Martin D-18VM

Not many features to speak of- This is your standard 2000 Martin D-18V, made in Nazareth PA and shipped to the local guitar shop. It smells like Mahogany, so I guess that's what it's made of, and boy does it sound like it too. The D-18 is pretty much the most Spartan looking Martin high end dreadnought, but it's got a simple beauty to it. They give these guitars Vintage Martin Tuners (which looks a bit like Waverly's, but don't be fooled cause they don't work nearly as well). The aging toner on the spruce top gives a nice "aged" look to this box, and the people at the shop must have gotten a bit carried away the stain, because there are a couple extra dark splotches on it which add character. The V shaped neck is an interesting change to the low profile standard neck. The only complaint I have is with the glued in "vintage" saddle, which makes replacing it with a bone saddle or putting an undersaddle pickup in a chore. I added a hideous looking Fishman Rare Earth pickup to this guitar in the shop- but what can you do? It came with a nice sexy Gieb style case which actually made me angry that my D-42, which cost twice as much as this guitar, came in a Thermoplastic Martin case. Oh well.

I already have two Martin Dreadnoughts- a D-35 and a D-42, both made in 1998. My local guitar shop has a nice Martin room which I enter every time I come in to buy stings. I would keep coming to this particular D-18v for a couple months, wondering if it was just me, or was this thing making those D-18GE's and other guitars of a higher price tag seem a little inadequate? I resisted for 2 months, but finally came in one day to get this monster. I play every type of music imaginable, and I really have been heavily moving towards folk and flatpicking because of this guitar. It's amazingly different from my two other Martins, in that it's woody and focused in a completely different way from the Rosewood dreads sitting in my studio. The string definition is laughably perfect, bellowing out lead lines while maintaining a perfect integrity when being asked to growl out some percussive rhythm playing. These things are reknowned for their bluegrass affinity, but make no mistake about it, you can fingerpick or folk strum with absolutely amazing results. What it comes down to is that I like the sound- the bass is not like a rosewood D-28, but more subtle and rolling; the mids are clear and crisp, and seem to emerge from nowhere; the highs are immaculate and well defined but not crunchy or harsh. Conslusion: it sounds really, uh, good. Damn good.

Played like a dream at the shop, and now it still does. The only complaint I have with this box is that the tuners are sub-par. I mean, they look nice and act like they want to be Waverly's, but alas, they fall well short. I imagine I'll replace them soon enough (I've already Waverly'd my D-35- I recommend it)- they'll do the job for now. I'd also like Martin to make the saddle removable for reasons stated above. It's always nice to have the option to slip the plastic out and put in bone. FQMS in Louisville orders their V's from martin without these saddles- they add their own bridge and saddle. I would have opted for this if I was planning on getting one, but since I bought this guitar cause it spoke to me, I guess I'll take the good with the bad.

This is a martin, and in my other reviews, I always praise these guitars for being very durable. I see no exception here, though the light weight of the mahogany makes me be a little more ginger with this one than some of my other guitars. Oh, and gigging without a backup is not recommended. In fact, I use this guitar as my backup to my D-35....I break a lot of strings.

Martin is good on customer support. I have the standard lifetime limited warranty.

Entering my 8th year of being a guitar player, and I have a guitar for every year. I own 3 martin dreads- a D-42, D-35 and this one, a Colling OM, and assorted other instruments. This is by far the most unnecessary in my collection....but is also the most captivating. I liked the other guitars that I bought, but I loved this, and charged up my credit card because I had to have the tone of this guitar in particular. If it were stolen or lost, I'd not pursue another Martin D-18v immediately, because this one is special, and I like experimenting with different builders. I compared it with 23 other high end Martins in the store, and it won every contest. This is my first venture into the world of Mahogany, and I'm impressed with its durability in sound. It's a great addition to my arsonal, and it's a great living room guitar. I've also recorded it with great results. In a day and age when people are coveting 1940's Martins for thousands of dollars, Martin is quietly producing some more modern day masterpieces like this. I've played some 1930's D-18's and I must say, it's difficult sometimes to really tell a major difference between those and my 2000 D-18v. If you want a 50-year old sounding guitar and want to save $8000, get out to your dealer and play around with some of these Martin Vintage instruments. Buy one and then start breaking it in. I hate to think what this guitar will sound like when it really opens up.

This is a '99 D-18V purchased new in Sept. '03. Same features as noted above. A very beautiful guitar, cunningly simple to look at but oh, my, what craftsmanship and tone. Tortise pickgard and banding are beautiful as are the abalone dots in the ebony fretboard. Didn't think much of the open tuners at first but the 'butterbeans' are growin' on me and I'm beginning to really like 'em. V-style neck is very comfortable to play for a couple of hours but out of the box needed a setup to lower strings. Pick her up tonight from the setup and I can't wait to get back to her..... A 9 only because of its basic simplicity.

