D-18s - the good, the bad and the indifferent?

TimmyO

I've been selling more stuff, and I may soon have scraped enough together to nose around for a used D-18

I seem to recall that it was mentioned that they had a spec change (improvement) relatively recent, can anyone remember what production year that was? 

Any other things to be aware of? 

Lewy

TimmyO said:

I've been selling more stuff, and I may soon have scraped enough together to nose around for a used D-18

I seem to recall that it was mentioned that they had a spec change (improvement) relatively recent, can anyone remember what production year that was? 

Any other things to be aware of? 

2012 was the spec change. I've never played one but I've never heard anything but positive noises about them.

richardhomer

I have played an updated one - they sound markedly 'looser'/louder than earlier ones.

Whether that is an 'improvement' is a matter of taste.

crunchman

richardhomer said:

I have played an updated one - they sound markedly 'looser'/louder than earlier ones.

Whether that is an 'improvement' is a matter of taste.

It's not just looser/louder.  I've found any Martin with forward shifted (pre-war style) bracing has a lot more dynamics to it.  The "standard" bracing needs heavy strings and you to dig in a lot more to get anything out of it.  With the forward shifted bracing it responds a lot better when you play gently in my experience.

One of the reasons why the pre-war Martins are regarded as the holy grail of acoustics is the bracing.

To the OP, I'd go out and play both styles and see which you prefer.  I'd also look at Furch/Stonebridge as well.   They make really good guitars.

McSwaggerty

2012.....forward shifted x bracing, 1.3/4" Nut.... instead of 1 11/16" Nut.

Tortoise shell Pickguard instead of Black and open geared tuners instead of closed.

Sounded great to me - still sold it though !

jellyroll

@TimmyO - just curious - what was wrong with last month's acoustic?

earwighoney

Depending on how much you have to spend, keep an eye out for a D-18 GE if you can.  

Superb guitars. 

TimmyO

jellyroll said:

@TimmyO - just curious - what was wrong with last month's acoustic?

I have more money now! 

TimmyO

earwighoney said:

Depending on how much you have to spend, keep an eye out for a D-18 GE if you can.  

Superb guitars. 

...but not that much :-)