2H which was beautiful and mint, For 20 minutes and was about to buy it.
Played the Martin for 2 minutes and left with it. Been playing it for a few days and can’t get over how it sounds ; Its a beast!

Mine is a definite lifer. It’s been modified by Bryan Kimsey and it’s fantastic.

[Scolaguitar]

Definitely a wish list for me. Have the standard and may trade up some day if the stars align correctly. This NGD doesn't help my GAS. Congrats!

[llew]

Originally Posted by shockfinder

Mine is a definite lifer. It’s been modified by Bryan Kimsey and it’s fantastic.

Been thinking about sending my D-18 Sinker to Bryan for a "Kimseyfication"!

[BoneDigger]

I have a custom shop guitar that is a GE but with a drop in saddle and performing artist neck. I had a standard GE for awhile but couldn't get along with the V neck. Loved the tone, but hated the neck. So, when I found a GE with the neck I like, I jumped on it. Great guitar, no doubt about it!

[Br1ck]

Originally Posted by zoopeda

Id agree with that!

To think, the real flagship, cornerstone guitars of the Martin guitar company are probably the D-18 and the D-28–the most coveted examples of which all have adirondack spruce tops and forward-positioned scalloped bracing. Martin still offers the D-28 with these key ingredients, but the D-18GE was the last incarnation of that magic recipe on the style 18 side. Seems a travesty the company doesn’t make it or something like it any more.

D 18 Authentics, Torrified or not, aged or not. Had a friend that sold a used one for $3500, so they are obtainable. Generally thought of as better than a GE, but not by much. Another real sleeper and even more affordable are D 16s from pre '95, and the adi top D 16 Martin made for a couple of years.

So there are your nice dreads for three price levels. A word of warning though, if you like the dryer side of hog D 18s, an authentic could be too beautiful sounding for you, so try the one with the rear bracing.

[llew]

Originally Posted by BoneDigger

I have a custom shop guitar that is a GE but with a drop in saddle and performing artist neck. I had a standard GE for awhile but couldn't get along with the V neck. Loved the tone, but hated the neck. So, when I found a GE with the neck I like, I jumped on it. Great guitar, no doubt about it!

Yeah...Mark at Reno's was ordering those as well.

[Dru Edwards]

Fantastic! I would love to have a GE. Congrats and enjoy your D18 GE.

[Augfive]

Originally Posted by archerscreek

I own one in sunburst. I have not heard or played a mahogany guitar that I like better.

Nice! The sun bursts are even harder to find, keep it!!

[zoopeda]

Originally Posted by Br1ck

D 18 Authentics, Torrified or not, aged or not. Had a friend that sold a used one for $3500, so they are obtainable. Generally thought of as better than a GE, but not by much. Another real sleeper and even more affordable are D 16s from pre '95, and the adi top D 16 Martin made for a couple of years.

So there are your nice dreads for three price levels. A word of warning though, if you like the dryer side of hog D 18s, an authentic could be too beautiful sounding for you, so try the one with the rear bracing.

Martin doesn’t currently produce a D-18 with an Adi and forward bracing—the signature recipe of their flagship model. Sure, they’re on the Used market. If I really want a doozy, I’ll get the D-1A. It’s depressing they’ve abandoned the magic D-18 formula though. But, at this price point, you really can’t beat a good D-18GE.

[jpricewood]

I like my GE, but I sometimes miss my standard D-18, which had a more intimate tone.

[Augfive]

Originally Posted by zoopeda

Id agree with that!

To think, the real flagship, cornerstone guitars of the Martin guitar company are probably the D-18 and the D-28–the most coveted examples of which all have adirondack spruce tops and forward-positioned scalloped bracing. Martin still offers the D-28 with these key ingredients, but the D-18GE was the last incarnation of that magic recipe on the style 18 side. Seems a travesty the company doesn’t make it or something like it any more.

I agree; I read somewhere they wanted to streamline the model choices or something but doesn’t make sense. Even now when many are looking these on the used market ,shouldn’t they reissue it ?

[zoopeda]

Originally Posted by Augfive

I agree; I read somewhere they wanted to streamline the model choices or something but doesn’t make sense. Even now when many are looking these on the used market ,shouldn’t they reissue it ?

The released the D-18 Modern Deluxe shortly after discontinuing the GE. I imagine between that and the D-18 Authentic 1939, they started competing with themselves. But torrified sitka over a synthetic bridgeplate just doesn't slice the mustard after you play the D-18GE--especially if you like that chunky neck. And the Authentic bracing is rear-shifted. Long live the D-18GE!

[UncleJesse]

Originally Posted by zoopeda

Martin doesn’t currently produce a D-18 with an Adi and forward bracing—the signature recipe of their flagship model. Sure, they’re on the Used market. If I really want a doozy, I’ll get the D-1A. It’s depressing they’ve abandoned the magic D-18 formula though. But, at this price point, you really can’t beat a good D-18GE.

Still available via custom shop but yes, I agree, that should be a stock model.

[Goodallboy]

Originally Posted by Augfive

Has anyone else played a Martin D18 GE( golden era) and been Amazed
at the tone, understated beauty and sheer power of this Dreadnaught!?
I was meeting a friend who sells / trades guitars to check out a Collings.
I asked if he had any other dreads And he said yeah I do have a 10-year-old Martin GE ,let me go get it. Barely a mark on it. I played the Collings d2H which was beautiful and mint, For 20 minutes and was about to buy it.
Played the Martin for 2 minutes and left with it. Been playing it for a few days and can’t get over how it sounds ; Its a beast!

Key word in your first sentence as it relates to guitar buyers’ success is the word “played”. You can’t evaluate a guitar purchase (A vs B) from a video, what another person reports, or a consensus of the opinion of a group. The only way is to put hands on, and play it.

You got the “right” guitar because you did it the right way. Congrats!