Martin 18-Style Dreadnought with Adirondack - Will It Sound Better??

[@markrobinson891]

Seems the best thing a guitar can be is “old.” Doesn’t hurt to be held by Quinton. I sold a D-18 in about 1975 for I think $400. If only...

[@DomTianoJr]

The 18 has always been a beast

[@rzh3443]

I have guitars in Adirondack , Sitka and Alpine. If you want to go at it aggressively with no breakdown, Adirondack is best. I like the alpine best for fingerpicking as it does not require the energy input to get the sound out. My experience is that the Adirondack tops I have at 8-10 years compare to the torrified top versions I’ve tried. Every guitar has its own sound profile and aging plan which makes it a wonderful instrument.

[@el34glo59]

True but every piece of wood is different. There's Addy that's just as good at finger-picking as any wood out there almost. Too many variables. Imo Addy is very versatile

[@707king]

It makes a difference, especially when aged. My D18GE from 2004 is prime example. With new strings it damn near sounds like a piano in my lap.

[@beverlymichael5830]

707king agree. I have had my 69 d18 since it was new. Unbelievable sound.

[@el34glo59]

👍👍

[@bekeneel]

Or buy one with thermal top that will be "aged" from the go :)

[@soofitnsexy]

not quite@@bekeneel

[@carlom.3737]

Great advice about having someone else play for you to hear it from out-front. I had started incorporating that practice a year ago and it's very revealing. Sometimes you can feel/hear a difference as a player, and it can seem fairly nuanced, but then standing out in front you realize "whoa, that's very audible as an audience member".

[@snuffyballparks6501]

My son has a 2001 Martin D-18 GE w/Adirondack Top. I have a 2008 Martin D-28 Marquis w/Adirondack top. We note that the guitars will not top out with aggressive play and both are very loud with a clear tone across all the strings. Both are fantastic guitars.

[@ManchurianCounterweight]

right on brother. I have 2023 CS D-18 Adi GE, and it's perfection (to me).

[@hobiecat901]

I went to buy a D-18 several years ago while in Houston, Texas. I played several they had at this Music store . A really Nice Music shop in League City, All that I played had a Different sound. They were close but different. I did pick out the one I liked and was very happy with it, But someone else may have liked one of the others. Like these Two Quinton is playing, Both sound Great.

[@BaktaBak3]

I like the Adi top. Never had one until my Martin CEO-7. LOVE IT...... It's just my "sound". :-)

[@supermarioxs1]

Sounds amazing!!!! Nothing like a D-18 ... Special to boot... 😉

[@joshuahendrickson4854]

A martin d18 is always going to sound good. However, to my ear, this guitar sounds a bit brighter then my standard d18 that I own with the sitca top. I wouldn't trade my d18 for one with an ADI top. When I bought my d18, I played it, but I also heard other people play it as well.

[@707king]

Adi sounds brighter when new.. takes longer to break in but sounds better once broken in.

[@el34glo59]

​@@707king Exactly. Always go brighter when new

[@G_Demolished]

The standard D18 is a helluva guitar. The Adirondack topped Martin I want is the CEO-7! Those things are magic.

[@ManchurianCounterweight]

They have very different tonal properties for sure. I own both a standard and a CS GE adi, it's a night and day difference. I prefer each guitar for doing different things. The standard sounds better as a strummer, with more of a boomy bass and a nice shimmer to the chords, the GE is a flat picking monster.

[@edfulginiti8798]

One day, y'all will be visited... y'all are on my bucket list!

[@ryantandy307]

gotta want it on a Martin, no fiddlin' around on these bad boys

[@briandesjardins728]

Moon spruce is my all time favorite top, plus it's down right gorgeous white glow, pair with a bhilwara, zebrano or koa and man.... it's unlike anything else.

[@lucassampaio9456]

Good morning everything is fine? I'm looking to buy a martin. I was already sure about getting a D-35, however, this week I watched a video showing the D-18 and a D-28, and I went crazy with the sound of the Martin D-18, as I thought it was beautiful, with a very striking bass. and a defined treble, I was amazed. As I said before, I was going to get the D-35 because I discovered that it was the specific one for the sound I like, and to play the songs I like: Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Beatles. But then I had doubts. Could you give me your opinion, and also what seems to help the difference between these two models. Thanks

[@lastofthemohicans1]

Sounds incredible.

[@cripmeister9104]

Eddie Rondack!

[@trollstjerne]

Just by listening to the first strum i can tell i like this a lot better that the regular D-18. Very nice guitar!

[@JesseDylanMusic]

I still want a standard Sitka d-18 vs this one comparison! Suppose these are all gone by now.

