Thanks for sharing. I did this study and Norman Blake's 12 fret D-18 is the one for me. Love it so much i built one. 2nd one in progress is a D-28 because yeah, they are both great!
Thank you Bryan. I own a D28, 1999 built. I've gigged it the last 20 years. Just home from a gig with it right now. The D28 is the acoustic sound in my head and I love it. Both these two guitars sound lovely in your hands and I would be very happy to own either one of them.
Really surprised that I liked the D-18 sound. Thanks for putting up this video. I have a D-16 that I think is one of the better sounding guitars that I have played, goes to show that that each guitar has a voice and you have to play it to see what it's saying.
The D-18 has that brighter shimmer where the D-28 has that mellow bass with light shimmer:) I love the D-28. I have a D-28 and a D-41 which are both great sounding guitars but I probably play the D-28 more. Great comparison of two great Martin guitars, you couldn’t go wrong with either one!
Thanks! Check out some of the videos here: ruclips.net/p/PLguo9vBGK3TyjCFbhY0jrYRzyZqDv1fH7 I think one of the most useful things I do is "Noodling", followed by "Playing Softly". Both of these _really_ developed my dexterity, fluidity, and pick control.
All the old Martin D series are fantastic guitars. The new stuff they came out with are of question to me. Built to fit the lower price and entry market. The crash of 2008 or what ever you need to call brought some bad stuff to the music world. I wanted a new Martin then but I didn't need one. I did not want to get into the X and O and OO thing I don't understand. The D28 rose wood tone is what I have loved for a long time, a part of my life that I don't want to lose
Interesting that although you never said which guitar you were playing first, the sound difference was obvious: first the D-28, then the D-18. Deeper and richer vs. brighter with sharper definition. One caveat - both are from the rosewood bridge plate era. Most Martinistas prefer the maple bridge plate. I'm a mahogany guy myself, but then again I mostly fingerpick. Different strokes!
The reason I didn't state which guitar was which is because I didn't want to bias your opinion right off the bat. Most "Martinistas" are going to figure out immediately, anyway. I'm very aware that they both have RW bridgeplates, but that's necessary to make this comparison. If one had a maple plate and the other had a big RW plate, we'd have another variable. FWIW, see my recent D-18 A/B Comparison for the effects of switching from RW plate.
THANK you for your video it is appreciated. I am a musician on a fixed budget and have been hearing the D 18 is better for recording. Do you have any words of wisdom on this...I have to make sure I get the most bang for my buck and Recording is my first concern with live performance second
I wouldn't say a D-18 is _better_ for recording, but it's probably _easier_, esp in live situations. Reason is that the D-28 has more and more complex bass and usually needs some EQ tweaks to sound best and prevent feedback. For sure, a guitar that you'd prefer in a live (non-amplified) SOLO situation might be a different guitar than one you'd pick in a recorded ensemble situation. You need to consider the other instruments and how they'll affect the sound of yours. The D-18, with it's narrower, tighter output tends to "own" its sonic space, while the D-28 (esp a scalloped one) tends lay down a base for other instruments, including your voice, but maybe not push thru as much.
It always amazes me what we hear when we listen the exact same things. I often hear rosewood described as “warm” and mahogany as “bright.” I don’t hear that at all. To me, rosewood seems to produce great tone with tons of bass and treble but very little midrange. The lack of midrange often makes rosewood sound more cold than warm to my ears/brain. Mahogany, on the other hand, seems to often have an abundance of the mid range rosewood is missing. As a result, it sounds warmer to me. Both rosewood and mahogany are great tone woods, but if I had to pick just one, it would be mahogany.
I think that is the beauty of the different woods..and ears. I have both rosewood and mahogny guitars and I feel the Rosewood is warmer. But the Mahogny is more punchy or clear in some way. Both sounds great !
D-28 is warmer, D-18 brighter. Both are cannons & terrific. I have a 2007 D-28 Marquis. I'm looking to get a 2005 (or so) D-18GE for my (much better player) son.
