70's Martin D-18: non scalloped vs scalloped

A comparison between two mid-1970's Martin that are fully modified except that one is scalloped and the other is not.

[@LPKJFHIS]

This is a great point about the tight and focused sound of the non scalloped bracing. I play in a bluegrass jam next to a country boy with my unmodded 74 D28, and my Martin cuts straight through the mix on top of country boy and the other instruments around. Strangely, when I play my d28 by myself it sounds quiet

[@BlindTom61]

Scallops all the way although some pickers seem to prefer clams... seriously, the scalloped braced guitar sounds glorious.

[@rickR52]

Bryan, I do this work as well and find myself in agreement with your comments. Before you explained your feelings I was hearing the sunburst as being broader, darker but still crisp and forward. I have a 73 D-28 that I did all the same mods on including scalloping the braces. The last thing I did was pull the rosewood bridge plate and replace it with a small maple and found that to be the icing on the cake. My bandmates (I play in an Trad Irish ensemble) heard the bridge plate mod immediately. I scalloped the braces in two stages about a year apart out of caution. My D-28 is a keeper now. No way I’m letting it go. I think I’d scallop the natural as well, though it’s a great sound as is, I don’t think removing a litle resistance would hurt.

[@redlinemando]

@rickR52 My keeper is a 73 D-28 as well. #329466. It was a guitar my father in law kept, but never played much. I scalloped mine with a bit of a taper going back to even out some of the belly across the lower bout. It's been just over two years now & the top has only bellied very slightly, but evenly as I had hoped. It sounds really good, but it would be even better with a much needed neck set. You may see it one of these days in one of Bryan's future videos. That is, unless I brave up, swallow some nerves & tackle it myself.

[@runnningonempty]

And there it is..THE BEST explanation/demo on the Internet...I hope You are doing well Bryan..

[@ericfischer996]

Boy Bryan, it's like night and day. But the fact that you have different gauge strings on them really confounds the variables as a statistician would say. Then there's the bridge plate differences too. Great vid, though. Eric

[@Bryankimsey]

They both have maple bridgeplates.

[@pplareppl]

I understand why a lot of folks prefer scalloped as it sounds boomy, rich with more complexity. But a nice non-scalloped guitar really takes my heart.

[@Bryankimsey]

Check out my 65 D21.

[@stevec.1802]

I have an original 58 D-28 with standard bracing/non forward shifted. It’s aged very well and has opened up over the years. It’s staying as is like it first left the factory.

[@Bryankimsey]

Original strings, even? ;) I've got a '58 or '57 on the channel and I comment on how GOOD it sounds. A '50's is a LOT different from a 70's where the bridge is out of position. If you left the 70's stock, you'd never get it in tune.

[@stevec.1802]

@@Bryankimsey I change strings about every 40 days, sometimes more. I’ve played a few mid to late 60’s that have held up well. D21’s have been a sleeper find on occasion too. I’ll check out the guitars you mentioned on your channel. Love your presentations and commentary.

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm teasing you about the strings. There's D-21's all over my channel. I love 'em.

[@stevec.1802]

@@Bryankimsey the small maple bridge plate in the 50’s Martin’s is also a key ingredient. I end up using an extra ball end on new strings so the wound part of the string doesn’t ride up on the saddle. Your mileage may vary.

[@beverlymichael5830]

I think the non scalloped has more clarity or open sound. It projects more.

[@davidwilson9940]

What a revealing comparison of these two guitars. As we like to say often in the ToneQuest Report, you can only get this here, and that certainly goes for Bryan’s videos! Both guitars sound very, very good. The non-scalloped guitar has a beautiful tenor and midrange voice with lots of shine on the notes and presence. The sunburst is obviously bigger with deep lows and solid mids but I like the bright tones, too. Bright but not sharp. What’s most interesting is how Bryan lets these guitars bloom and develop in the direction they naturally want to go rather than imposing his own taste on them. The non-scalloped guitar naturally sounds bright and jaunty with a lot of shimmer. It works, and it’s a great classic Martin tone. I’ d scallop it but you might be perfectly happy with it as is. The sunburst sounds bigger and fuller, but It just comes down to what you like. Both guitars are very desirable. Just different, and that’s what makes these guitars so fascinating. TQR

[@visitur4914]

I preferred the non-scalloped. I pretty much agreed with your descriptions of their sound, though.

[@toddvossmusic7833]

Hey Bryan, great video. I always prefer a more full, warm, rich sound like the scalloped burst top 18, but in this case I think the non-scalloped natural top guitar sounds so good as it is, I would leave it and not scallop it. As you said good to have different voices for different situations, and just to enjoy the variety.

[@Bryankimsey]

Good comments!!! One thing... keep in mind that the non-scalloped one will open up in the next year and, if desired, I can always scallop it then. But once scalloped, the deed is done. I think this is fun comparison between the two voices, though.

