Gibson J45 vs Martin D18 : Acoustic Guitar Comparison 2023
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 ноя 2023
- Figured it was time to do an updated comparison of these two American acoustic titans. Both are 2023 models strung with D'addario EJ16's.
Both are Spruce/Mahogany Dreadnoughts - the Gibson with round shoulders and a short, 24.75" scale; the Martin with square shoulders and a 25.5" scale. They're priced very similarly too. Let me know what you think about these guitars.
Strumming 0:01 Flatpicking 1:04 Fingerpicking 2:36 Capo 4:40
Recorded with Zoom H8N, no additional processing.
If my videos have ever helped you find a great guitar or taught you something, and you'd like to leave a tip you can do so here.
PayPal: @ianmeadowsmusic
Venmo: @Ian-Meadows-4
Some Gear I Like. Maybe You Will Like It Too.
-Under $15-
Picks - amzn.to/47shlHR
String Winder - amzn.to/3sjNfaW
Strings - amzn.to/3FQ0ZNt
Tuner - amzn.to/47gDM2S
-Under $25-
Strings - amzn.to/3FWh1Fy
Capo - amzn.to/3sgMQWM
Humidifier - amzn.to/47shlHR
My Original Music - • My Music
Both guitars are so iconic, sound incredible and are different enough despite the same woods used. I had a hard time to decide between a D-18 and J-45. So I bought both over time, and both in sunburst. It's the only acoustic guitars I have. I am happy every-time no matter which one I pick up to play. Thanks for the video Ian.
Love your stuff Ian. Thanks for returning and posting.
Always the best comparisons and this is a great one.
Ian, it's so great to see a new demo of yours! Love em! That D18 sounds so 'Martin' I could eat it! The J45 sounds wonderful too. I think the classic acoustics coming outta Bozeman are such quality instruments these days. Can't go wrong with either guitar...
The Gibson sounded warmer to me.
The Gibson in this comparison is more pleasing to my ear. That said, one cannot go wrong with either of these very fine instruments.
I have one of each and they are both great for different styles...
Good point Wysteria
You’d need or want both of these models. Shorter scale on the Gibson and longer scale on the Martin. Both are fun and enjoyable to play.
Excelente interpretación acústica, me ha gustado mucho, enhorabuena desde Madrid y gracias por compartir tu música Ian, like 37
J45 for me
I have a 2019 D18. I like the look and sound more than the gibson, its personal taste- what I dont like about the D18 is the slim neck, doesnt feel really comfortable, the aging toner, I would prefer to get the aging done by myself. great that youre back Ian!
I’m with you. I hate all the faux aging. Natural wear/tear/aging for me.
Love my J-45! 🤘
Here's my take a way. I own a 1973 D-28, now I need a J-45 to!
Having played a J45 and D-18 back to back I much prefer the thinner unfinished neck and wider string spacing of the D-18.
What kind of strings are on the j45? Sounds excellent.
The Gibson, but then I'm kind of a Gibson guy. The Martin sounds great, they usually do. But so does the Gibby, and she's beautiful. And I'm used to their necks. Gibsons usually do it for me sonically and visually. I've had Martins I've loved, though. I
gibson have started to put the scratch plates on properly not covering the rosette , you also get electronics , the martin is lighter and has a very unique sound , i sold my j45 to get a d28 and never looked back, about 1.5k in the difference in price but the d18 for me is a much nicer sounding instrument for my needs . just my 2cents
Nice soft playing. I am mostly a fairly hard strummer. When I saw the title of this video I thought, with these guitars, I would hear some hard strumming. There are very few guitars that can sound clear with hard strumming. This video was pretty much a comparison of light strumming and finger picking.
Good point. I love the sound of strings hitting the frets when strummed or picked hard, that is the most beautiful feature of an acoustic compared to an electric guitar lets say. Maybe the guy had both buitars for a brief period and didn't want to go hard and risk leaving pick scratches 😂
The Gibson has a better tone, like an old friend having a conversation over coffee. The Martin is brighter and annunciates clearer, like a fellow with a clear voice speaking to a crowd.
So what do you need, a hart felt conversation with a friend, or do you want to tell a crowd of people a clear story?
Very nice description!!!
