Wow! There's some really beautiful physics going on there. The variety of dynamic response to however Quinton pick, plucks, strums or brushes the strings. When I scrolled down to type this during the play-out, I could easily mistake this for one of those videos where he's comparing different guitars. Fantastic.
Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville has a room full of Vintage acoustics in the back, all can be played. I was there June of '24... unbelievable! They had a '41 D28 and a '37 d18 among probably 40 more just in that room outside the GMs office door Definitely a must experience for any acoustic player along with Gruhn Guitars and the Gibson garage in Nashville
That sort of wear is not uncommon. It is typically a result of a shaved bridge (not just saddle) and heaving picking, often someone using a thumb pick. The shaved bridge moves the strings close enough to the top for the pick to make it all the way to the wood. Notice it has a replaced bridge, another indicator the original bridge was likely shaved too thin to reuse.
Wear is not from a terry cloth. It's from when heavy pickers, over time, make subtle incremental contact with the surface while playing causing tiny surface dings and cracks. The wear pattern happens when strings get replaced each time releasing the tension in the body and then when it's strung back up and played, since it's at the point of vibration, these tiny fragments fall off of the lacquer in a similar pattern with the string placements. I've hung out with a lot bluegrass players and have seen that before in older acoustics.
My take is different than some of you. This guitar sounds great but not better than many other much newer guitars. There is magic in old guitars that hits our hearts and our passions more than it does our ears. If this guitar was played in a blind test against some newer high quality Martin builds, I doubt that many of us would be able to pick it out.
I tend to agree. However, owning and playing a vintage guitar has such a warm vibe, also a talking point. Main importance of course is that they continue to be played.
I have seen that kind of wear under the strings only once. According to the person at the music store, who claims to have known the original owner, the player was a flat-picker who really dug deep while he played. I am not 100% sure what that means, but that was the explanation I was given.
I believe the wear on the soundboard came from before the neck was reset. The saddle was likely shaved down in an attempt to make the guitar playable. Thus making the strings awkwardly low at that very location.
Honestly, the wear looks a little manufactured when I compare it visually to my own '44 D-18 (sn 88951), especially the wear underneath the strings in front of the bridge. As the reviewer pointed out, how does that even happen? Also, the tuners look correct, but are not original (the original wartime tuners had flat plates and the shafts are peened, not screwed), and the back/sides looks like overspray. A nice guitar, but I would really want to look a lot closer ....
Ive played a bunch of new ones. They didnt have that thing. Maybe its a guitar that needs a heavy hand. 000 has been looking tasteful. Hd 28 96 12 fret slotted headstock slope shoulder is the one you want.
Wow. Love the D-18. Prefer it over the D-28. The mahogany just sounds warmer to me but trebley enough as well. Wonder if Martin employed mostly women during the war like Gibson? Option for aging, purchase a prewar or war era Martin. Huh? 😂
Wow!
There's some really beautiful physics going on there.
The variety of dynamic response to however Quinton pick, plucks, strums or brushes the strings.
When I scrolled down to type this during the play-out, I could easily mistake this for one of those videos where he's comparing different guitars. Fantastic.
Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville has a room full of Vintage acoustics in the back, all can be played. I was there June of '24... unbelievable! They had a '41 D28 and a '37 d18 among probably 40 more just in that room outside the GMs office door
Definitely a must experience for any acoustic player along with Gruhn Guitars and the Gibson garage in Nashville
Really great sound of that Martin D 18 Vintage guitar !
It's fun to see this old guitar in good playing condition.
Alas, it is 6 years older than me. I wish I was in that good of shape!
5 hours after this vid is posted and the guitar is already sold,.. not surprising.
That sort of wear is not uncommon. It is typically a result of a shaved bridge (not just saddle) and heaving picking, often someone using a thumb pick. The shaved bridge moves the strings close enough to the top for the pick to make it all the way to the wood. Notice it has a replaced bridge, another indicator the original bridge was likely shaved too thin to reuse.
Fantastic! Nothing like the sound of an old Martin.
Thought Quinton would break into the "Wildwood Flower".... great sounding D-18; thanks guys.
Sounds amazing!
The wear pattern is from wiping the top in the direction of the strings while it's strung up with a material like terry cloth.
Amazing guitar! I don’t mind having a new “Authentic” because I know I can’t afford a 1933 OM-18, even if I could find one.
Awesome guitar, hate to see these get sold. Hoping my kids don't sell my great grandpas 46 d18 when I'm gone
Wear is not from a terry cloth. It's from when heavy pickers, over time, make subtle incremental contact with the surface while playing causing tiny surface dings and cracks. The wear pattern happens when strings get replaced each time releasing the tension in the body and then when it's strung back up and played, since it's at the point of vibration, these tiny fragments fall off of the lacquer in a similar pattern with the string placements. I've hung out with a lot bluegrass players and have seen that before in older acoustics.
A powerful D-18 !!!!!
My take is different than some of you.
This guitar sounds great but not better than many other much newer guitars.
There is magic in old guitars that hits our hearts and our passions more than it does our ears.
If this guitar was played in a blind test against some newer high quality Martin builds, I doubt that many of us would be able to pick it out.
I tend to agree. However, owning and playing a vintage guitar has such a warm vibe, also a talking point.
Main importance of course is that they continue to be played.
I have seen that kind of wear under the strings only once. According to the person at the music store, who claims to have known the original owner, the player was a flat-picker who really dug deep while he played. I am not 100% sure what that means, but that was the explanation I was given.
I believe the wear on the soundboard came from before the neck was reset. The saddle was likely shaved down in an attempt to make the guitar playable. Thus making the strings awkwardly low at that very location.
Good voice
Rearward shifted bracing but it sounds like it has more bass than the forward shifted 1937 Authentic!🤯
It's not gone, it's in a better place...
Wow.
Your e string is sharp
I have a 1942 D-45 I would part with if the price was right.
Honestly, the wear looks a little manufactured when I compare it visually to my own '44 D-18 (sn 88951), especially the wear underneath the strings in front of the bridge. As the reviewer pointed out, how does that even happen? Also, the tuners look correct, but are not original (the original wartime tuners had flat plates and the shafts are peened, not screwed), and the back/sides looks like overspray. A nice guitar, but I would really want to look a lot closer ....
Ive played a bunch of new ones. They didnt have that thing. Maybe its a guitar that needs a heavy hand. 000 has been looking tasteful. Hd 28 96 12 fret slotted headstock slope shoulder is the one you want.
Very nice. $25k and already sold.
The ware under the strings could be from a Golden large thumb pick ? Wich I have been using for years. Good luck ....... how much.?
Properly braced. I am sure the top was sanded by hand too.
At last, a guitar that's older than me.
Wow. Love the D-18. Prefer it over the D-28. The mahogany just sounds warmer to me but trebley enough as well. Wonder if Martin employed mostly women during the war like Gibson? Option for aging, purchase a prewar or war era Martin. Huh? 😂
Must've been previously owned by Willie Nelson and traded for Trigger
I found overpriced. If was a D28 I will understand due to the scarcity of the Brazilian rosewood but for mahogany no way
Stop interrupting Paul, very annoying. Let your friend finish a sentence.