[@ldean-du5im]

Sounds good like it is to me. Thanks for sharing!

[@thomasbrewer3571]

Great video I never knew the difference but I sure can hear it. Thank you for posting this video

[@Bryankimsey]

Go watch this one and pay attention to how I tap on the bridge... you'll hear that same sort of difference with scalloped vs non-scalloped. I'll demonstrate that.... well, shoot... maybe I'll go video it now. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpKogHubpdd2ptU

[@Bardcar]

I agee! I love the sound of the non scalloped! Wouldn’t change it

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Listen folks, you can talk about strings and pins all day, but what is really skewing the comparison is that sunburst. Totally changes the Lower midrange.

[@Bryankimsey]

Sunburst is where it's at. Unfair advantage!!

[@jonwelge6782]

I prefer the burst. I have one like it that is scalloped. I just love the way the deeper tones resonate and fill my entire chest cavity. I had a non-scalloped D-18 for 10 years. It was very balanced and a great guitar. But nothing matches the resonance and depth of a Martin with scalloped bracing

[@RyanSandersGuitar]

The sunburst has a rosewood airy-ness to it - to my ears at least. Like I would have a very hard time picking out rosewood to that mahogany in a blind test. The natural guitar sounds straight up mahogany. My ears lie sometimes though lol

[@RyanSandersGuitar]

But the burst still lacks a little of the sparkle on the high strings in comparison to rosewood. I’d take em both for sure lol.

[@Bryankimsey]

Keep in mind the owner of this D-18 _also_ has the D-28 I did for him (see TQR D-28 video). So... he's got the bases covered. :)

[@51MontyPython]

Ryan Sanders That's exactly what I said!

[@davidwilson9940]

Dealing with guitar tone the way we do, If you are watching these videos on your phone, I suggest you use your head phones... You’ll find the sound of the guitars dramatically enhanced and much more in line with the true sound of the guitars in a room and what Bryan is hearing. Big difference!

[@mitzioden4926]

The one that's scalloped has a better tone - more full. The bass and mid ranges stand out.

[@joemcgraw5529]

I really like the scalloped guitars sound alot more full ,the other is nice but dosnt have the bass and mid response like the scalloped

[@Bryankimsey]

I generally do, too, but non scalloped can really cut in an ensemble situation.

[@redlinemando]

Great comparison video Bryan!!!!!!! Thanks for adding some more cross picking. I prefer the fullness & more lively response of the scalloped sunburst 18. I love how that guitar is settling in!!!!!!! I can tell that you can feel the notes when you're playing it. That's very important when you want to get the most from the instrument & the player. If I cannot feel an instrument, I have a hard time playing it well. I'm reminded of the old "Martha White" videos of Flatt & Scruggs & how Earl would often lay his head on that old D-18 while he played it. He was bonding with it. He was getting the most of it & it was getting the most out of him in return. The natural top 18 sounds a bit nasal to me, but it all comes down to the preference of the picker & what sounds sweet to their ear. To my ear, the sunburst 18 would be the perfect bluegrass guitar to fit both roles of lead & rhythm playing. In most band situations I've played in, it's better to have a guitar that can blend together all the different tones around it & as well, be able to cut the mix if needed. Tony Rice used to talk about a guitar being a blending instrument. Blending is very important in a band situation because it helps everyone focus & play together as a unit. It's how bands develop that tight punchy timing to their music. Each band is different & therefore each requires different voicings in their instruments to blend all the frequencies together. It's the same when your doing single track recording. If you have a guitar that's too heavy in it's bass response, the frequencies will usually clash with the bass itself & the listener will not be able to pick out the individual instruments. There's a fine line between a clean "blending" bass response & an "overbearing" or boomy bass response. I've learned this from personal experience & now I know, it's why a lot of professional guitarists use Mahogany or brighter, more focused guitars when they record. It makes everything easier on the mixing end.

[@BillyNoon]

Considering trying this out on one of mine, hinking of making a small sander that fits in the hand/fingers? A roller in a frame and he motor in the hand?

[@Bryankimsey]

See this... kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHulaZxvitalbM0

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

Ok Mr Bryan' oh and by the way I like the name' say for instance if I was to take a non scalloped braced guitar and drill a series of 5/16 or 3/8 holes along the length...... of the bracing' how do you think that would affect the tone and do you think it would jeopardize the structure of the guitar enough to not do it? I have a couple of old guitars laying around that I'm not really that much concerned about I've thought about trying this on. Your thoughts?

[@Bryankimsey]

No idea. Someone already does that... I can't remember who... that's basically a "bridge" type bracing. I'm wondering how you are going to physically drill the holes in a completed guitar. You should ask a structural engineer how it's going to collapse and where the stress risers might be.