I'm tuned to A 432. I talk about it in another video. ruclips.net/video/3OEXM6A7ff8/видео.html It's kind of a funny story... I'll type it here so you don't have to go dig thru a whole video.... After stumbling on it, I spent a whole afternoon reading on the 440 vs 432 stuff and sort of laughed at the whole "In Tune With the Universe" vs "Hitler Influencing Your Mind" thing. I thought "Who in the world does this stuff???" That evening, I went in to do a recording session with a local cowboy- and I'm talking bona fide, gen-u-wine COWBOY- with my mandolin. I walk in, sit down behind my mic and he goes "Ahm in A432 tuning, son". I laughed, tuned to that, figured, hey the universe has spoken to me!!!, and have been in 432 ever since, except when I need to do 440. I really like the softer feel and slightly lower pitch of 432, esp on the mandolin. Plus, I'm in tune with the universe now. :)
It's kind of a funny story... I'll type it here so you don't have to go dig thru a whole video.... After stumbling on it, I spent a whole afternoon reading on the 440 vs 432 stuff and sort of laughed at the whole "In Tune With the Universe" vs "Hitler Influencing Your Mind" thing. I thought "Who in the world does this stuff???" That evening, I went in to do a recording session with a local cowboy- and I'm talking bona fide, gen-u-wine COWBOY- with my mandolin. I walk in, sit down behind my mic and he goes "Ahm in A432 tuning, son". I laughed, tuned to that, figured, hey the universe has spoken to me!!!, and have been in 432 ever since, except when I need to do 440. I really like the softer feel and slightly lower pitch of 432, esp on the mandolin. Plus, I'm in tune with the universe now. :) You are, like, maybe the ONLY person to have commented on the pitch. Good ears.
I went through this twice in my life and both times I came home with the D28 . The rose wood just has things I truly love.
Thanks for sharing. I did this study and Norman Blake's 12 fret D-18 is the one for me. Love it so much i built one. 2nd one in progress is a D-28 because yeah, they are both great!
Just like always, the 18 has a cut-through tone whereas the 28 has a bit of a warmer tone. Both are obviously stellar but for me, it's the 18.
I prefer the D-28, but they are both great guitars.
Thank you Bryan.
I own a D28, 1999 built. I've gigged it the last 20 years. Just home from a gig with it right now. The D28 is the acoustic sound in my head and I love it. Both these two guitars sound lovely in your hands and I would be very happy to own either one of them.
Really surprised that I liked the D-18 sound. Thanks for putting up this video. I have a D-16 that I think is one of the better sounding guitars that I have played, goes to show that that each guitar has a voice and you have to play it to see what it's saying.
D-16's are great.
The D-18 has that brighter shimmer where the D-28 has that mellow bass with light shimmer:) I love the D-28. I have a D-28 and a D-41 which are both great sounding guitars but I probably play the D-28 more. Great comparison of two great Martin guitars, you couldn’t go wrong with either one!
Great! Give me the D-18 every time!
wow! wish I could play like you do. you make it look effortless!
Thanks! Check out some of the videos here: ruclips.net/p/PLguo9vBGK3TyjCFbhY0jrYRzyZqDv1fH7 I think one of the most useful things I do is "Noodling", followed by "Playing Softly". Both of these _really_ developed my dexterity, fluidity, and pick control.
All the old Martin D series are fantastic guitars. The new stuff they came out with are of question to me. Built to fit the lower price and entry market. The crash of 2008 or what ever you need to call brought some bad stuff to the music world. I wanted a new Martin then but I didn't need one. I did not want to get into the X and O and OO thing I don't understand. The D28 rose wood tone is what I have loved for a long time, a part of my life that I don't want to lose
Awesome comparison!
I’m leaning toward the 18
Interesting that although you never said which guitar you were playing first, the sound difference was obvious: first the D-28, then the D-18. Deeper and richer vs. brighter with sharper definition. One caveat - both are from the rosewood bridge plate era. Most Martinistas prefer the maple bridge plate. I'm a mahogany guy myself, but then again I mostly fingerpick. Different strokes!
The reason I didn't state which guitar was which is because I didn't want to bias your opinion right off the bat. Most "Martinistas" are going to figure out immediately, anyway. I'm very aware that they both have RW bridgeplates, but that's necessary to make this comparison. If one had a maple plate and the other had a big RW plate, we'd have another variable. FWIW, see my recent D-18 A/B Comparison for the effects of switching from RW plate.
@njcrossroads Are you saying the D28 went first just to test us?
Well but you can tell by the look. The white binding around the D28 gives it away.
THANK you for your video it is appreciated. I am a musician on a fixed budget and have been hearing the D 18 is better for recording. Do you have any words of wisdom on this...I have to make sure I get the most bang for my buck and Recording is my first concern with live performance second
I wouldn't say a D-18 is _better_ for recording, but it's probably _easier_, esp in live situations. Reason is that the D-28 has more and more complex bass and usually needs some EQ tweaks to sound best and prevent feedback. For sure, a guitar that you'd prefer in a live (non-amplified) SOLO situation might be a different guitar than one you'd pick in a recorded ensemble situation. You need to consider the other instruments and how they'll affect the sound of yours. The D-18, with it's narrower, tighter output tends to "own" its sonic space, while the D-28 (esp a scalloped one) tends lay down a base for other instruments, including your voice, but maybe not push thru as much.
