Martin 000-18GE

2008 000-18GE with '35 Burst. Bought used. 1937 specs as already described except Waverly tuners.

This is an incredible sounding guitar. It has that startling, shake your head and grin like a kid kind of tone. I play folk, blues, rags and it handles all of them. Strumming, pattern picking, slides, hammer-ons, open-tuning all sound great. Its tone is big and open. Notes are well defined, woody, and clear. The bass is ringing and full, but well-matched to the mids and highs. The guitar has great dynamic range. Whether played softly or loudly it has presence and clarity.

Excellent fit and finish. Flawless construction, Beautiful sunburst, great woods. The set-up is perfect. Low action, no relief, just how I like it. The neck and width are perfect for me. The modified V gives me a nice sold grip, but its easy to fret with the thumb. My only complaint about the neck is the finish. I generally like satin finished necks because they wear to a really smooth gloss that doesn't stick. This one seems to not wear as fast which means that satin roughness is sticking around longer than usual. I also wish it had a gloss finish on the headstock. Its a nice piece of Brazilian veneer that just looks dull and dark. Otherwise its a beautiful guitar with a great setup

This guitar sounds and plays too good to leave home. Its solid. The waverly tuners are a plus. The only thing is that the end-pin doesn't really fit. First time I put a strap on it, when I went to take the guitar off the endpin dropped out. I always check it when I put the strap on, but it really should fit better.

N/A

I've been playing for fifty years and this is one of the best guitars I've owned or played. If this is typical of the Martin GE line then Martin is probably making some of its best guitars since the other Golden Era. My other guitars include a Martin 00-18 Geoff Muldaur,and a Goodall Traditional 000 in Honduran Rosewood. Both are 12 fret and have Adirondack tops and are extraordinary guitars. The 000-18GE is a different guitar, but just as good. I love its tone and playability and am kind of amazed a guitar this good was available. I heard good things about the 000-18GE's and wanted a 14 fret guitar to switch of with the 12 fretters. I'm really glad I got it.

2007 000-18 Golden Era from Martin bought new. In-depth features and specs are available from Martin's website, and the other reviewers did a good job covering this topic. Gorgeous Adirondack spruce top, fossilized ivory nut and saddle, scalloped old-style Adi bracing, are a few subtle, yet expensive and tone-enhancing, features.

Full, balanced sound that's really mature to my ear. Maybe it's the Adi top. Really shines playing fingerstyle blues, but can handle medium strumming. Great guitar for recording - really focused, not quite as "big" sonically as my HD28. This guitar is amazing in that it doesn't lose clarity when you really dig-in, it just gets louder and louder. I was a little leary of buying a 'hog 000 - I've always loved RW for back and sides - but this thing sounds amazing.

Hands down the best playing acoustic I've played. The action was perfect for fingerstyle, but I had to add a little relief to accommodate medium strumming. I do a lot of flatpicking solos, and love the silky feel of the short-scale neck. All the woods are flawless. The pickguard at the point closest to the fingerboard is pulling up a little. Otherwise, this thing is flawless. Should be given the cost, however.

A very light guitar, but I think it should hold up well in typical Martin fashion.

I'm going to contact Martin about the pickguard, but I've had no previous experience with them.

I've been playing 23 years, and this might be my favorite guitar. I've owned/currently own a D35, HD28, Taylor 714CE, various Seagulls, a really nice-for-the-money Epi Masterbilt. I really wanted to like the 714ce, but the playability just wasn't there (weird, huh? that's what I get for buying over the internet) and there was something "plastic-y" about its tone. I love my HD28 for that dread sound, but if I could only keep one, it would be the 000-18GE. Not bad for buying it blind through Ebay!

000-18GE stands for Golden Era. Built with same specs as a `37 Martin except for the truss rod addition. Outstanding woods and materials. Adirondack Spruce top w/ Mahogany sides and back, solid Mahogany neck. 24.9 in. short scale. Fossilized Ivory saddle and nut. BRW cap on headstock. A players guitar w/ no bling. Excellent Gotoh open gear tuners. Got mine in 2006. Forward shifted 1/4 in. scalloped X bracing allows the top to move producing amazing tone.

This is where this guitar shines. Balanced, loudest 000 I`ve ever played. The combination of Mahogany and Adirondack Spruce produce a lush, rich in overtones yet crisp tone. I play finger style Blues,Jazz,and Pop/Rock. This guitar inspires me. In 45 years of acoustic guitar playing, this is the best sound I`ve heard. The sound is limited only by your playing ability.

The woods quality is just excellent. as is the workmanship. Action from the factory was good. a bit high but easy fix. Overall very good workmanship. It`s beauty is in it`s simple execution of function.

So far .. so good.

Never contacted Martin.

I`ve been playing over 45 years and I play every day. My only regret is I did not have this guitar earlier in my life. Stolen... lost I would get another. Compared to the MANY acoustics I`ve owned over the years Larrivee, Gibson, other Martins the 000-18 GE is simply the best guitar I have ever held. This guitar inspires me, that`s rare.

Basic pre-war inspired features; Adirondack top, mahogany sides and back; vintage open-geared tuners; 1 3/4" v-shaped neck. Great-looking plane-jane.

