martin d 18 vs d28

martin d 18 vs d28
A few days ago,i read an article about the Martin D18 and Martin d28 acoustic guitar as below .
The Martin D-18 is another American guitar Icon, it's not "the other one" either. So the D-18 is a less expensive instrument than the d28, or it's million and one knock off versions. That doesn't mean, and will
never mean that the D-18 is even a little bit less wonderful a guitar.
The Martin D-18 is a solid wood guitar of heirloom quality. If you own one-you would be foolish to ever sell it. Yes, I just called myself a fool. The D-18 features a solid spruce soundboard, and solid mahogany
back and sides-it comes with less mother-of-pearl inlay in the neck than does a "herringbone" D-28, and it doesn't feature the herringbone trim either.
The major complaint D-18 lovers have had has always been it is too dressed down, not as fancy looking as a D-28 or something with a higher number in the Martin line. Others have forever adored the simplicity
of the D-18. No matter, nowadays you can get some very fancy ones, the David Crosby D-18 comes to mind, also, the Jimmy Buttett D-18, and the Gordon Lightfoot one.
Simplicity in Design, and The Wonders of Mahogany.
If you are much younger than I am, and not familiar with music history-then you may be shocked to know that in the early 1900s the guitar was generally thought of as a rhythm instrument, and not a lead
instrument at all. Only in France, in the 1930s with the beyond amazing guitarist Django Reinhardt, and his equally fabulous violin playing sidekick, Stephan Grappellie-did the guitar become prominent as a lead
instrument. The comparison I'm trying to make here is that Django's guitar provided a very bright, very immediate tonality that is very different from that provided by the legendary rosewood guitars like the D-28.
The mahogany back and sides of a Martin D-18 provide the same sort of counterpoint in comparison to it's cousin and competitor, the Martin d28.
Mahogany guitars like the D 18 provide a Very Special Sound!
So Todd, I;m confused here, buddy-everyone knows that you get what you pay for in life-if you think a D-18 is as good a guitar as a D 28, that's crazy Texan talk!
"Crazy Talk!" Indeed, good sir, you get what you pay for in life, and with Martin guitars, and when you spend the extra for a d28 you get the rosewood back and sides, it's a more expensive wood-it's not a
"better" tonewood, it's just different. You also get more abalone inlay with the d28, and with the hd 28, you get herringbone trim.
Look, a lot of people prefer the sound of the mahogany D-18 to that of the d28, or the HD-28-it's a matter of preference and opinion as to which one you like better, and think is "best." The cost is a matter of
economics, and the myriad factors that play into the price of mahogany vs. whichever kind of rosewood your D-28, or D-28 style instrument features.
One more thing-mahogany is a lighter wood, so a mahogany guitar such as the Martin D-18, and any copy or similar guitar is going to be a lighter weight guitar than a Martin D-28, or similar guitar.
High Quality Alternatives to Martin's D-18 Guitar.
In exactly the same way that the American Guitar Icon, the Martin hd 28 has inspired luthiers across the globe and this nation to build and sell their own versions of the D-28, the different sounding, and less
expensive Martin D-18 has led guitar companies in the same direction. There are more fine outright copies, and variations of the Martin D-18 available than I could ever mention. I'll touch on a few here though.
*NOTE* These instruments are in some cases more expensive than the original by Martin-and the reasons for this are that they are often hand made, and have the highest quality specs possible. The Martin D-
18 GE, or "Golden Era," however, would be VERY TOUGH TO BEAT. As always, keep in mind that no two guitars are equal, and that they are all completely unique. Personal preference is always the key, and should
always be the deciding factor when buying a guitar.
I haven't mentioned Dana Bourgeois or Bourgeois guitars on my other guitar hubs-but that is only because I actually own a Santa Cruz, and I've met Bill Collings of Texas' own Collings guitars. Dana Bourgeois-
way up in Maine, however, makes some of the finest high quality acoustic guitars in the United States of America. I already knew that to be a true statement from knowing of the amazing guitarist that prefer his
brand of guitars-but one day in the North Dallas Guitar Center I was lucky enough to get my hands on one of those guitars-and I literally thought that it was the finest instrument in the entire store, and I didn't
have to think about that for even a minute.
Gallagher Guitars are another very fine, super high quality guitar company that makes a D-18 style guitar, and there guitar, the G-50, should be well known to anyone who is reading this article. If you've not
heard Doc Watson playing on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's wonderful double album Will The Circle Be Unbroken? Then you're missing out on what my guitar articles are all about.
Say, Doc, that's a fine sounding old box!
Mr. Gallagher made this thing.
And then the legendary Doc Watson rips into some hardcore and classic flatpicking! I've had my hands on a few Gallagher guitars, and they are top notch. I believe that the original Doc Watson G-50 has been
resigned to either the Country Music Hall Of Fame, or the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame. I'm not certain which-but I think that putting outstanding guitars in a museum where they won't be played should be a criminal
offense.
Conclusion
In conclusion I'd like to state that just because guitars with mahogany backs and sides, like the Martin D-18, are less expensive than guitars with rosewood backs and sides, like the Martin D-28-that in no way
makes them "cheaper" guitars. The mahogany guitars are lighter weight, and have a greater velocity of sound, a "brighter" sound, if you will. This makes these guitars ideal for playing leads. The rosewood
guitars are more often sought after-but they are also more expensive, and have a "darker" sound, and really excel as rhythm, or backup instruments.
But don't let me be the judge of how you make your music with your guitars-I'm just a talking head who knows a thing or two about a thing or three. I hope you've enjoyed this article, and never hesitate to let
me know if I can be of assistance. '
Overview Specs Warranties and Docs Reviews

Martin d18 Acoustic Guitar
Martin's Standard Series models have long been known for resonant warm tones, quality craftsmanship and tasteful styling. Standard Series guitars are owned and played by many of today's country and rock
stars for the same reasons that many of music's early stars played Martin guitars.
Features:
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Solid mahogany back and sides
- Solid black ebony fretboard
- Forward-shifted standard scalloped X bracing
- Polished gloss finish
- Chrome Gotoh tuners
- Performing Artist neck taper
Martin D28 acoustic guitar
An American Classic!
Many discerning guitarists instantly name the D-28 as their all-time favorite Martin, and the Martin D-28 acoustic guitar is the standard all guitars are compared to. Often referred to as "cannons", the D-28
acoustic has that classic rich tone and big projection that's perfect for stage and studio.This guitar delivers the iconic Martin sound by the bucket full. When you're looking for that classic, room-filling acoustic
guitar sound, then you need a Martin D-28 acoustic guitar!
Tech Specs
String Type Steel
Number of Strings 6
Body Shape Dreadnought 14-Fret
Body Style No Cutaway
Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
Color Natural
Finish Polished Gloss (top, back, and sides), Satin (neck)
Top Wood Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides Wood Solid East Indian Rosewood
Body Bracing Standard X, 5/16" Solid Sitka Spruce
Binding Black Boltaron
Neck Wood Select Hardwood
Neck Shape Low Profile
Fingerboard Material Solid Black Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay Style 28
Number of Frets 20 (total), 14 (clear)
Scale Length 25.4"
Tuning Machines Chrome Enclosed with Large Buttons
Bridge Material Solid Black Ebony
Nut/Saddle Material Bone/16" Radius Compensated Bone
Nut Width 1.6875"
Body Length 20"
Body Width 15.625"
Body Depth 4.875"
Overall Length 40.5"