Guitar of the Day: 1966 Martin D-18 | Norman's Rare Guitars

It's #FlatTopFriday with this beautiful guitar !!! Stay safe, be kind and hope you’re all well! Enjoy this new episode of #GuitarOfTheDay: ‪@mikelemmo‬playing a 1966 Martin D-18 available here at #NormansRareGuitars! For any questions you may have or price inquiries about this #MartinGuitar #D18 #AcousticGuitar please give us a call at 818-344-8300. So what do you guys think of this #MartinD18?
WEEKLY SHIRT GIVEAWAY, just make sure you COMMENT and SUBSCRIBE, and we'll randomly choose a winner every Tuesday!!!
IF YOU WON A SHIRT, please email us at [e-mail] TO SEND SHIRTS SIZE AND ADDRESS!
ALL GUITARS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE:
reverb.com/sho...
normansraregui...
EMAIL US AT: [e-mail]
GUITAR: 1966 Martin D-18
GUITARIST: Michael Lemmo
/ michaellemmo
CAMERA GIRL’S VOICE: Jen
/ manalophoto
ALL GUITARS & SHIRTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ONLINE:
reverb.com/sho...
normansraregui...
EMAIL US AT: [e-mail]
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
/ normansrareguitars
/ normansrareguitarscali
/ normansguitars
/ allguitarnetwork
SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW OUR NEW PODCAST!!! podcasts.apple...

[@decadentdevil]

With all of the madness in the world it is honestly a small blessing to be able to learn about these guitars.. and escape the rat race for a few minutes each day. Sending love to everyone 💕💕💕💕

[@rossdonnelly3951]

Couldn't agree more!!! 👏

[@markjohnson8352]

Nicely said ❤

[@Trillest561]

That “So Real” Jeff Buckley part was great

[@michaellaverty1844]

I love my D-18, I also have a HD-28 but the D-18 is my go to guitar. I just wish I could play it like Michael. Best wishes Norm and Family.

[@2shifty0]

Many healing vibes to Norm in hopes at a fast recovery, thanks for the great flatop vibes to help also Mike.

[@joemcgraw5529]

Nice midrange sound on that guitar would be good for recording ,Thinking of you Norm and pray for a full recovery we love you man !!

[@juliangeorge1722]

Such a perfectly balanced sounding acoustic. Beautiful playing as always

[@MattyK-USA]

1. We love you, Norm! 2. Great to have Brandon on, giving us the history and model specifics of the GOTD. 3. Play on, Mike.

[@howard5508]

Beautiful sounding guitar, Michael. Wish it was mine... some day. Norm glad to hear you are on the mend. Take care... we miss you

[@GYMusic]

Best wishes, NORM. Man.... that guitar sounds great. Even in the back room over the phone.

[@d-mack7053]

He said "OLD WOOD" and he is right. I've always said that/ felt that way. I've got an old 1977 Alvarez I found in a barn and brought it back to life. Thing sounds amazing pretty much like no other acoustic I've heard before. Rings with clarity from its real beautiful low end through its mids then up to its high end all without getting muddied together. Amazing sound,absolutely love this guitar. So glad I found and saved it........WHEW!!!!!!

[@Lalairu]

All nice guitars get better with time. Even the cheap ones 🤣 Alvarez is a nice brand I am glad you fixed that guitar. It's very sad to see how many instruments have been lost and could have been used after some set up and love.

[@d-mack7053]

@@Lalairu Thank you.You would love this guitar.

[@stevecroft5068]

So pleased that Norm is on the mend. Another superb FTF, love that D18.

[@chasedelao4722]

Keep getting better Norm! Prayers from Texas!

[@tomf429]

I have a '73 that I bought new for $325. It's had one neck reset, bridge re-glue, and new Grover tuners this year. I play it everyday. Best investment I ever made.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

I mean I love my Martin, but wow that D18 sounds sweet

[@davidfrank6664]

Thank you Michael!

[@davestelmaszewski3584]

Wow! That’s a beautiful sounding Martin.

[@davestelmaszewski3584]

I’m assuming this is a fake reply? Who uses telegram?

