Just picked up an 06 ‘37 D18A….lots of saddle left and it seems to have excellent action all the way up the neck. Regardless of the adjustable/non-adjustable truss rod debate, I really think that T-bar is ROCK solid….
Thank you again Bryan for another great video. This video saved my life! Backstory: I have a 2014 Martin D28A '37 and I love Love, LOVE it. I have the opportunity to purchase a 2007 D18A '37 (without hearing it). There's a definite difference in sound... but I feel like only the player would hear the difference when jamming with others... so, I'm going to pass on the D18A... AND my wife won't kill me!!
That's shocking that you'd think only the player would notice the D-18 vs the D-28, but.... I agree with you!!! A lot of the things I do on these videos are things that I'm certainly only the player will notice, BUT.... that's fine with me, too. I'm pretty convinced that if the player is happy, he/she will play better, and THAT'S where the difference in sound comes from, to a large degree. If you don't interface well with the instrument, you'll never get comfortable, and the sound will reflect that. That's why I'm always talking about the neck shape and whether or not the strings "grab" my fingers. Funny necks and grabbing strings throw me off. A great neck and Elixir Nanoweb PB's and I'll make the guitar sound good.
@@Bryankimsey We are the 1%'ers! My family and friends that don't play think I'm a loon. But when I get together with my jamming buddies and it's like we can't wait to talk about some of the same things your videos are all about. I'm jealous that you have so many high end acoustic instruments come into your shop. You truly have my kind of candy store. Btw, I know there are other followers of your vids that would like to see you talk about mandolins a lot more often too!
I went into this video thinking I would the authentic much more than the D-18, but they were a lot closer than I thought they would be. I still like the 28 better, but I've always been partial to rosewood. That 18 has a really nice, balanced tone. Not too deep & not too bright. Right in the middle & just right. lol Great pickin' & great video!!!!!!!
@@Bryankimsey I knew they both were. When I started typing my comment I hadn't watched all the way through the video yet. I forgot to fix it after I had watched through it all. lol I'm still pretty impressed that they are as close in tone as they are. It shows ppl just how crucial the top bracing is to the overall sound as well as structural stability. I know you said the D-18A was a 2005. What year is the D-28A?
VTS = Vintage Tone System = Torrefied top = baked wood. The D-28 '37 A was only made for one year in a non-VTS. After that, they're all VTS. My next shop purchase is probably going to be a D-18 '39 VTS. I had the non-VTS version but have never spent time with a VTS. That Bourgeois a few videos back was their version of VTS, though.
@@pauljcat1 Typical D-28 vs D-18 thing. More "stuff" in the D-28, "cleaner" in the 18. The main thing with both is the neck. I could live with the 18's neck. The 28 neck... takes some getting used to. If it had a Marquis neck shape, it would be THE BOMB. If I had one and it was gonna be my #1, I'd put a different neck on it and hang the original on the wall.
I had a custom HD 28 LSV made for me starting in "00". Got it summer 2001. To my ears its finally taking on a aged sound that can have some sweet harmonics and tone reverb, for lack of better words, when my fingers are warmed up. (takes me almost an hour to get totally warmed up, oh well). With that said the action, ect. could use some refining of the details to get that effortless playability. So, I am now looking at a 07 D18A NOS to purchase. Is the D18A 07's neck, as described on the video "05", harder to get used to than my LSV mod V neck. Took me long time to get used to it but Im ok with that hunk of neck wood now and can play for over two hours straight. But I am looking for that "effertless" playing guitar with a vintage D18 tone and a 1 3/4 nut. I have those non tapered, husky, hot dog end fingers. Personally I love that lonesome flatpicking sound at the end of the video. Thats all I want to do is just that exactly. That end of video tune sounds to me like your playing is of, or in the guitar, rather than thinking about it while picking. Beutiful! Just beutiful.
D-18 '37 A is a round "baseball" bat sized neck. Depends on your hand but I find it harder to play than the LSV. I get along with V necks and not round ones. On the playing, I _am_ trying to listen to the guitar in this videos rather than "just play". In the A/B I'm trying to figure out what this guitar's strong voice is. There's a few things where I just play but not very often in an A/B critique.
Well you nailed the voice of that 37 D18A to my ears. Wonderful picking. Thank you for responding about the neck shape and playability of 37 16A, vs my LSV. That LSV neck was enough challenge to overcome, but glad I have adapted to it as the guitar does sound woof good. I think I'll take my time finding a D 16 that is right for me. Thank you a million! Please disregard my redundant question on your 28LSV vs D28A video. Im new to watching your videos.
