Martin 00 Comparison : 00-18 vs 00-28

A tale of two Martin 00's from 2019, the Spruce/Mahogany 00-18, and the Spruce/Rosewood 00-28
00-18 Strumming 0:01 Flatpicking 1:22 Fingerpicking 2:29 Capo 4:33
00-28 Strumming 6:15 Flatpicking 7:31 Fingerpicking 9:00 Capo 11:03
Recorded with Shure KSM32, Focusrite Saffire Pro 40, Logic Pro, no additional processing.
Two guitars of the same shape, made in the same year, same strings; so this gives you a pretty good idea of the general differences between mahogany and rosewood.
IAN'S GIG BAG:
My Favorite Strings - amzn.to/2NeBoEG
Capo - amzn.to/2NZJaSD
Headstock Tuner - amzn.to/2LwM8fG
Soundhole Tuner - amzn.to/2Lu3qKu

[@ianmeadows6351]

00-18 Strumming 0:01 Flatpicking 1:22 Fingerpicking 2:29 Capo 4:33 00-28 Strumming 6:15 Flatpicking 7:31 Fingerpicking 9:00 Capo 11:03

[@gnomeirl]

Thanks for this. I prefer the 18. I've owned both the 00-18 and the 000-18 (both 1969 guitars), and I've played the 000-28. The realities of both lines are well-reproduced in this video and confirms my own experiences. The 18 sounds warmer and more balanced; the 18 feels lighter to the touch, more sensitive, than the 28, which sounds brighter and feels stiffer to play. If the reason for the sound difference between these guitars could be isolated to just woods used, I would assume then that mahogany is less dense, i.e., lighter, than rosewood. A cursory Google search confirms this assumption, which, given the tonal differences, is not surprising. To me, 18 sounds better than 28 and looks better, too; 28 looks too dressed up, I've always thought. Lucky for me, 18 is also less expensive.

[@runnningonempty]

WOW!!!..That00- 28 is powerful..A comparison that most wouldnt think of to a D28 would be in order for sure..

[@terrydavis8957]

Thank you for this, Ian. I am trying to decide between these two right now. Thanks for letting the instruments do all the “talking”.

[@mcdee56]

What did you decide?

[@terrydavis8957]

@@mcdee56 Frankly...I have always been a "mahogany guy" and I bought an 00-18, and loved it...but recently I had a chance to spend some time with a 00-28 and I was floored by the bass response and "bigness" of the tone. So, I am toying with the idea of trading my '18 on the '28. Ugh!! I love Martin guitars, and both of these little boxes punch way above their size.

[@Baci302]

I just am in love with the brilliance of the 000-18.

[@paultiplea]

00*

[@richardbenjamin775]

Thank you for posting. Older player for 50 years, but arthritis has got me selling my dreds. These two are what I’m looking at. Fine picking and thanks for helping to decide between the two. Really happy you posted this!,!

[@danidelfin5039]

Which one have you bought?

[@jaredcaldera]

18 is a nice mellow couch guitar. I would use the 28 for on stage and recording. Which is what I’ll do because I need both. Great comparison Ian!🙂

[@jasonmccarty9]

00-28 with capo is so sweet I got carried away. It's when you realize what a guitar can do to you. Various guitar sounds can do that but that one really took me there.

[@ianmeadows6351]

a good guitar is something special, no doubt.

[@supersalopian8530]

That 28 has some beautifully sweet trebles and just sounds fuller too me.

[@Gerthebard]

WOW MAN! That’s the first time I’ve truly heard the difference between rosewood and mahogany, thank you for the fact that I now understand 👍 I totally love your videos and your playing style is so suitable for showing what all these guitars are capable of delivering. Would you be able to do a comparison of Lowden V Avalon V Mcilroy, your style would certainly highlight the difference between these Irish boutique guitars. Thanks.

[@scottperry8162]

Wow two awesome sounding Martins!!

[@aquaboneus]

love both! for me the 18 sounds more honest, warm and folky and would be my first choice narrowly :) the 28 seems to have a bit more volume/energy and chime to me - we all hear different I guess...

[@ianmeadows6351]

yep, its all personal preference! one of the most interesting things about acoustic guitars...

[@arbogash1852]

'honest' is an interesting word to describe. it catches me the same way but i wouldn't have thought to put it into words.

[@lastofthemohicans1]

Both beautiful. I like the more resonant 28.

[@alexcorll90]

Rosewood is brighter and slightly louder, more of a shimmering high end, more complex, more overtones. Mahogany sounds woodier, deeper, more mid presence, and actually more clarity/note separation to me. I think the mahogany would be better for fingerstyle, while the rosewood is more powerful when strummed. But I personally prefer rosewood's trebles, very piano like, long sustain.

[@keatondamien9975]

Instablaster.

