Product: Martin 00-18C
Price Paid: USD 1,300 USED
Submitted
10/15/2007
at
03:15am
by
Richard
Email: rschwa9966 at aol<dot>com
Features
:
8
This is a 1966 Martin nylon-string guitar with a relatively small "00" body, which nonetheless delivers a surprising amount of depth and punch. Martin never had a good reputation among classical enthusiasts, which is fine with me since I play a lot of nylon-string jazz and Brazilian-style guitar. The back and sides are mahogany. Interestingly, I was willing to pay more for an 00-28C or G model of the same vintage with Brazilian Rosewood, if it offered superior sound, but once tried, I found it lacked the projection of the mahogany models.
Playability is excellent. This is a fun guitar that makes you feel like you play better compared with your performance on other guitars.
Sound
:
9
This guitar has great clarity and projection, though it's stronger in the bass and mid-range versus the trebles, which are fine, but not as noteworthy. Volume is excellent. This is a great-sounding guitar, but not for the classical purist who might seek more resonance. I will give this a "9" for the price category, which is far lower compared to the cost of most classicals.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Nice low action. In terms of finish, well, this is a 40-year-old guitar. The wear lowers the price but increases the character. In the end, it's a Martin and it's a solid guitar.
Reliability/Durability
:
8
It has already withstood plenty. There's not much more punishment that I can offer.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
irrelevant for a very used guitar...
Overall Rating
:
8
I have way too many guitars, including a Bernabe, Papazian, Buscarino, Goodall, Ramirez and various beaters, including an Alvarez and Favilla. This guitar is above the beater class, though it's fun like one in that category. It really sounds nice and is the easiest playing guitar I've ever had. I've been playing guitar for about 20 years, excluding 15 years when it's been in the closet due to the demands of family and career. I renewed my interest with a passion about three years ago and have bought (or should I say overbought) most of my guitars since then.
Honestly, I would replace this guitar if it were lost, broken or stolen. There seems to be a lot of them on Ebay.