One of the top 10 guitars I've played that were less tha 1 yr. old (Mine's a 2006). Very woody, but enough warmth for recording, and beautifully balanced. Sounds like it's at least 15 yrs. older than it is.

Setup was on the high side, which is good, because the bridge saddle is glued-in. I lowered the action to about 3/32" at the low E 12th fret, and it plays beautifully.
Finish is flawless, and the wood is perfect.

Feels solid for a newer model in the 18 series, which tend to be underbuilt. I'm careful with it, as I try to be with all acoustic guitars. I feel confident that if it was banged fairly well, it would get a dent, but would be pretty sturdy.

I have never dealt with the Martin warranty folks, but this one is used, so N/A.

35+ years of professional playing, and I've owned over 100 guitars - Guilds, Martins, Larrivees, Gibsons, Taylors, etc.
This is one of the best Martins I've ever owned. Guitars are like foster children in my home; they come and go, but this one'll probably stay awhile. I let go of an OM-28V (another great guitar) to get this one, and I'd get another if it disappeared.

000 size, solid Adirondack spruce Top, Mahogany back and sides, open back Gotoh nickel tuners, Nitro finish, vintage beveled pick guard, satin neck with modified V shape, 1/4 inch Adirondack scalloped bracing, 24.9 scale length. Built to the specs of the 1937 Model.

This 000 is louder than any I have played. It was the first small body that did not make me miss my dreanaught. I am strummer, playing mostly folk, rock and singer/songwriter type songs. This guitar has an articulate voice, balanced across all six strings and up the neck. Responds well to a capo. I play a couple of songs at a higher register with the capo at the 7th fret, this guitar sustains its volume even when working that high. The only thing I won't use it for is heavier strumming, for that I default to my Gibson Hummingbird or J45.

I have always tried to like Martins, but never have before. Seems like everytime I would pick one up on a store, I had to fight with it because of the stiff set-up. My 000-18 was a clear exception. High performance, silky action not typical for a Martin with factory set-up. It came with a light gauge string, probably due to the light bracing. The wood is beautiful and I could not find any flaws.

I would be a little weary of taking this guitar to anything but a coffee house gig. It is very light. It is built extremley well and stays in tune like a dream, but not a guitar I would put in harms way.

I have not had any direct interaction with Martin. Nicholson Music in Folsom, Ca. was outstanding in their sevice.

I went into the store expecting to walk out with more of a boutique guitar, never thinking that I would find a Martin I liked, especially at this price. This guitar blew me away. It had attention to detail equal to any small builder (Santa Cruz, Collings, Bourgeois) that I tried. I nver though I wouold be saying this about this brand.

The size and voice of this guitar have made it my new living room favorite. Perfect for at home songwriting. I can't wait to take it out for some solo perfoemances.

New 2006, 000-18GE made by the venerable CFMartin & Co. Man, can these people build guitars! The adirondack spruce top is sporting 1/4" scalloped adironack spruce high "X" bracing. It has the most beautiful Amberburst finish I have ever seen, period. I know that of which i speak, as I either presently own, or have owned, Collings and Bourgeois burst tops. They are stunning, especially the Collings. This amberburst is the best. Nice tortoise binding around the top and back. Fossil Ivory for the nut, saddle and pins. Ebony for the bridge and fretboard. Beautiful mahogany back and sides, with Brazilian overlay on the headstock. Genuine mahogany soft "V" neck. Great Gotoh open back vintage tuners. Short scale wonder! Comes a great Geib style case with the worlds most comfortable handle! Keep up the great work, guys!

Well, this is what it's all about! Straight out of the case, this guitar impressed me with its vibe, then when I strummed the first chord, the whole thing vibrated beneath me. The tone was exquisite. Balanced, rich, full tone that just spoke to me in volumes. I went up and down the fretboard and the intonation was right on. The guitar is a gem, period. It sounds great fingerstyle, strummed, and plucked. Other than bashing out heavy chorded strumming, she is up to whatever task I can give her. One of the best sounding guitars I have ever had the pleasure to own. The variety of tone is limited only by my playing style. This is a "go to" guitar, in my book. Wonderful woody sound. How do they do it?!

My Favorite Guitars, from Naples Florida, sent me this guitar, all set up and ready to play. Action is perfect for me. The fit and finish are the best I have seen. The inside is clean and perfectly executed bracing and finish.

Sure it will stand live playing, what other kind of playing is there? Dead playing sounds terminal! I would not hesitate to gig with it, that's what it' there for. Martin's are built for the long haul.

Martin are not too swift on the email returns. Although my last email was responded to a bit faster. Jon Garon at My Favorite Guitars is a swell guy and offers superior service. Check him out! I will give an "8", but that's mostly for Jon, Martin support stops me from making it a "10".

I have been playing for 35 years. I own many guitars, most of my acoustic guitars are, and have been, Martin. I like their guitars. If lost or stolen, I would ask Jon for another. I love everything about it. I have not said that about a guitar in some time. My favorite "feature" has to be the finish, but I play it for its comfort and sound, build quality.