[@torontolarrivee7965]

Really captured the elusive difference in words. Share your preference but I see the place for Mahogany tone.

[@arielresma3471]

This is great! Thanks for the comparison video Ian, i love the eeriness of 18 though. Have a good time always

[@delplaya5]

Good word to describe it. I think the D18 sounds even more that way.

[@damonlove8]

The 00-18 is like “Had a bad day? grab that cold beer and let me help you get through it.” guitar. While the 00-28 is like “Im the best guitar tone money can buy.” guitar. both great sounding guitar in their right though. Thanks for the the awesome playing btw. 👏🏻

[@michaelashe5265]

I played a OO-28 today, I was blown away a small guitar could have that much tone! I've always been a dread guy but just bought a D-28 and this thing is a cannon and I'm realizing I want a couch guitar, especially living in an apartment with shared walls etc. I wish they had a OO-18 in stock for me to try. Tomorrow I'm going to a shop to try out a OOO-18. I do an equal amount of fingerpicking and strumming so I'm thinking the OOO might be the better choice for me. But dang I was liking the feel of that tiny guitar, especially with its big sound..

[@51Dss]

love both but my ears and my soul are happier with the 28

[@songyangbai9845]

I really like the sound of 0018. It is quite soft and warm. So beautiful!

[@mikestunes2365]

Strumming sounds better on the 00-18 to my ears for sure, but the fingerpicking sounds better on the 00-28. I guess I need both. :)

[@Xo-jb1rk]

Exactly. Mahogany needs the pick to bring out some high end. A bit muddy with bare fingers. Rosewood lacks the oomph of mids when strumming but the treble harmonics make a big difference when fingerpicking

[@oradormudo9569]

To me, 18 sounds darker. I hear more defined treble on the 28, but I think both sound amazing. If I had to buy one, I thing I'd go for the 28. Both are 24.9 scale. May be we would hear mor difference if we compare them with a 25.4 scale. Great video!

[@ianmeadows6351]

Thanks Luis. Be well

[@jimyang8824]

I'd be happy with any of the two :D

[@kalvino67]

I’d be happy with both! 😀

[@mjt5576]

Both sound great. My ears like the 28 a little bit more.

[@arbogash1852]

thanks for this! i go back and forth which one i wish i could get next. i like the way the 18 cleans up, for picking, but the 28 sounds more like what i assume a steel string guitar is all about.

[@ianmeadows6351]

Arbo, get both!!!! :D

[@arbogash1852]

Ian Meadows I will be lucky to get one. I have an HD-28. It gets a lot of luv.

[@johnoffutt898]

Both sound awesome. I would take the 00-28 and replace the bleached bone nut and saddle and plastic bridge pins. And install fossil walrus ivory nut and saddle and bridge pins. 00-28 would sound like Martin Om-42.

[@UAL320]

Always wondered the difference between how my guitars sound from the back (me playing) versus how they’d sound from the front. This is a great demo. I just got the 00-28 and GENERALLY from your demo (i.e., listening from the front) I prefer the sound of the -18. From the back the rosewood sounds a bit less defined and a maybe a bit muddier than the closest thing I have to compare it with, a mahogany Larrivee L-03. I love the woody projection on the ‘hog. Might have to get hold of an 00-18 soon to compare apples to apples!

[@mikeashe1701]

How are you liking the 00-28 these days? I played one for the first time today and was blown away by the tone such a small guitar could have! I was hard to pull the trigger on buying it though knowing there are 00-18's out there. I wish they had one in stock for me to try alongside it. Really loved that 00-28 though!

[@Gothhippie667]

I've played both.. a 1935 0018k and 1940? 0028. I like the 18 better, but they both were so beautiful to play It's like asking which supermodel you want to date.

[@kevinconville9258]

Good demo Ian, thanks! A bit of a mixed bag for me. 18 sounds better strummed and the 28 sounds better flat picked. They both sounded a little muddy (in this demo anyway) when fingerpicked and didn't really have a preference. I'd be happy with either, though I did buy a 00-18.

[@michaelashe5265]

The 18 has a more soothing, warm, gentle tone, while the 28 has more brightness and liveliness. The 28 looks better and is more expensive. If the 18 looked like the 28, it would be a no brainer, but I'm torn since there are so many factors at play, I'd have to play them both in person. If I bought one online just from watching youtube videos, I'd always wonder if I made the wrong choice. :(

[@wellens_artist]

I much prefer unadorned look of the 18 serie guitars to that of the 28!

[@BaktaBak3]

So glad I found your channel. Please keep posting . You're awesome ! I'm a Martin, ,Gibson, Guild , Fender , acoustic & electric gal . .......and own /play an Eastman Cello. :-)

[@jasonmorgan8101]

The mahogany in the 00-18 has that warm, soulful sound. The rosewood in the 00-28 has a loud, treble turned up too high sound; which is odd for me as I have the GPC-16e Rosewood and love the tones of that guitar. One of the best comparisons between different guitars I've seen. Will have to check out your other comparison videos.

