D18, D28 - weight dif?

[Bax Burgess]

Both standard, no pickups. The 28 is noticeably heavier. Is that just the rosewood, or is there anything else?

[HHP]

My 12 fret D-18 is lighter than my 14 fret D-28. Given the differential in body size I would say its the wood density difference.

The primary difference is rosewood vs. mahogany body. There are other differences though.

In the early days they were identical in structure, but different body woods and no neck diamond on the D-18. The D-18 switched to rosewood fretboards and bridges after WW-II. By the late 1950's the D-28 had Grover Rotomatics, but the D-18 retained the lighter Kluson tuners. By the mid-60's they both had Rotomatics. With the 2012 D-18 changes we're back to a greater imbalance that makes the D-18 lighter still, comparatively. The D-28 now has Rotomatics, while the D-18 has open back tuners. The D-18 also has scalloped braces, where the D-28 is straight braced. They both have ebony fretboards and bridges now.

[stuco]

Most other things being equal, solid rosewood back/sides guitars tend to be a little heavier than solid mahogany b/s ones in my experience.

[Bax Burgess]

All those bits and pieces would explain my perception. Somewhat further afield, what are others' impressions of the following? I passed on an HD28 in favor of the less dramatic D28, when the HD28 reminded me of my D18.

Originally Posted by Bax Burgess

All those bits and pieces would explain my perception. Somewhat further afield, what are others' impressions of the following? I passed on an HD28 in favor of the less dramatic D28, when the HD28 reminded me of my D18.

What kind of D-18 do you have?

[John Arnold]

Rosewood is almost twice as dense as mahogany.

[Bax Burgess]

Originally Posted by Todd Yates

What kind of D-18 do you have?

14 fret, standard model, I believe - purchased new last year, several hundred less than the D28.

Thanks. Since you have a post-2012 D-18 which is both scalloped and forward braced, it ought to sound more like an HD-28 compared to the straight braced D-28.

[Silly Moustache]

Hi, al of the above, but also, I have two identical guitars - one built in '98 and the other in 2007, and the younger one is noticeably heaver. I also have two hog guitars - same make same model - they are different too. I suspect that even the same wood can have different densities, or older ones might dry out a little ?