NGD: 2010 Martin D-18GE

[HaggardPhunk]

Congrats!

I have one from ‘12 and it’s my favorite geetar

[Paoli]

I love mine for both flatpicking and fingerpicking

[frank4001]

Beautiful.

[lowrider]

Beautiful guitar, and you did a great job of photographing the burst!

[Bridgepin]

Congrats, that is one beautiful guitar.

[cc132]

And it just got dropped off at the tech! I talked over everything I wanted with them, and I’m confident that this guitar is going to look essentially brand new by the time I get it back. They’re also rolling the fretboard for me. I can’t wait!

[GTomcan]

Congratulation ! a very good choise I have a 2013 34 burst and it's the Truest sounding acoustic, I own. What a Guitar !

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by cc132

And it just got dropped off at the tech! I talked over everything I wanted with them, and I’m confident that this guitar is going to look essentially brand new by the time I get it back. They’re also rolling the fretboard for me. I can’t wait!

Fantastic! What a beautiful Martin and I'm sure it has a wonderful tone. Let us know how it feels when you get it back.

[cc132]

Just as an update - I got back from the shop a while back, and they did an absolutely incredible job with it. The fretboard roll is so good that you'd think it was done at the factory:



It still felt and sounded a little "stiff," so I experimented with a few different types of strings, and I can't believe what a difference Martin 80/20s make. They add a real brightness and "zing" that I was having trouble finding with PBs, while still being loud, full, and comfortable to play. As an added bonus, I think the color of them suits the guitar much better. I couldn't be happier:



I am playing this guitar way way more than I expected when I bought it.

[leonski]

I've had mine (2016) for over a year now and it never fails to impress. Is that an aftermarket pickguard? It's really cool looking.

[cc132]

Originally Posted by leonski

Is that an aftermarket pickguard? It's really cool looking.

Nope! It's the stock one they were using in 2010. Believe it or not, I think this is one of the "pixelated" pick guards that a lot of Martin aficionados really dislike. I agree with you - I think it looks great.

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by cc132

I'm primarily a fingerpicker, and I was really hoping for a dread that could handle some fingerpicking and still feel familiar in my hands despite being a totally foreign shape to me, and I don't think I could have done any better than this. Ive been playing some Elizabeth Cotten, Maybelle Carter, and John Fahey on it, and it all sounds quite good. I'm very pleasantly surprised.

I have been playing very similar fingerpicking tunes on my second hand D-18. I use a thumb pick and nickel fingerpicks and it sounds wonderful.

That's a beautiful guitar you have landed!

[cc132]

Originally Posted by Robin, Wales

I have been playing very similar fingerpicking tunes on my second hand D-18. I use a thumb pick and nickel fingerpicks and it sounds wonderful.

That's a beautiful guitar you have landed!

Thank you! Have you given 80/20s a shot on it? I can't believe how much different it sounds, and it's a difference that I happen to personally prefer.

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by cc132

Thank you! Have you given 80/20s a shot on it? I can't believe how much different it sounds, and it's a difference that I happen to personally prefer.

Yep, it wears 80/20 mediums.

[LJOHNS]

Every D-18GE I have played has been outstanding. Every one…. Very nice!