In this video. To my ears. I prefer the D18
The J45 has a great sound but the neck is too chunky for my taste. I also feel like I have to really bear down on it to get the volume I want. I absolutely love my D18…the sound is warm and full, but still has a touch a brightness, plenty of volume, and is so comfortable to play.
I've always felt more at home with the J 45 vs a martin D 18 standards. To me personally the Gibson necks are more comfortable. J 45 seems to be a little more versatile. I did have a D18 GE once in my life and I am excluding that guitar from that opinion. It was a supreme all rounder.
I keep getting the temptation to buy a J45 to join my HD28 and every time I see something like this I think I have to get the D18. It sounds like a Steinway piano compared to the Gibson (which still is awesome and its own thing). But damn. Tough choice.
The gibson sounds more woody and warm than the Martin to me, which is an attractive quality, but the shimmer, sustain and smoothness of the Martin is just so luxurious.
@@geoffreycarter3981I added a J45 to my collection a couple years ago. What originally sounded like warmth from the Gibson later just sounded very dull when compared to my standard Martins. I sold the Gibson at a loss and replaced it with a Martin 000-15SM, which is warm and complex sounding...not to mention the neck is amazing. Anyhoo, I think I fell for the internet hype around "the workhorse of guitars" and ignored the fact that Martins just sound better to my ear.
Gosh....how to choose ? They're both nice sounding /looking....just different. Guess ya need to purchase both ! 🤣
Gibson is cheaper, has shorter scale (more comfortable for me) and has pickup (Martin not sure). Sound difference is subjective.
They both sound great but for me it's the J-45. The two main reasons, and this is just my subjective opinion of course: 1) the notes on the D18's high strings sounded too bright for my ear in relation to the notes on the other strings, and the J-45 was much more balanced in this regard. 2) The overall tone and voice of the D-18 sounded a little boxy to me, not too much, just a little bit, while the J-45 had a much more open voice. Both great guitars but for me the J-45 is the winner. That being said, I'd have to play both before buying.
Correct
Bacon or eggs? I'll take the bacon and eggs. Possibly the two finest acoustic mahogany giutars of my life time. Im 70.
As a J45 owner I’m more than a little biased but would not be unhappy with a D18 to keep my Gibson company.
Want the J45 look and the D18 sound but can't afford both? Get The Norlin Era J45 Deluxe with square shoulders et double X-bracing !
(Just kidding)
Both sound great, but that J-45 talks to me. I hear warmth and clarity that the D-18 doesn't seem to have.
J45.
Gibson sounds a bit more banjo like. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. Martin sounds bigger. I’d like a J45 and a D 28! Getting one of them soon!
Gibson sounds smoother
Gibson sounds much American
???????????????????
The D18 sounds nasally and brighter compared to J45. The USA Texan Ive tried sits between the two.
gibson
win
Gibson looks better, Martin sounds better
Gibson looks better, Gibson sounds better.
Go for a D-18 in sunburst then. Looks as beautiful as a Gibson sunburst 🙂
Gibson records better.
In person gibsons better
no comparison. the gibson sounds thin and lifeless and lacking in body. the D18 is full, warm, and potent, with beautiful ringing sustain .. .
I have had J45s and I love them. They look and sound great .
The Martins I have played (a D28, and a few D18s) all have played better, and felt less clunky. The Martin D28 that a friend of mine has, sounds like a perfectly tuned piano in a perfectly sound treated room...and it plays effortlessly. Every note of every chord seems to occupy the proper space and it just rings so perfectly to my ears.
A pristine Martin beats out a pristine Gibson in both sound and playability.
Gibson wins on looks.
i agree. gibsons are killer lookin'. i've played great gibsons, and i really like the sound of them. i currently have a j45 clone and i love the woodiness and the thumpiness for certain styles and inspiration on a more rhythmic/rockin' sound.@@dr.scanlan6112
firecrackerheart - you've got it backwards
@@LoneTinajaNo, he had it about right.
@@G_Demolished It's ludicrous to say that Gibson sounds thin and lifeless and lacking in body. That's not an objective analysis.
Gibson makes pretty acoustic guitars. Martin makes perfect acoustic guitars. They do one thing, and do it right.
Quality control is still an issue with both companies. Don't be fooled.