[@gryfandjane]

These are really exceptional guitars. I have a 1964 D-18, have owned it over 30 years, and am still nuts about it. Wishing you all the very best!

[@samperri9017]

This thing sounds so real!😉

[@brucelangsteiner4599]

Now my day is complete! After spending a day dealing with life’s trials and tribulations, I get to relax and watch Michael demo another classic quality guitar. It helps to ease the soul back in. Always wanted a Martin, but sadly, this is as close as I’ll get. Thanks so much for doing what you do. I’m looking forward to seeing Norm back in the shop. Get well sir.

[@865TN]

Brandon is a great presenter

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

In 2020 I bought a Gretche Rancher falcon Jumbo electric/Acoustic with Fishman electronics paid $725 for and it sounds and plays just as good as a Martin guitar

[@macgibbon]

My 2015 Mazda 3 gets much better fuel economy than a 1980 Ferrari 308GTS

[@QE2KC3AngelWindOGodRose4ACJedi]

I think different people tune to different acoustics sounds, my Martin cost the equivalent of about 1500 bucks today's dollar and I bought an aftermarket fishman rare earth. The old adage is true with guitars - find a good one keep hold of it.the Cat (channel) subscribe today if you like it. Sorry about plug.

[@QE2KC3AngelWindOGodRose4ACJedi]

@@macgibbon but would you be as happy parking in some places, swings and round abouts.

[@joestahl9102]

Thanks 4 update on Norm

[@ricardosotosan2279]

the D18 sounds huge

[@johnwashburn3793]

Prayers for Norm. Great playing on a beautiful guitar.

[@david25876]

Cool!

[@QE2KC3AngelWindOGodRose4ACJedi]

1966 a year of joy across the pond a Country proud. 2022 we are all about to Celebrate in Britain a throne 70 years young again. The Cat channel is celebrating in its own way, but as jb once said to Norm 'don't you want to talk about your guitar...Played a 66 d18 short scale sloted headstock had the same harmonic warmth but I really thought it shone as a fingerpicker - such an even tone beautiful for a studio, a bit battle worn. I was thinking of buying it until my friend pointed out my lack of spatial awareness condition and said it would last 5 minutes. My Martin was one of the last of its model to be made in the nazerath factory in early 2000s, before it was out sourced. The great thing about Martin is they put the same great neck on a guitar whereever in their range, and this is like my 00Om. The tone is still well defined - distinctive Martin in for example a song called 'forgive'(peace in our time) off my third album 'Richard the third'.Martin guitars are legendary and I support the Philadelphia Eagles. If they choose to sign the declaration of independence there it must be a fairly important place, right?. I had an idea that Chris Rock could work a kind of Bruce Lee segment into his live set where he fights off the audience, follow the way of the dragon so to speak. Movie morality's seized Hollywood. The Capitols been stormed. Rock and roll is enjoying its moment in the Shade...the blues is booming, but its time to pick up the pieces of the music we grew up with and like Cross - e TM Find the new SUBSCRIBE to the Cat today....or tomorrow if you're busy etc

[@mikemorrisonmusic]

Very happy to hear Norm is getting better!

[@RuthlessMojo]

Was literally listening to the Grace album just before this video. Synchronicity...

[@phillippurdy5893]

Micheal really made that guitar sing ! Proof that age makes a flat top guitar sound better and better. On another note, I think he and Uncle Larry have the same barber.

[@ackroid008]

get well Norm! all the best from a fan in Canada who hopes to visit the shop some day soon.

[@williamknell864]

Incredible sound! The soft corners on the headstock is a late post-war Martin trait.

[@josephwalus5389]

Miss Norm greatly. Never met him, never been to the shop but would like to. Love the video's.

[@musicfan8253]

“I love you, but I’m afraid to love you. Oh, that was so real…”. I say it every week, flat top Friday is my fave and that Buckley was 🔥 Thanks for the spec check, Brandon. And, thank you Michael for sharing your talents. It was “So Real”!

[@DNeil5]

Nice sounding guitar. Glad Norm is getting better. Yeah Norm!!