[@soofitnsexy]

its better!!

[@paulboden7850]

D 18 authentic....😍😍😍

[@beverlymichael5830]

I have a d18 37 authentic. Unbelievable sound.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

oooh. Need a video comparing the MV D-18 and MV HD-28!

[@Adam5D]

That's some good riffing at the end there!

[@texhaines9957]

I think the Adirondack top is better for ME to sing with, unless you use the aged tone/Vintage Tone System (torrefied) top...the torrefied Adirondack top would be the BEST. Thanks Quinton and Paul. And Adirondack tops do need a bit more energy to start them singing. I am liking Engelmann Spruce also.

[@startreker8591]

I knew some change had happened to my guild 30 year old spruce/rosewood …my kid had this ‘ that sounds like a piano’…I had a solid wood European made piano that I loved the first time I heard it…just like the USA made Guild(thinline model FCNT)

[@peterabbey1539]

This is similar to the old D-18GE with a MLO/PA taper neck. The thinner soundboard intrigues me.

[@wildwoodtop]

I cannot find this guitar matching that serial number (1971 Martin d-18 Sitka spruce 280017)

[@swillis3987]

I own two Martin’s with Sitka Spruce tops and they are really great guitars. However for my money like Quinton Adirondack is King!

[@phlipbs]

Quinton, if you could just stop by my house in Minnesota and play my old HD28 in front of me, I can then decide whether or not to upgrade to this wonderful MV D-18. : )

[@startreker8591]

After 30 years you’ll be able to hear the slight changes…but I hear my voice first or the ax or either ways or they just weld,that without the acoustic amps y the like…y if your ears are tired physically or mentally…

[@DJWRailroad]

Well, at least he turned away (6:14) from the fret board and the mic ;-)

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

Why are some D-18's called "18 Style" Dreadnoughts? They are D-18's, are they not?

[@TheAcousticLetter]

This is a designation used for Martin custom shop guitars....

[@billsmith3042]

after I bought my $600 addy top recording king RD-318, I sold my D-35. No contest.

[@soofitnsexy]

lmaoooooo

[@billsmith3042]

@@soofitnsexy lkguuuuuu

[@soofitnsexy]

u are hilarious...after playing the RK and many martins the RK is a beginer guitar@@billsmith3042

[@gregorycarpenter]

The sound is big, bold, and green, not ripe, sweet, and mature..... If I had to choose I would choose the latter....

[@hotlov72]

Just buy a Recording King Rd318 or RD328 save a few thousand bucks!!!

[@rickcar94]

When you buy a Martin guitar you're not just buying a guitar, you're buying history. And you can't put a price on that 😁

[@beverlymichael5830]

subisci absolutely agree 👍. Well said. Once you lay a Martin. There is nothing else that will come close. A Martin owner for life.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

Go play a regular D18. It will change your life if you love mellow sound. Getting one asap.

[@JesseDylanMusic]

Or you can buy a Martin and support ethical, eco-friendly, American manufacturing; instead of off-shore, outsourced manufacturing that takes advantage of cheap labor and low wages.

[@nalatreborrenoclaf9648]

@@beverlymichael5830 I've owned and sold a lowden o25 and a martin 00028 ecb Brazilian rosewood. I then bought a lakewood which i thought was better than both of them. Ive just recently bought an eastman ac108ce 14 fret cutaway with open headstock and antique finish. Solid adirondac top solid mahogany back and sides all handmade. Number 69 of only 200 made. All for £900. It sounds amazing plays beautifully with crazy sustain. Ive played loads of martins in guitar shops over the years and always came away disapionted apart from the om28v but even they now cost over 3 grand. They aren't worth the money.

[@DryeLint]

It's harder but it warms up quicker. It sounds broader but it's crisper at the same time. Sounds like a bunch of marketing bullshit expensive-gear-ism to me.

[@quintonking9960]

Hey DryeLint - Certainly appreciate how we so inarticulately describe what we're hearing - it's difficult to translate such subjective sensory input into generalized features. I feel the same way when I hear people discuss wines - sometimes I think I taste what they're describing, sometimes I wonder if it's just the power of suggestion, and sometimes I conclude they're just full of s#*t. At the end of the day, there's no substitute for playing/hearing for yourself, and at the very least, hope these videos provide a small sample for comparison . . . Thanks for watching!

[@el34glo59]

It's not bs.

[@235buz]

A little too much talking and not enough playing. Thanks.

[@soofitnsexy]

welcome to the show

[@Robert-e2h9z]

Too much talk not enough play 😊