Martin D18 vs.HD28

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Do not take price into account.

Which of the two would you prefer to have/play ?

Oh and please say why you would prefer the one over the other.


Thanks

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

D-18 for the sound and dynamics. (Actually, I would put my money on a Stonebridge/Furch clone for its wider string spacing at the nut.)

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

The HD-28 by mile if you can swing it. You get what you pay for with Martin guitars, every step of the way.

The D-18 is a good guitar worth paying good money for, but the HD-28 is possibly the best sounding dreadnaught guitar ever made. Honestly, most Martins sound great. Just choose the highest amount of money you can afford, and start there.

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I love my HD 28 even over regular D 28's

18's are great but not as crazy good as HD 28

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I understand what you guys are saying. I just prefer the tone of mahogany over rosewood.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

Thanx a million guys.

Appreciate all the comments.

Keep 'em coming !

SO FAR : i prefer the 'looks' of the slightly more aged/yellow D18 that i've seen, but the HD28 wins in tone at this point.

 

[blakejcan]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

get one of those new historic spec or whatever they call them HD28s that come kind of pre-yellowed if that makes any sense

 

[kilphody]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

My D18 is beyond killer. This mf will follow me to the grave.
PC

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

Personally I went all the way with the HD-28V. (essentially the HD-28 with additional vintage correct appointments but with a lot of the modern improvements, like a truss rod instead of a t-bar, etc.) Incredibly responsive guitar from fingerstyle all the way through heavy strumming, with all the incredible sparkle of a great Martin. Another great benefit is the consistency in the Vintage line guitars.

I believe the "new" D-18 (post 2012) is pretty close to what used to be the D-18V. Probably one of the best values in Martin (along with the 000-15M). Also, as previously mentioned the D-18 has a 1-3/4" neck whereas the HD-28 has a 1-11/16" width.

Basically, both are outstanding guitars and it boils down to the woodsy mahogany fundamental tone or the huge bass and incredible overtones of a rosewood model.

Also, DO NOT pay MSRP for a Martin. There are a number of retailers that will offer a no haggle discount that is quite a bit below the tag...

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I voted D18 because although I love the HD28 appointments I'm not a rosewood guy. I just prefer the tone of mahogany. Once I played a D18GE i was certain that I wanted mahogany, and in some vintage configuration. I went with the D18V in the end and bridged the gap between vintage and modern like PFDarkside said.

Though a bit of a tangent and a good bit more money Frank Falbo's D28 style is pretty amazing. It's very articulate and touch sensitive and can loud when you want it to do so. The bridge is groundbreaking, but the guitars still sound familiar.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

While I love the tone of both guitars--the HD28 is my personal favorite because of the Rosewood. The HD28 has the perfect sound when fingerpicked or strummed and IMO has the best harmonics. I think the D18 sounds better for country and folk style playing--I know a lot of Celtic/Irish musicians prefer the mahogany sides and back.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

D28, because it's made of rosewood. I like mahogany guitars all right sometimes, but usually the mahogany ones that do it for me are Gibsons.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

D28, because it's made of rosewood. I like mahogany guitars all right sometimes, but usually the mahogany ones that do it for me are Gibsons.

I will prefer the Gibson acoustics over Martin. My absolute favorite acoustic is the Gibson Advanced Jumbo (rosewood) followed by a J-45 (mahogany.) Personally, I think the Gibsons sound better when strummed with a pick and just the perfect all around tone.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I will prefer the Gibson acoustics over Martin. My absolute favorite acoustic is the Gibson Advanced Jumbo (rosewood) followed by a J-45 (mahogany.) Personally, I think the Gibsons sound better when strummed with a pick and just the perfect all around tone.

We all have our own preferences. I like Martin, Guild, and Gibson, but each for different models. As I mentioned, I like Martins for rosewood and Gibsons for mahogany. But for Maple jumbos, I like Guild. That's why I have a D35 (rosewood Martin), a B25 (mahogany Gibson), and an F50 (maple Guild)! I also have an all koa small-bodied Martin, which is a great sounding guitar with a nice V neck that joins the body at the 12th fret.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

We all have our own preferences. I like Martin, Guild, and Gibson, but each for different models. As I mentioned, I like Martins for rosewood and Gibsons for mahogany. But for Maple jumbos, I like Guild. That's why I have a D35 (rosewood Martin), a B25 (mahogany Gibson), and an F50 (maple Guild)! I also have an all koa small-bodied Martin, which is a great sounding guitar with a nice V neck that joins the body at the 12th fret.

Absolutely--we all have different preferences. Btw, my statement you quoted has a typo..should not have had the "will"...don't know how that got in there. lol

Koa is a wood that I have just never liked. I love the looks of it--but the tone just doesn't mesh with me...I don't know why.

 

[Gone_Shootin]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I've been a Martin fanboy for years, but don't have one yet, but since I've been learning Country stuff I've got the itch to finally buy a Martin.

I'm about 80% sure I've settled on a D-35.

Here's a good vid to watch. It's long, but they really elaborate on the differences and have some good audio to go with it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHbXJ69K8b0

 

[Bludave]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I understand what you guys are saying. I just prefer the tone of mahogany over rosewood.

I own a golden era D18 shade top and a Santa Cruz Tony Rice (a much better guitar then a D28). The SC has a wider nut and is extremely easy to finger pick but the size makes it hard to get really detailed projection out if it. The D 18 has a more balanced tone then the rosewood D's do IMHO. BUT THATS WHY I HAVE BOTH. FOR CERTAIN THING THE ROSEWOOD IS JUST PERFECT. FOR OTHER THINGS I LIKE THE MAHOGANY. NOT REALLY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION BUT SEEING THAT MONEY Isn't A CONCERN I WOULD BUY BOTH

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

It very much depends on the individual guitars - I can be happy playing rosewood or mahogany.

I generally prefer the sound of rosewood bodied acoustic guitars but for some reason my two most played guitars are these two little Taylor 512's - which have mahogany back and sides:

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

Thanks for all the GREAT comments, and insights.

Is Rosewood (back and sides) more bassy than Mahog back and sides ?
Could that be why i prefer the HD28 tone (slightly) over the D18 at this point ?

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Martin D18 vs.HD28

I own a golden era D18 shade top and a Santa Cruz Tony Rice (a much better guitar then a D28). The SC has a wider nut and is extremely easy to finger pick but the size makes it hard to get really detailed projection out if it. The D 18 has a more balanced tone then the rosewood D's do IMHO. BUT THATS WHY I HAVE BOTH. FOR CERTAIN THING THE ROSEWOOD IS JUST PERFECT. FOR OTHER THINGS I LIKE THE MAHOGANY. NOT REALLY ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION BUT SEEING THAT MONEY Isn't A CONCERN I WOULD BUY BOTH

. . . that's the problem - i can only afford ONE guitar, and i am also pushing my budget to its utter limit with this purchase.