Boogie Bill
New member
So...
I have this 2004 Martin D-18 that I bought new way back when. I had a '72 D-18 but sold it when it developed some problems. Regretted letting it go, but it was time to move on. A couple of years later, I found the 2004 for a terrific price. I really enjoy the snap and focus of a mahogany dread. I love a D-28 or a D-35 wih rosewood too, but the tone and the plain aesthetic of the D-18 is appealing.
But over the years, I've acquired many other guitars, including several other Martin dreads. I love them all, but found myself playing the 2004 D-18 less and less. It sounded constricted. And it was hard to play. I decided I would sell it. I had bought a D-18 Golden Era, and with an Adirondack top and the scalloped bracing...well it is a MONSTER, and it was the keeper.
But I thought may there was something wrong with the 2004, and so I took it to my luthier, Kerry Char, here in Portland. If there was something wrong, I could have it fixed under warranty, and save the new buyer a few coins. Maybe even an expensive neck reset.
Kerry takes one look...and decides that the neck has too much relief. Now, I hit hard so I usually have a little more relief in my setups. So we start tightening up the rod, eventually ending up with an almost perfectly flat neck.
And man, this thing is BACK!!! Plays beautifully, AND the tone has really opened up. Top vibrates like crazy. It's not a Golden Era in tone or volume, but it does have that straight-braced sustain and punch that made the '50s and '60s so great.
It's like a new guitar. I've been banging on it now for two weeks and I can't put it down. The low profile neck is easier for me to get around on than the GE's big, wide V-neck. I've fallen in love all over again!
Just goes to show that a proper setup can do amazing things for a guitar. Sometimes their sweet spot isn't necessarily where you expect it to be. (And a good reminder for me to not be complacent about doing maintenance!)
Bill
I have this 2004 Martin D-18 that I bought new way back when. I had a '72 D-18 but sold it when it developed some problems. Regretted letting it go, but it was time to move on. A couple of years later, I found the 2004 for a terrific price. I really enjoy the snap and focus of a mahogany dread. I love a D-28 or a D-35 wih rosewood too, but the tone and the plain aesthetic of the D-18 is appealing.
But over the years, I've acquired many other guitars, including several other Martin dreads. I love them all, but found myself playing the 2004 D-18 less and less. It sounded constricted. And it was hard to play. I decided I would sell it. I had bought a D-18 Golden Era, and with an Adirondack top and the scalloped bracing...well it is a MONSTER, and it was the keeper.
But I thought may there was something wrong with the 2004, and so I took it to my luthier, Kerry Char, here in Portland. If there was something wrong, I could have it fixed under warranty, and save the new buyer a few coins. Maybe even an expensive neck reset.
Kerry takes one look...and decides that the neck has too much relief. Now, I hit hard so I usually have a little more relief in my setups. So we start tightening up the rod, eventually ending up with an almost perfectly flat neck.
And man, this thing is BACK!!! Plays beautifully, AND the tone has really opened up. Top vibrates like crazy. It's not a Golden Era in tone or volume, but it does have that straight-braced sustain and punch that made the '50s and '60s so great.
It's like a new guitar. I've been banging on it now for two weeks and I can't put it down. The low profile neck is easier for me to get around on than the GE's big, wide V-neck. I've fallen in love all over again!
Just goes to show that a proper setup can do amazing things for a guitar. Sometimes their sweet spot isn't necessarily where you expect it to be. (And a good reminder for me to not be complacent about doing maintenance!)
Bill