[@FC-jp7ez]

Both sound great. My choice is the 28 for the resonance.

[@WhiteMannFro]

Hey man, love your videos. I was wondering if you could please do a comparison of the 000-15m and the 00-18? Im looking at getting an 18 and already have the 00015m, I was wondering if the smaller size of the 18 would be a big enough change from the 15m.failing that I’d love to hear your opinion. Thanks again

[@gregcon57]

Beautiful recordings of both. I’ll take the Hog, thank you. Is that Vandersteen I see behind your headstock?

[@muffkat]

I just asked the same thing Greg, lol, then saw your comment. If we both think it is, then I can only assume it is haha.

[@HelpfulMike]

Another fantastic video, thanks so much for doing these Ian. I have a question for you: You're stuck on a desert island for the rest of your life, but before you go you get to pick TWO guitars from the following four guitars. (If you could pick one that would be great, but I wouldn't want to put that kind of pressure on you, and I could see myself buying two of these four guitars) 00-18, 00-28, 000-18, 000-28

[@ianmeadows6351]

Good question Mike. If I had to pick 2 I'd go for the two 000's, mainly to Gove me more versatility since I do a lot of flatpicking. One would be the 000-18, just because I prefer mahogany for my playing style.

[@HelpfulMike]

@@ianmeadows6351 Thanks Ian, a few hours ago I ordered the 000-18! (I mentioned this in another comment on one of your original song videos) Looking forward to it. I was almost sure you'd pick the 000-18, a little surprised you didn't pick an 00 too, but I get your reasoning. The 000s are more versatile for sure, I tried them all in person, though not side by side unfortunately since it's impossible to find a store that has them all in stock!

[@willslater6245]

Both gorgeous, hard to call it. I have a 0018 and adore it, but that 28 sure sounds sweet. Which did you prefer in the room Ian? I play mainly fingerstyle and thumb pick on mine...

[@MrGuitarfreak132]

Are these for sure 00 and not 000 guitars? They look bigger. Man both sound great

[@mikeyankie9594]

Personally, I like the-28 better, but, both sound great...

[@tbeau6663]

0018 for fingerpicking and soloing, 0028 for strumming and self acompanying

[@christhompson5553]

Covered all bases and just ordered a 00-18 and 000-28. A little different from your video, but close…

[@muffkat]

Non-demo related question - Is that a Vandersteen speaker to your left? Yeah, I am into more than just guitars :) LOL, looking through the comments, I see someone else asked that as well, but not answered.

[@shivaskrivs2612]

muffkat 3A’s

[@muffkat]

@@shivaskrivs2612 I came verrrry close to buying a pair of those way back when :)

[@shivaskrivs2612]

Yep, I’ve had my Vandersteen 3A Signatures for over 15 years, still great loud speakers and just as good if not better than when I bought them new. Smooth, articulate and oh so balanced. Set them up right in a proper listening room and they’ll compete with anything out there under $10k.

[@runnningonempty]

I takes much more effort to finger pick my D28 then my J45..Is that the same thing here with these two?

[@sebiiau]

J45 is shorter scale than a D28. The new 00 series are all short scale like the J45.

[@supersalopian8530]

Could you please do a comparison between a 00-28 and a 00-28VS.

[@ianmeadows6351]

Ill see if I can get my hands on one

[@supersalopian8530]

@@ianmeadows6351 thanks Ian. Great comparisons btw, yours are the most comprehensive and representative on youtube.

[@mcdee56]

Ian, do you have a personal preference?

[@ianmeadows6351]

I'm more of a mahogany man! 18 for me.

[@liamgallagherrr]

I own both of these guitars..the 00-28 is a Steinway

[@vegaa.1645]

Do you like the 28 more?

[@vernonhoover1387]

Rosewood is warmer and more resonate.mahogany has a chime of its own.

[@delplaya5]

The mahogany is more up front, in your face punchy. The rosewood is more mellow and bassier. I feel like the rosewood brings out the metallic sound of the strings more and the mahogany brings out the wood more. I would take the 18. I don't know, I could be just talking out of my ass.

[@delplaya5]

@@marrzie467 You must live in Tudor Forest, Maryland.

[@OscarBenben]

I really think rosewood is gorgeous but it sounds like a toy to me

[@ryanbender2462]

A toy?? Explain please!!

[@hawaiirealmedia5610]

I always preferred mahogany after hearing about this. If it was good enough for George. . . . "George Martin used to like to record the Beatles using only all-mahogany guitars because he claimed that there would be no need to adjust the EQ on the guitars afterwards since it's so balanced coming out of the instrument."