I have had my 2022 custom shop D14fF 37 D-18 Authentic VTS burst for two weeks now. Love that neck! Love the tone, love the playback after recording. I could not ask for a better guitar. It checks all the boxes for me. I have now learned for sure I do not like the modified V neck on my Custom HD28LSV. Love the HD28LSV sound, but replace the modified V neck with a Authentic 1 3/4 inch D-18 neck on it and I will have my best two guitars. Can that be done? (I don't know if there is a authentic D-28 1 3/4 neck available? Custom Shop mabey?)
Question for you Bryan: do you ever install a MPTE behind the bridge plate when you are modding guitars? And do you notice much of a difference with vs without? Thanks for the info that you provide!
Sometimes! It can make some guitars too bassy and a little dull- the guitar sounds good, it just might sound a little crisper w/out. Here's an older video of PMTE test. Which guitar do you like better? Hat or NoHat?
Be careful talking smack about '05 D18A guitars. They have a fanatical and secretive ownership... like me! ;- ) Seriously, thank you for the great info.
Just the facts BT61. Just the facts. :) Please note how I did NOT play a bunch of songs on the D-28. What's that tell ya? So, how many '05's are there?
@@Bryankimsey You're probably pretty close. They first thought there were seven but that doubled pretty quick. Probably 20-30 I would guess. Check the dweebs at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum. They have a list of all of them including mine. The '05s are special indeed...
Yeah... but I'm too lazy to go over there and see. :) Okay, I went and looked. 51. umgf.com/where-are-the-seven-05-d-18-authentics-now-updated-t81270-s520.html#p2426140
Well, they ARE new. These are "1937 Authentic"- that's the model name- not "Authentic 1937". If you want the Real Thing, go here: ruclips.net/video/bVHXzhOC49Y/видео.html
I’m always gonna be a D28 guy I guess. The boom and piano like overtones are just wonderful to me. They ring like a bell!
Incredible how different these two guitars sound! They both sound great but that d28 is just insane.
Just picked up an 06 ‘37 D18A….lots of saddle left and it seems to have excellent action all the way up the neck. Regardless of the adjustable/non-adjustable truss rod debate, I really think that T-bar is ROCK solid….
Both sound great. However, the '28 takes this round for me.
Awesome playing on a great guitar...Thx for another lesson on Martin guitars.
Thank you again Bryan for another great video. This video saved my life! Backstory: I have a 2014 Martin D28A '37 and I love Love, LOVE it. I have the opportunity to purchase a 2007 D18A '37 (without hearing it). There's a definite difference in sound... but I feel like only the player would hear the difference when jamming with others... so, I'm going to pass on the D18A... AND my wife won't kill me!!
That's shocking that you'd think only the player would notice the D-18 vs the D-28, but.... I agree with you!!! A lot of the things I do on these videos are things that I'm certainly only the player will notice, BUT.... that's fine with me, too. I'm pretty convinced that if the player is happy, he/she will play better, and THAT'S where the difference in sound comes from, to a large degree. If you don't interface well with the instrument, you'll never get comfortable, and the sound will reflect that. That's why I'm always talking about the neck shape and whether or not the strings "grab" my fingers. Funny necks and grabbing strings throw me off. A great neck and Elixir Nanoweb PB's and I'll make the guitar sound good.
@@Bryankimsey We are the 1%'ers! My family and friends that don't play think I'm a loon. But when I get together with my jamming buddies and it's like we can't wait to talk about some of the same things your videos are all about. I'm jealous that you have so many high end acoustic instruments come into your shop. You truly have my kind of candy store. Btw, I know there are other followers of your vids that would like to see you talk about mandolins a lot more often too!
I went into this video thinking I would the authentic much more than the D-18, but they were a lot closer than I thought they would be. I still like the 28 better, but I've always been partial to rosewood. That 18 has a really nice, balanced tone. Not too deep & not too bright. Right in the middle & just right. lol Great pickin' & great video!!!!!!!
They are BOTH Authentics... maybe I should fix that in the description.
@@Bryankimsey I knew they both were. When I started typing my comment I hadn't watched all the way through the video yet. I forgot to fix it after I had watched through it all. lol I'm still pretty impressed that they are as close in tone as they are. It shows ppl just how crucial the top bracing is to the overall sound as well as structural stability. I know you said the D-18A was a 2005. What year is the D-28A?
2014. The only year with non-VTS.
@@Bryankimsey non-VTS?
VTS = Vintage Tone System = Torrefied top = baked wood. The D-28 '37 A was only made for one year in a non-VTS. After that, they're all VTS. My next shop purchase is probably going to be a D-18 '39 VTS. I had the non-VTS version but have never spent time with a VTS. That Bourgeois a few videos back was their version of VTS, though.