[@davywalter]

Love you guys. Love to Norm! That’s the guitar for meeee!

[@nicktrahan2906]

That was so real

[@dopagony9946]

this guitar is the BUSINESS.

[@ratsofftoya6775]

I like spec checks with Brandon. Cheeky Basketcase there.

[@rockturtleneck]

Beautiful guitar--get well soon Norm!

[@gordonbezanson4710]

My birth year. Send it my way will ya.

[@johnpandolfino8663]

Feel better see you soon Norm 🤠

[@dopagony9946]

odd song lemmo. still love you.

[@707Motorsports]

Brandon you need to talk about humidity and how guitars need it. Feed your wood…..but awesome spec check. Great sounding instrument, Lemmo tested its tone capabilities and it was spot on. Love acoustic guitars. Norms never disappoints….

[@stonebrakerstudio8238]

Hello Norm thinking about your quick recovery God bless you

[@3cardmonty602]

Hey Norm - Get well soon because they need you at the store. I saw Lemmo let a guy walk out with a 1943 D18 on a zero payment plan.

[@baeschler]

Love to Norm. Get well soon big guy.

[@markmartin3221]

The Martín sounds really good. I have two Martin guitars and your playing gives me a better reference how to use the mahogany one. The best sound to my ears though is that Norm’s feeling better, yay!!

[@djross2043]

I want that!!!!!

[@williamcarson1669]

Best wishes to norm Best things in life - (guitars) requiere life itselfe

[@CaptainRon513]

Get well, Norm...I miss seeing you on the You Tubes...God Bless

[@wildbilljr3369]

i like when mike plays back there i like looking at the guitar cases like that yellow one right behind mike looks very small. and skinny wonder what's in it. and the ones on the other side some of the cases are really big. what's is in side of them? by the way great photocage jen.

[@anonym7037]

7:10 what is he playing 🥺🥲

[@alexandereng9117]

Anyone know? I’d love to lean this

[@editorjuno]

I had a '67 with the exact same factory case. The top pulled up and split down the middle after a year or two and I brought back to Martin under warranty -- and they ruined it by inserting an ugly splint, removing the fretboard, and planing the neck to compensate for the bulge because they didn't believe in neck resets (not to mention adjustable truss rods or case humidifiers) back then. It always sounded good -- much like this one -- but it's playability was never the same after Martin's repair folks got their hands on it, and even after blowing $800 with a so-called "luthier" for that long-delayed neck reset, it still hadn't recovered enough of its playability and I eventually sold it.

[@tomf429]

Martin reset my D-18 neck and re-attached the bridge in 2018. They charged me $600 for the neck reset and covered the bridge under the, then, 45 year old warranty. I guess it depends on the spruce tree and the luthier. I'm sure they told you to never let the guitar dry out. A bulging top sounds like a dry, un-humidified guitar.

[@editorjuno]

@@tomf429 -- They never told me anything back in 1970. Nobody even talked about that issue 50+ years ago.

[@tomf429]

@@editorjuno No truss rod = neck reset down the line. Newer D-18’s have truss rods. I kept my D-18 at my beach house in a closet in it’s case, no humidity control for years. My top bulged and the bridge started pulling up until my son took it to Nazareth. A guitar shop told him it wasn’t worth fixing, so, this was his last try. I play in a bluegrass band and bought another guitar while the Martin was getting fixed. Took about 3 months. Fortunately, it came back in great shape. I use a noodle in it to keep it from drying out. I play my Chinese PRS when temps are extreme. But nothing sounds or feels as good as my 49-year-old D-18.

[@editorjuno]

@@tomf429 --- Just to be clear, the old no-truss rod Martins did have steel-reinforced necks, they just weren't adjustable because the reinforcement is in the form of T-shaped sled runner stock. The neck on mine was perfectly straight -- the problem was its bulged-out and split top, which cannot be remedied by a truss rod adjustment on a newer Martin. Since neck resets were simply not done in the Martin shop back then, the only way they could compensate for the bulge's effect was to remove the fretboard and plane the exposed top surface of the neck to change the effective neck angle.

