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Old 04-16-2019, 06:16 AM
Shades of Blue Shades of Blue is offline
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Default 000-18 vs 000-21

What's everyone's thoughts on these two guitars? I've been looking at 000-18s, but I found a great deal on a Custom Shop 000-21. I am not a huge fan of the aesthetic, but I think for the price I could get over that quickly. I don't normally like rosewood with dark bindings, but I also won't have a chance to play it and it might be a monster.

Anyways, just curious of your thoughts...
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Old 04-16-2019, 07:46 AM
hairpuller hairpuller is offline
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My ears tend to lean heavily toward mahogany over rosewood, so it would be 000-18 all the way. I just love the warm woodiness of mine. I've had several rosewood guitars and their just too many overtones for me and my playing style. That's just me though! I'm sure the 000-21 is lovely! I'm sure someone will chime in with actual experience with that model.
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Old 04-16-2019, 07:50 AM
llew llew is offline
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I go through phases...this week mahogany next week it's rosewood. Can't go wrong with either one but it's nice to have both for when the mood strikes IMO.
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Old 04-16-2019, 07:59 AM
1Charlie 1Charlie is offline
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Just my own personal taste, but I have sold every rosewood guitar I have ever owned, including some really nice ones. I just prefer the mahogany vibe.

A 000-18 is, to my way of thinking, the Swiss Army knife of guitars. Fingerpicked, strummed, flatpicked, any style.
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Old 04-16-2019, 08:01 AM
Cameleye Cameleye is offline
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Since you already have a J-45 that kinda covers the hog tone I'd seriously consider the 000-21. What is Custom Shop about the 000?
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Old 04-16-2019, 08:07 AM
Shades of Blue Shades of Blue is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameleye View Post
Since you already have a J-45 that kinda covers the hog tone I'd seriously consider the 000-21. What is Custom Shop about the 000?


It’s actually a 000-18 with Rosewood, so that’s what makes it custom. Little confused how it differs from a 000-21, but I assumed it was a 000-21 but its in fact an 18.
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Old 04-16-2019, 08:59 AM
DanR DanR is offline
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For what my ears like to hear, mahogany (000-18) sounds best for fingerpicking and rosewood (000-21) sounds best flat picked/strummed. I have a 000-18 and an OM-28 so I have examples of each (or close) here at home.
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Old 04-16-2019, 10:18 AM
lowrider lowrider is offline
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This is something that only you can decide; which sounds best to your ears with your playing.

However, since I have a monster of an OM-18, I thought I wanted to get a rosewood gitar this spring. After going out and playing every rosewood guitar I could get my hands on, I'm ordering another mahogany and spruce guitar

You've gotten a lot of votes here for mahogany. You still have to decide for yourself but you can see how we think.
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Old 04-16-2019, 10:27 AM
Jaden Jaden is offline
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The only rosewood backed guitar I would consider in that body size would be an OM, and when I talk about full scale rosewood “zing”, it has nothing to do with brittle or metallic string noise but rather sweet, ethereal spruce-rosewood overtones.
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Old 04-16-2019, 11:23 AM
Shades of Blue Shades of Blue is offline
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Originally Posted by lowrider View Post
You've gotten a lot of votes here for mahogany. You still have to decide for yourself but you can see how we think.
I've always sort of thought rosewood was the obvious choice. I too found myself selling rosewood guitar after rosewood guitar. When I think back about my favorite guitars, the list surprises me. First is obviously my D-18 and even my J-45. I enjoyed a 000-17 that I used to have, and my favorite Taylor is the 300 series (sapele I know). Then, there is also my daughters GS Mini Mahogany. That is a fun little guitar.

I've decided to either go ahead and get a 000-17, or save some pennies and get a 000-18.
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Old 04-16-2019, 12:27 PM
Fresh1985 Fresh1985 is offline
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Personally Ive always been most content having a nice rosewood and a nice mahogany guitar in my arsenal. I tend to favour mahog for a few weeks and then rosewood. So it would depend on what you already have, but I think those are both excellent choices.

As the 000-21 is a custom there might not be many more chances to buy one, but there will always be plenty of 000-18's.
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Old 04-16-2019, 02:33 PM
lastingimage lastingimage is offline
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I own both a 000-18 and an OM-21 so here is my take on it. First off besides the obvious mahogany vs rosewood difference that others have pointed out there is a scale length difference. The 000-18 is short scale while the OM-21 is standard scale. This will result in the 18 having slightly less tension that will result in the strings having a slinkier feel. It is not as dramatic as some would think. The increased tension on the OM-21 does result in a guitar with more punch and volume. I personally like the simplistic aesthetics of both the 18 and the 21 series guitars. They do sound different due to the tone woods. That is why I own both as well as an 000-28 which is a whole 'nuther beast that would warrant another comparison. Try both and/or listen to comparison videos through high quality speakers or headphones. Good Luck!
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Old 04-16-2019, 02:55 PM
Shades of Blue Shades of Blue is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lastingimage View Post
I own both a 000-18 and an OM-21 so here is my take on it. First off besides the obvious mahogany vs rosewood difference that others have pointed out there is a scale length difference. The 000-18 is short scale while the OM-21 is standard scale. This will result in the 18 having slightly less tension that will result in the strings having a slinkier feel. It is not as dramatic as some would think. The increased tension on the OM-21 does result in a guitar with more punch and volume. I personally like the simplistic aesthetics of both the 18 and the 21 series guitars. They do sound different due to the tone woods. That is why I own both as well as an 000-28 which is a whole 'nuther beast that would warrant another comparison. Try both and/or listen to comparison videos through high quality speakers or headphones. Good Luck!
Considering you also have a 000-28, how would you compare that to the 000-18? Is it a reimagined 28?
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