[@BryanClark-gk6ie]

@@Bryankimsey I've done Auto body and frame work all my life' have worked alot with wood also' have a pretty good idea about stress points' I have several different types/sizes of dremel tools' figure I'd give it a try on a cheap laminated one see if makes a difference before moving on🤞 I'll let you know.

[@BlindTom61]

The non-scalloped Guitar has a nasally sound to my ears. The scallops Guitar has a prewar tone to me.

[@gettindrunker]

I want to scallop my ‘73 K. Yairi yw1200. I’m nervous to do so though. I have an Alvarez md60 that came forward shifted and scalloped and man it absolutely booms. The yairi sounds very tinnish compared, although one is mahogany and one is rosewood. I love the feeling of the scalloped bracing while playing

[@2628064379]

Excellent video. Do think one bracing system favors fingerstyle and one bracing system favors plectrum playing?

[@Bryankimsey]

I'm not a fingerpicker so I don't know. There's a huge range of styles in both camps and I don't know that I could say one or the other is even good for flatpicking. It's more like "what kind of sound do you want to hear?". Keep digging thru my videos, esp the "Comparison" and "Authentic" playlists and you'll find me liking rear-X bracing more and more for flatpicking while a lot of my listeners like the sound of forward-X.

[@2628064379]

Thank you. I'm a new subscriber and will be looking at your videos. @@Bryankimsey

[@rickeydenler4272]

Non scalloped much clearer than the scalloped guitar it would accompany a singer so very well without taking away from their performance this stuff is so subjective are you recording with it or are you playing live are you playing plugged in or unplugged

[@Bryankimsey]

Sure, but it makes people think about the whole "I must have a forward X, fully-scalloped guitar!". Meh... maybe. Maybe not. Like you said, depends.

[@kennethevans138]

I like the Blonde guitar better and I am surprised I usually prefer scalloped braces/ Let me add to this I made the comment when you were playing chords I had to come back and revise I like the lead work better on the sunburst I think I would scallop the blonde and keep the heavier strings

[@tommysixstring5094]

Scalloping adds bass thump but removes mids/treble brilliance. By definition, the sound is becoming unbalanced, with bass becoming overpowering and a brilliance in the sound being lost. Non-scalloped is easier to overdrive and less likely to belly the top. Scalloped bass can be woofy and overpowering - you can edit it out but you can EQ bass in for non-scalloped which is what recording artists generally do.

[@Bryankimsey]

A ton of generalizations there because "scalloped" isn't a cookie-cutter thing. On a lot of 70's I scallop just the X braces and not the tone bars. You get a little more bass but not the woof. I think you mean "non-scalloped is _harder_ to overdrive". You're talking recording situations and I'm focused more on the pure guitar in my hands.

[@tommysixstring5094]

@@Bryankimsey great reply and you are correct!

[@graborgrabor5660]

I prefer the non scalloped tone

[@George-pf8zb]

Both guitars in this video sound good. So did you scallop the natural finish one, or leave it?

[@Bryankimsey]

I don't remember.

[@jonpenland3798]

The. Sunburst seems a little more alive seems to be a touch more responsive they both are great I was thinking about a 1972 d28 and doing slot of more to it. Have you ever reviewed a breed love reviel guitars?

[@Bryankimsey]

No. No one has sent me one.

[@jonpenland3798]

Thanks for replying my friend I watch your videos all the time there great I think they help out God bless bud

[@rickeydenler2385]

No 2 guitars sound exactly a like how about a before and after scaloping with same strings same guitar !

[@Bryankimsey]

I have several videos of exactly that. Here's one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJKqeWqNpdCCjpo

[@Bryankimsey]

Here's another, with just the X-braces scalloped: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnq9qHWFZdN5faM

[@Bryankimsey]

Same guitar with the tone bars now scalloped: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ini0coWfi6iigNU

[@Bryankimsey]

Besides the above videos... you're missing the point. _I_ hear all of these guitars beforehand and when I say "this is a typical scalloped response", you have to trust me on that point. No, the guitars don't sound the same but the bass response, the feel, the attack... all of that... is typified by these two guitars. PLUS, there's so much about a scalloped or non-scalloped guitar that has nothing to do with sound. The feel is different- the attack (the speed from the pick to the sound), the responsiveness (how it responds to the pick), the way it kicks your ribs, the mid-range in your face (of the non-scalloped one), and so forth. The second point is simply for my customers to listen to the video and say... yeah, I like THAT one better. Then I know better what kind of sound they're after.

[@bradleybunk6463]

Please do not scallop that d18!

[@Bryankimsey]

It's neither your guitar nor my guitar and it was 4 years ago so I've forgotten but I don't think I did.