It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
2300 feels like a little much (the one I tried was sub-2k, probably 1850 ish), but assuming it's the latest version with all the updates they introduced a couple of years ago it should be great. But that doesn't mean they're for everyone, and doesn't guarantee every instrument will be spectacular.
£2300 seems reasonable as a new list price, if you compare it to what other companies and builders charge for a similar spec. It's an icon that will hold its value better than most of them too, you can get as much as £1700-1800 for a second hand one. One sold for that in one day in the shop I work for recently.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The recent changes to the D18 (2012?) actually put it closer to the D18V specs than the older ones.
They do vary - even at the higher end of the Martin range. Several years ago, I bought a Clapton Signature OOO 28 (£3.5k new now) and I tried 3 of them. One of them definitely wasn't as good as the other two.
I’m happy to spend way less and have a guitar 90% as good. But then I don’t record or perform. I’m a mere noodler
In the end I decided I didn’t want to buy used just because of the potential hassles with neck resets you might hear about with more modern Martins, and I didn’t want to spend 2k on a guitar that was intended for open mics and the like, so I bought what is essentially Takamine’s version of a D-18 for a good bit less than half the price of a new D-18. Not quite the same but good enough for now.
And that's why, even though I tried out a D-18 a few years ago, I ended up with a Yamaha LJ16. It's not as good, but it was a quarter the price. The only thing that gave me pause was that the Martin would probably hold its value for resale better, but I don't believe in buying stuff and planning to sell it.
The fact is, it costs 2300.
It's a very nice instrument, stunning even, but again, that is also subjective. I own one and for me the cost was worth it.
Compared to say a nice cello, they are also very affordable, but, affordability is also subjective.
It has the woodyness of mahogany back and sides.
What's not to like ?
I am biased , I have one .
When they do, they are awesome.
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
That said I bought a brand new Martin D28 in 1993. It remains my only flat top acoustic and has cost me the equivalent of about 12p a day. I reckon that’s decent value....
Feedback
Lots of acoustics nowadays seem to be very light and airy sounding. They probably have lighter bracing for the more modern acoustic sounds.
I assume a D18 needs to be played for a few years and driven a bit harder to get the top moving, they came from an era where the guitar needed volume over subtlety of tone. To that end I'm not sure they are the best guitar for the guitar shop test, but if you want that classic sound and are prepared to work for it and wait a bit, they are probably worth the investment.