vw1300 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 NGD - Actually about 2 weeks ago so I'm behind schedule. Always wanted a Martin for my attempts at bluegrass. The AJ is great, but still wanted a good D-18. I saw this at Rockin' Robin here in Houston, it had been there a while and was shopworn but sounded so much bigger and sweeter than a new D-18 they had there that I had to make a deal. It's actually called a "D Mahogany 09" because it was made in 2009 - later versions were called a "D Mahogany". It's like a D-18 Golden Era except the top is Alpine Spruce instead of Adirondack, no rosewood overlay on the headstock, and the woods are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. It's got a nice, big, sound - with the sweetness of good Sitka but more power. It's the perfect companion piece to my J-50 and AJ - more power, treble, and sweeter than the J-50, and not as dark or bassy, and clearer than the AJ. The FSC certified wood was a non-issue for me, but it gives me confidence that using responsibly harvest wood does not mean a sacrifice in sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BirdMan81 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Killer guitar man! Congrats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slinky1 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Very nice! I just got a new D-18 for Christmas, and I'm playing the heck out of it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Congratulations! I too got a new D18 for myself in November - the only thing better than a new D18 is a real old D18! BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aliasphobias Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 Good looking guitar! Martin makes a fine instrument. I like the headstock without the overlay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickthemiller Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 That makes me feel a whole lot better about my dreaming of getting a OOO18. Lovely guitar. Well done, self denial is over rated anyway Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelly campbell Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Congratulations Martin makes a great guitar, Have fun with it. I have been debating about another Martin or another Gibson. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cougar Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 NIIIICE. Looks like an ebony fretboard, too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vw1300 Posted March 19, 2016 Author Share Posted March 19, 2016 NIIIICE. Looks like an ebony fretboard, too? Fretboard and bridge are something called katalox, which seems to be a South American hardwood not unlike ebony. It's not quite black but a sort of brown color. Part of the sustainable wood aspect of this model. Thanks to all for the complements - still love my Gibsons, but a Martin really rounds things out, such a different sound. I have D'Addario EXP-16s on it now like my AJ, which seem to be fine, but expect to go through the usual string trials to find out what suits it best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pesh Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Very nice; congratulations. Good luck with your bluegrass efforts, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldCowboy Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 Nice! Several years since I owned a Martin - now the urge is here once again.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jvi Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 looks like a beauty, Ive allways thought the thru saddle and particularily those style of tuners were extra nice, Im from canada but loved living in houston and port bolivar in 78 and 79 and rockin robin was a place I loved checking out, congrats from canada eh!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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