Like they said above and I'm sure this thing passed through Nazareth, PA for a serial # but came directly from the hand of the Holy One. I.e.,MacCartney's "Something" (A, Amaj7, A7, D, B7, Em....) makes my wife's eyes glisten like they did when we first started dating many years ago (smile..) and puts a red cast on her cheeks.... It got better from there.... This guitar makes sounds like you've never heard and I highly recommend Elixirs'. All Martin! It will indeed give any D-28V or D-28 or D-18 a lesson on what a truly great guitar should sound like. I originally went to purchase a D-28 played several, picked this thing up and parted with the cash. Got the idea????

Factory set up was easy to play but high for my tastes. I Travis Pick, flatpick, etc. and I seemed to get hung up in the strings so she's in for a setup. Martin Craftsmanship, simple, cunningly simple, guitar to glance at but the tastefull appointments including the tortise banding and superb sitka top and georgous mahogony sides and back make it a work of art. The Ebony bridge and fretboard with the tortise pickgard are georgous.

It's a Martin....

It's a Martin....

I wanted a D-28 as I said above...picked this D-18V up and the sound could only come from the heavens. Superb; you've got to play one of these things. Nothing any of us could write will adequately describe the tones that eminate from this guitar. See for yourself. I believe that the open tuners made the dummys bypass this guitar and she waited for me for almost 5 years and is now more than amply rewarding me for taking her home new. Worth twice the MSRP price!
Fortunate enough to find a guitar shop/Martin dealer who cares for his stuff and actually plays himself; had a tear in his eye when he put her in the case for me.... Tra-la, tap-dance....I like it.

i have just taken a D-18vm as my new wife and she loves me, she proves it everytime i play jurusalem ridge or goldrush she is the finest flatpickin thing i have come across,i have had a mossman southwind a santacruz and a couple other martins and other makes but this is the guitar i have been looking for and that has only been about 36 years oh well its always martin to take the lead huh?

guitar mikes great with AKG c1000s and acoustically will give any rosewood vintage series a good run.
sound is whatever you wish to acheive at the time, sweet fingerpicker, killer flatpick, and soothing rythym yet you can tear into any western swing or jazz number with the perfect sound

a plethera of medulary rays adorn the top of this guitar and the finish is sucked up nicely into the tight grain top.i love the action and have not had to change it. the neck is very nice to fondle for hours and it is made like a tank

this is the guitar..........................

its a martin

i have been playing guitar for 34 years and also play banjo,fiddle.mandolin,dobro and the fool.

Standard D18 Vintage features. Solid woods Sitka Spruce and Mahogany. Ebony fretboard and bridge, forward shifted 5/16" scalloped braces. Squared head stock Vintage Waverly look-a-likes. Could use real Waverly's. And would like a bone nut and saddle.

Very warm sound, good low end and LOUD. It really cuts. Sometimes some overtones when you really lay into it. Wonderful bluegrass flatpicker.

Very clean. I purchased it used and this guitar was taken care of. Set up is perfect low enough to play easy with no buzzing. Very well made guitar. This is a 1997 and the neck is nearly perfectly straight. Excellent woods used tight grain on top pretty mahogany covered with a nice gloss finish that is not to thick.

It looks nearly new after three years.

Love It!

This is Martin's reissue of a prewar D-18. Tight-grained spruce top, mahogany back and sides. Prewar features such as an old-style squared headstock, open-geared tuners, modified "V" neck (very comfortable), and an old style 18 rosette. There's no bells or whistles on this box, just in-your-face tone. I wouldn't change a thing about this flat top.

This thing sounds FANTASTIC. It has a forward-shifted scalloped X-brace that lets this thing speak. This thing will blow any 70's D-18 into the weeds...right out of the box! Very well balanced will a slight growl to the midrange...excellent guitar for recording. A nice guitar if you like to flatpick but want an alternative to rosewood.

I have yet to see any new Martin with a flaw or problem with anything, and this guitar is perfect. Action is set just the way I would want it. I would also like to point out that Martin has some of the best fretwork in the business. No guff here.

This guitar is built as durable as any all solid ax, it wouldn't take a direct shot from a mic stand or drumstick on stage...no matter. Mine stays at home most of the time. Wouldn't want to trash this guitar by gigs and the like.

Martin has the best customer support of any maker. Period. Warranty service rivals any other as well...

I bought this guitar because it has every single feature in a flat top that I could ask for. The tone, the look, and everything that comes with buying a Martin. I would recommend it to anyone who loves mahogany. I would like to have an HD-28VR to add that rosewood tone as well.

Currently in production solid wood reproduction of 1930's D18. The Martin tuners are lower qualtiy: upgrade to Waverly tuners is recommended. Neck has slight "V" but not extreme. Very easy to note or chord all over the neck. Solid mahogany rims and back, solid Sitka spruce top.

One of the ultimate guitars available today for flatpicking. Voicing and braced provides a balanced combination of volume, tone, and "cut".

As with all Martins, came with Corian nut and Micarta saddle, and somewhat high action. Installation of a bone saddle and nut and professional setup will substantially improve volume and action.

Absolutely reliable, top quality fit and finish.

Martin has superior customer support.

Been flatpicking for more than 30 years. Regard this model as one of the best.