The Martin CEO-7, 000-18, Eastman e10ooss/v, and the importance of feel

[Blueser100]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood King

This weekend I was very excited to go to my local shop and sit with the Martin CEO-7 in person for the first time. I loved the specs on paper, and loved what I heard when I listened to some demos online. When I saw it in person, I was impressed: it's a really gorgeous guitar with a beautiful finish. The build quality is impeccable.

The store also had an Eastman e10ooss/v that I wanted to try. I took the two into a corner room so I could sing along while I played. I went back and forth between the two and found something that surprised me: I liked the Eastman a whole lot more! I kept A/Bing between the two and just gravitated more towards the sound of the Eastman.

I talked with an employee and asked their opinion as I sang with each, and they said they could tell I matched a bit better with the Eastman based on how I was playing and engaging with it. I got up and wandered a bit around the store and looked up at a guitar hung higher on the wall. I asked what model it was, and they told me it was the Martin 000-18. I said "What the heck, I'll try it!"

I sat down with the 000-18 and it was an instant connection. I found myself just having so much fun with it, and that guitar could handle just about anything I tried. Strumming sounded great. Fingerpicking was great. The short scale neck with the modern profile felt spot on to me, and I was pleasantly surprised. I can't say enough how impressed I was with that guitar!

I picked up the Eastman (that I had only minutes ago really liked) to find it sounded a lot less vibrant than I remembered. How could my brain change that quickly? I realized the Eastman had a more modern C-shaped neck that helped me feel more comfortable while playing it compared to the CEO, so I was able to play with more touch and finesse than on the V neck. But when I picked up the 000-18, that Martin sound combined with the comfortable neck totally blew the Eastman out of the water.

I strummed the CEO-7 again and liked the sound of it a lot. These three guitars are finely crafted instruments, and I don't have anything objectively negative to say about any of them. I share this just as a fun story of how important the feel of a guitar is to each player. I've been playing for 17 years and I was still surprised by how much that impacted my response to each of these fine instruments.

And now? I wait for the funds to come together to get myself that 000.

Great story. I used to own a lovely CEO7. My six month old 000-18 is lovely as well, and a little easier on my hands without the V neck profile. I've come to appreciate the importance of neck feel and profile over the years as it can really make a difference in playing.

[rokdog49]

My friend leew owns a CEO 7 and a 000-18. They are both great.
If I had to pick between the two, hands down it’s the 18.
That guitar lit me up instantly.
Maybe he will offer his thoughts...

[Cottonwood King]

Originally Posted by mercy

000-18 is the choice. Get THAT one even if you have to put it on lay away or pay it out maybe borrow from a friend or family member. Youll regret it for the rest of your life. I have experienced something similar. I walked into a store and walked out with a used 000-18 with the P neck.

Layaway is precisely what I’m debating at the moment... it’s such a great guitar.

[leew3]

Originally Posted by rokdog49

My friend leew owns a CEO 7 and a 000-18. They are both great.
If I had to pick between the two, hands down it’s the 18.
That guitar lit me up instantly.
Maybe he will offer his thoughts...

I like them both and find that I am consistently drawn to the CEO 7 most often. I love the feel of it, the complexity of the tone and how loud and responsive it is for a 00. No disrespect for the 000-18 as I find myself practicing flat picking on that as well. You weren't asking for advice but I always recommend buying both guitars!

[rokdog49]

Originally Posted by leew3

I like them both and find that I am consistently drawn to the CEO 7 most often. I love the feel of it, the complexity of the tone and how loud and responsive it is for a 00. No disrespect for the 000-18 as I find myself practicing flat picking on that as well. You weren't asking for advice but I always recommend buying both guitars!

And there you have it from the man who has both!
Seriously, you can’t go wrong with either.
I call the 000-18 a “D18 Light.”

[BreezySounds]

More love for the 000-18 - for me it's the essence of the Martin tone and feel and I think they did an excellent job with the upgrades (neck especially) a few years ago. I finger pick it, I use it for Hawaiian slack key, I strum it when I sing and I even play bluegrass on it. It's responsive and still takes strumming well, and it plays so easily. I will never sell my 000-18! It's the guitar I play every day.

That said, I haven't tried the CEO, so take it with a grain of salt :-)