How does Recording King hold up against Martin? Vintage Martin 000-18 vs a Recording King RO-318

[@chumdinger_official]

I’ve been playing a cheap Alvarez for 20 years.. I don’t have a lot of money. No one has ever come up to me and told me my guitar sounds cheap.. Good strings, slight set up and good technique and you’re just fine.. I’d l love to have a Martin 000-15 but don’t need it and most of your audience will never know the difference.. Play within your budget. Lots of options out there. Great to the point video. (This is not meant to be hateful)

[@mikedovsky]

Only the guitar geeks care about the guitar. Everyone else enjoys the playing.

[@Veritas84Aequitas]

Both sound good but that Martin is just unreal

[@bunkerman99]

Wow the RK has not even began to open up yet. 30 years from now they will be highly sought after classics.

[@concernednetizen975]

Ahhh....the quiet nuances of a Martin... just touches the soul...

[@brbadge]

It didn't touch MY soul! It didn't sound like I think a Martin should. Just because it's old, doesn't always mean it's good.

[@SiggyMe]

There was no mentioned if the both guitars where strung the same way. So any who. Although the call goes to the Martin I have to say for the price difference which is at least 15 times more the Recording King puts in a more than respectable second. Considering the price difference I probably could live with the Recording King especially give the top a few years to break in. Nice demo playing. Just my opinion.

[@andyr4611]

A fairer comparison would have been between the Recording King and a new Martin 00018, 55 years of aging is a big deal to a guitar's sound.

[@12babyapes59]

Martin wood is 70 years old dry. should compare new 000 18

[@neilwebster1500]

Vintage all the way!!

[@scottfishkind5335]

Not a Martin owner, fan nor hater (I’m a Furch owner) but no comparison, the Martin is far superior listening with decent headphones

[@StuartThompson-d1i]

I’m a Furch owner too. The best!

The String gauge is the same? The Martin sounds much brighter. Love your playing.

[@DanFrechette]

Feel matters too

[@CliffRoling]

I have a recording king I would never sell, some sound great while others sound terrible

[@235buz]

I just purchased the RO328 rosewood b/s addy top. It competes well with my Martin D18.

[@CliffRoling]

@@TripTime360 it’s an older small bodied one that has a Martin style headstock, I can’t think of the model of top my head

[@kensternberg3780]

Definitely the old Martin. It has clarity on every note. The RK sounds one dimensional and a bit muted.

[@stevenqirkle]

Really no comparison here, the Martin sounds way better.

[@RobertEMason]

I think that's a matter of opinion and age of the guitars. I've owned both and the Recording King held its own

[@kimlombardy3393]

I had a Recording King and now have Martin D18 and there is no comparison, Martin is in a different league. Just save up a little and get a Martin you will be happier 😊

[@appleturnover519]

Too bad this comparison is between a new guitar and an old guitar. It would have been more informative to do this comparo using new instruments.

[@kinnjohn]

No contest..

[@ryanj6862]

You can tell the King is built heavier.

[@alexandercluster3003]

It’s a new guitar vs a old one number 1. Number two this vintage guitar thing is out of control. The audience of chumps at a typical gig has no clue and could also care less. That Martin is NOT worth the 100k price tag. It’s all these dorks that cream all over it that make it worth that much. Not the actual instrument. It’s not worlds above the “cheap” gutiar. People have more money then brains that’s all.

[@renmad0078]

The recording king seems not in tune at all...

[@lawrencerasmus]

I have a RK RD328, just ok, nothing special and not good workmanship, run on sound hole and bad sanding spot on the face

[@leonstancliff7218]

Guitars are like spouses. If you marry an ugly spouse expect to have ugly kids. If you marry "good enough for the money" only half your kids will be ugly, if you are lucky. If you are willing to accept second rate sound expect to present a second rate performance. But don't worry, people will only notice it half the time, you hope.

[@chumdinger_official]

No one in the audience ever leaves a show and says, “man, that guitar sure sounded cheap”. And we both know it…

[@G_Demolished]

@@chumdinger_officialIf you’re going by the ears of the average audience you should just get a Hello Kitty guitar. These comparisons are for people who know better.

[@cfsnyder]

Wait 76 years and then compare.