That is a proper sounding D18!
D28 is sounding great also. Did the 28 have newer strings on it? Sounded a little less refined.
Nope... the D-28 has older strings, actually.
Bryan Kimsey I really like how both sound.
Bryan Kimsey how do they differ to you?
@@pauljcat1 Typical D-28 vs D-18 thing. More "stuff" in the D-28, "cleaner" in the 18. The main thing with both is the neck. I could live with the 18's neck. The 28 neck... takes some getting used to. If it had a Marquis neck shape, it would be THE BOMB. If I had one and it was gonna be my #1, I'd put a different neck on it and hang the original on the wall.
That D18 is really nice and looks beautiful. What about those back two lower struts? thicker or as original
Original. The A's are very good replicas.
I had a custom HD 28 LSV made for me starting in "00". Got it summer 2001. To my ears its finally taking on a aged sound that can have some sweet harmonics and tone reverb, for lack of better words, when my fingers are warmed up. (takes me almost an hour to get totally warmed up, oh well). With that said the action, ect. could use some refining of the details to get that effortless playability.
So, I am now looking at a 07 D18A NOS to purchase.
Is the D18A 07's neck, as described on the video "05", harder to get used to than my LSV mod V neck.
Took me long time to get used to it but Im ok with that hunk of neck wood now and can play for over two hours straight.
But I am looking for that "effertless" playing guitar with a vintage D18 tone and a 1 3/4 nut. I have those non tapered, husky, hot dog end fingers.
Personally I love that lonesome flatpicking sound at the end of the video. Thats all I want to do is just that exactly.
That end of video tune sounds to me like your playing is of, or in the guitar, rather than thinking about it while picking.
Beutiful! Just beutiful.
D-18 '37 A is a round "baseball" bat sized neck. Depends on your hand but I find it harder to play than the LSV. I get along with V necks and not round ones.
On the playing, I _am_ trying to listen to the guitar in this videos rather than "just play". In the A/B I'm trying to figure out what this guitar's strong voice is. There's a few things where I just play but not very often in an A/B critique.
Well you nailed the voice of that 37 D18A to my ears. Wonderful picking.
Thank you for responding about the neck shape and playability of 37 16A, vs my LSV. That LSV neck was enough challenge to overcome, but glad I have adapted to it as the guitar does sound woof good.
I think I'll take my time finding a D 16 that is right for me.
Thank you a million!
Please disregard my redundant question on your 28LSV vs D28A video. Im new to watching your videos.
I have had my 2022 custom shop D14fF 37 D-18 Authentic VTS burst for two weeks now.
Love that neck! Love the tone, love the playback after recording.
I could not ask for a better guitar. It checks all the boxes for me.
I have now learned for sure I do not like the modified V neck on my Custom HD28LSV.
Love the HD28LSV sound, but replace the modified V neck with a Authentic 1 3/4 inch D-18 neck on it and I will have my best two guitars.
Can that be done?
(I don't know if there is a authentic D-28 1 3/4 neck available? Custom Shop mabey?)
The d18 sounds nice but the 37 is scary loud and more ambient.
Question for you Bryan: do you ever install a MPTE behind the bridge plate when you are modding guitars? And do you notice much of a difference with vs without? Thanks for the info that you provide!
Sometimes! It can make some guitars too bassy and a little dull- the guitar sounds good, it just might sound a little crisper w/out. Here's an older video of PMTE test. Which guitar do you like better? Hat or NoHat?
Be careful talking smack about '05 D18A guitars. They have a fanatical and secretive ownership... like me! ;- ) Seriously, thank you for the great info.
Just the facts BT61. Just the facts. :) Please note how I did NOT play a bunch of songs on the D-28. What's that tell ya?
So, how many '05's are there?
@@Bryankimsey You're probably pretty close. They first thought there were seven but that doubled pretty quick. Probably 20-30 I would guess. Check the dweebs at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum. They have a list of all of them including mine. The '05s are special indeed...
Yeah... but I'm too lazy to go over there and see. :)
Okay, I went and looked. 51.
umgf.com/where-are-the-seven-05-d-18-authentics-now-updated-t81270-s520.html#p2426140
How can they look so "new"?
Well, they ARE new. These are "1937 Authentic"- that's the model name- not "Authentic 1937". If you want the Real Thing, go here:
ruclips.net/video/bVHXzhOC49Y/видео.html
@@Bryankimsey I see. Thanks
The 28 all day long👍
Nice guitar is it for sale?????
No. In fact, it was just sold and is on it's way from the seller to the buyer.