[@tomf429]

@@editorjuno Understood. Mine was close to being unplayable due to drying out. You’re right. I never heard of humidity control back in 1973. They let it sit in their humidifier for a month before reseating the bridge due to the top bulging. It came back with no sign of a bulge. So I am very careful keeping the humidity stable, especially in the winter. The neck reset brought the action down and improved the intonation. I still couldn’t keep it in tune. So I recently replaced the tuners which really made a difference. I’ve tried some really expensive new guitars, and could never find the good bass string sound and volume I get from the old Martin.

[@Jasper_Yay636]

Pulling for you Boss

[@greenwave792]

sounded good when he started playing it at 6:14

[@RRStout]

It looks like a new nut and a new saddle. You didn't mention that. Also have those cracks been repaired/cleated ???

[@AlbPerNil]

JEFF BUCKLEY!

[@anewmaniphone]

Nice

[@angorwheels]

what's the song he plays at 6.14?

[@jamesbell8529]

Michael Try some "James Taylor" he picks Very Well.

[@mikacorp3251]

If you want to "hear" the sounds of this guitar go to 6'16''

[@Jrup2110]

Starting off with Jeff Buckley. Nice!!!

[@williamknell864]

Greenday outburst: 🤣🤣🤣

[@david25876]

What’s song at 6:14??

[@f1s2hg3]

I own cheap guitars but like Tom Petty sang even the losers get lucky sometimes right? 1967 SERENTO ACOUSTIC GUITAR NAMED AFTER THE GREAT SPANISH CITY WHERE THE GREATEST GUITARS EVER MADE CAME FROM THE JAPANESE WERE DETERMINED TO BE RESPECTED WHEN THEY MADE THIS GUITAR FOR me!

[@chrismaines1285]

The problem I’ve had with Martins is all of the ones I’ve played have had actions that hurt my fingers. The big Gibsons like Doves or Song writers have not felt this way.

[@phanhuyduc2395]

Most guitar need proper setup after purchase, unless it is a Taylor

[@patf2444]

3 times you said cool lol

[@mojopin78]

Jeff Buckley.... Oh man...

[@ARTUROSIERRALOPEZ]

No mojo

[@rareform6747]

Unless your sloppy , there's no need for Flattop pick guard !

[@BKMDano17]

You should tune it before you play it

[@peelarat9578]

My ears this guitar is off just a little. Maybe keep too dry an environment. Showed more.improvements when played some more open chords. .. just love my 1997 taylor 814c I wouldn't trade it for any vintage.wishing Norm a fast healthy recovery.

[@QE2KC3AngelWindOGodRose4ACJedi]

Speaking of positivity and breaking news - new single 'Get well soon Norm' on my fourth album - Norm might in retrospect describe it as 2022 - the norms charity record that never was but come on this could be the next heal the world, read description for more details if you know norms well on KZbin this songs for you like comment get confused spammed subscribe when you are just trying to close the window seriously donate to norms charity if you can and help people live a standard of life people should expect etc...all the things rewarding. My last song was partly inspired by Norm so I had to write one specially for the man... I just hope they read the comments even Agnesi gets a starring role in the song. Let's focus the energy and goodwill of norms community comradeship toward those less fortunate. I was almost homeless 3 times the odds are stacked against people until society takes responsibility and gives people their dignity and basic right to survive - an epidemic of those lost to synthetic opioids get well soon Norm...the world needs the man with the golden heart (awards etc)

[@reymondagpaoa6570]

Second!

[@mattrogers1946]

Hope you get that participation trophy you're fishing around here for.

[@johnsmith-bk4ps]

Tortoise guard?

[@davidfrank6664]

First!

[@mattrogers1946]

Seems like someone's hard up for a thumbs up....

[@djross2043]

Norm get back soon! Not the same w/o you.

[@groundleaf865]

Don’t get me wrong Brandon is very knowledgeable about guitars, but Lemmo knows guitars as well and I think that’s more than enough. Let’s leave Lemmo there alone, it’s all good.