Demo of 2022 Martin Custom Shop D-18 Authentic VTS Aged, the first of its kind

[@sonofprovence]

This is the video that convinced me to buy the same Martin. I sold my beautiful Martin D-42 custom Adirondack/Guatemalan rosewood for this and have had not regret whatsoever. I've owned so many Martins in my lifetime. This one, is the best-sounding one I ever ever had.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

I truly believe they are making the best guitars now that they ever have. Of course only time will tell if I am right in my beliefs, but I would say you made a very solid purchase, and I’m glad to hear you are happy with it.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

Good choice, but I keep my AdiMadi CS 21 -11 Dreadnought.

[@luvbgrass]

Buddy of mine just bought one of these. I haven't seen it yet. He sounds pretty happy. Old feller that used to play fiddle in our gospel band was a really good fiddler. He carried two fiddles every where we went in a double fiddle case. One of them stayed tuned to BF. He had no problem really playing a standard tuning in BF. When he passed about 6 years ago his wife brought those two fiddles to me and said he had wanted me to have them. I was really touched by that. I still haven't learned to play fiddle as of yet. Guess I need to learn something on them. It would make her happy to hear them again i know. EE

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@luvbgrass yeah these are good man, I’m actually probably slightly partial to the 28s, but that will probably be in reverse next week lol. I picked up a fiddle the other day for the first time and who knows how long, it sure ain’t like riding a bicycle lol. 😂

[@luvbgrass]

@@ShawnBrockMusic 😂. I hear ya brother.

[@kennethmccowen]

This is the first time my tablet has let comment. I wish that I could afford that guitar. It would take my playing to the next level. I love your channel.

[@travisbrookshire4745]

I always enjoy your playing and your demos and details! You do a great job of making music!!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Thank you very much Travis! That means the world to me man. I sure appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment to me.

[@Joe-m6p6b]

Fantastico!

[@davidharris6378]

Sounds Great;Shawn you do a marvelous job demoing this Martin ‼👍

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

David, I sure appreciate it man. We do what we can lol. Thanks for taking the time to watch sir!

[@ServantofChrist81]

Tennessee Waltz!! Yes !! My Dad and I use to play that all the time !! Patti Page !!! ❤❤❤

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

You got to love it when a song can bring back a memory, especially a memory like that. I appreciate you watching my friend!

[@derekbertman9106]

Great demo Shawn, like always! Can't wait to see how much ol' Dale is going to mark this one up!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

😂🤣😂 lol you are a site Sir. I needed that laugh! That is a good box, but out of my price range. I don’t know if Dale will post it or not.

[@chrislombardi8870]

Great demo Shawn! Thank you. You do such a great job brother. I always learn something whenever I watch you.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Chris, you are too kind my brother! I sure appreciate it man, and by watching me, I hope you learn what not to do lol. 🤠

[@chrislombardi8870]

@@ShawnBrockMusic lol. Thanks Shawn. You are a fantastic player brother....keep gettin it!!

[@chrislombardi8870]

Hey Shawn...what's the name of the piece of music you are playing when you say bf flat? Thanks man.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@chrislombardi8870 that is an interesting one man. It is my own arrangement on an old folk tune called the cuckoo bird. The song has lyrics, and like many other things, I had planned to record it at some time, if some time ever comes lol.

[@chrislombardi8870]

@@ShawnBrockMusic I'd love to hear the full arrangement. It's very cool!! I'm learning to play it.....and I'm like.....what's next in the progression.....lol

[@Dang...]

Nice demo, the guitar sounds great and you really play so strong. "Somebody was drunk at the Plek line." Hahaha!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Thanks much Dan :)

[@joelcrow]

Total dream guitar... $9,000 well spent!!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

It is a nice instrument indeed!

[@markjohnson6485]

Nice video I have this exact guitar love mine good playing as well

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Those are really nice instruments, and you don’t have to spend $100,000 to get them! I sure appreciate you watching.

[@matthewwarford3077]

Dale knows how to pick them!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

He sure has good taste in them, I know that! I don’t know how I could ever live with so many great guitars around me LOL. 😂

[@coolhandluke2310]

Beautiful axe. Great picking 👏🇨🇦

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Man I sure appreciate you watching, and your kind words. I have been hoping another one of these would float through lol, I sure enjoyed playing this one.

[@gmwaller]

I was wondering where that "B flat!" came from, I knew there had to be a story. That guitar sounds great all the way up the neck!

[@skoffco]

I didn’t care much for it until you capped it up and oh man😜

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

I hear you LOL. I was much the same way in person. Man it really will haul the mail with a capo.

[@redlinemando]

Great sounding guitar!!!!!!! Nice & balanced tone for days!!!!!!! Keep an eye on your FB. I've got a friend that's going to message you about a guitar.

[@thepokerpilotapp]

I was going to send you this clip.

[@redlinemando]

@@thepokerpilotapp I've known Shawn since I was 18. We've been band mates on a few occasions.

[@jeffw468]

Very nice video! Are 18 authentics made in the custom shop? I have one and the block just has a serial number and D18 authentic written on it. My other custom shop guitars actually say “custom shop” on the block. Thanks for a great demonstration.

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

They just tried to confuse us on this my friend. No, and authentic isn’t necessarily made in the custom shop; however when they get ready to release new authentic, they usually start with a short run, which is built in the custom shop. These were the predecessor to the new Authentic D-18s, which came out about six months later.

[@toneman335]

Do you think that the "VTS" top makes a significant difference?

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

I don’t care much for VTS or any other baking process. I would say that Martin is getting a more natural sound out of the process they use than most other companies are, but still I’d prefer non-baked specimens.

[@Christ-is-King-]

What capo are using if you don’t mind sharing?! Thanks

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@Christ-is-King- I normally use an Elliott Elite capo. Sometimes when I get an instrument that has an odd radius or narrow spacing, I use a Victor. It is also great, even though it only set me back about $16, and I have used it for about 12 years. The last one that I had, I used about as long, and somehow lost it lol. Can’t say the same for the Elliott, it set me back a little more 😀

[@Christ-is-King-]

@@ShawnBrockMusic Thank you. I really appreciate you and your channel!

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@Christ-is-King- you’re very welcome my friend. I appreciate the positive sentiments.

[@clobbersnoggin623]

What strings are those? Sound great

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

Those are D’Addario XS phosphor bronze medium. Thank you for watching and for the kind words.

[@tommynichols4090]

Does it have the T bar truss rod?

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

No it doesn’t, it has the 5 MM like Martin started using in the new EIR authentics.

[@MrOddmanout1]

This 37 or 39?

[@ShawnBrockMusic]

@@MrOddmanout1 37

[@toneman335]

FYI...the voice sound level in this video, for your voice, is too low as it's difficult to hear you talk.