I am blind, which guitar is the first guitar that he was playing in which one is the second?
18 was first. 28 second.
Bryan, that is probably as good as any Rosewood / Mahogany comparison I've seen... It's like a Primer on the differences.....good job !
It always amazes me what we hear when we listen the exact same things. I often hear rosewood described as “warm” and mahogany as “bright.” I don’t hear that at all. To me, rosewood seems to produce great tone with tons of bass and treble but very little midrange. The lack of midrange often makes rosewood sound more cold than warm to my ears/brain. Mahogany, on the other hand, seems to often have an abundance of the mid range rosewood is missing. As a result, it sounds warmer to me. Both rosewood and mahogany are great tone woods, but if I had to pick just one, it would be mahogany.
I think that is the beauty of the different woods..and ears. I have both rosewood and mahogny guitars and I feel the Rosewood is warmer. But the Mahogny is more punchy or clear in some way. Both sounds great !
I’m going through this very problem
Thanks! Excellent comparison!
Love them both!
D-18 all the way for me Sir.
I have a good question for you, Have you ever done the brace's on a new martin d28?
Several. I was gonna say "many" but I'm not sure how many "many" is, so I'm just going with "several".
Thank you for the reply, i would love to hear the difference on a much newer d28. I think it would be cool.
What’s your string of choice ?
Personal guitars...exilir nanoweb PB medium. Customer guitar...D'addario PB in med or light
What year is the D28?
I have no idea which one you are playing, please a a graphic # next time to clarity
It's pretty easy. White binding, two sets of double dots... D28. Black binding, one set of double dots...D18.
Terrific!
18
When the guitar is new, i would prefer the rosewood. But once aged, for my ear nothing beats a hog!
D18 of course
I have a d18 but should've gotten a 28 :(
D-28 is warmer, D-18 brighter. Both are cannons & terrific. I have a 2007 D-28 Marquis. I'm looking to get a 2005 (or so) D-18GE for my (much better player) son.
Schtock D-18 fosho
That 18 is a hoss...
silky d 18
you sound just like joe walsh
Well, life's been good to me so far.
my immediate impression as well
He looks the guy at the gas station when you ask to use his restroom!!!
"He"? You mean me? Sorry I don't meet your dress code standards. Just trying to provide good information here.
don't tune with your ear! Tune with a tuner at least for your low E. These are FLATTTTT.
I'm tuned to A 432. I talk about it in another video. ruclips.net/video/3OEXM6A7ff8/видео.html
It's kind of a funny story... I'll type it here so you don't have to go dig thru a whole video.... After stumbling on it, I spent a whole afternoon reading on the 440 vs 432 stuff and sort of laughed at the whole "In Tune With the Universe" vs "Hitler Influencing Your Mind" thing. I thought "Who in the world does this stuff???" That evening, I went in to do a recording session with a local cowboy- and I'm talking bona fide, gen-u-wine COWBOY- with my mandolin. I walk in, sit down behind my mic and he goes "Ahm in A432 tuning, son". I laughed, tuned to that, figured, hey the universe has spoken to me!!!, and have been in 432 ever since, except when I need to do 440. I really like the softer feel and slightly lower pitch of 432, esp on the mandolin. Plus, I'm in tune with the universe now. :)
@@Bryankimsey ohh a 432er. my mistake
It's kind of a funny story... I'll type it here so you don't have to go dig thru a whole video.... After stumbling on it, I spent a whole afternoon reading on the 440 vs 432 stuff and sort of laughed at the whole "In Tune With the Universe" vs "Hitler Influencing Your Mind" thing. I thought "Who in the world does this stuff???" That evening, I went in to do a recording session with a local cowboy- and I'm talking bona fide, gen-u-wine COWBOY- with my mandolin. I walk in, sit down behind my mic and he goes "Ahm in A432 tuning, son". I laughed, tuned to that, figured, hey the universe has spoken to me!!!, and have been in 432 ever since, except when I need to do 440. I really like the softer feel and slightly lower pitch of 432, esp on the mandolin. Plus, I'm in tune with the universe now. :)
You are, like, maybe the ONLY person to have commented on the pitch. Good ears.