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Martin 000-18 Modern Deluxe Acoustic Guitar - Natural Demo

6-string Acoustic Guitar with Spruce Top, Mahogany Back/Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Ebony Fretboard - Natural
3 Write review Item ID: 00018MDd1
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Condition Notes:

There are indentations, finish delamination, and scratches. There is a finish chip on the back bass side waist edge of the body. There are scratches on the top, back, and sides of the body and on the pickguard as well. There are other scratches on various parts of the instrument that do not show up well in our Guitar Gallery images.

This item was thoroughly inspected by our factory-authorized service team and is backed by Sweetwater's exclusive 2-year warranty. These images are of the exact item advertised, and provide as accurate a representation of its condition as possible. If you need further information, please call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700.

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Martin 000-18 Modern Deluxe Acoustic Guitar - Natural
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A Classic Martin, Revitalized for Modern Players

Martin’s 000-18 Modern Deluxe is a refreshing take on the classic auditorium body style, blending old-world style with modern refinements. Its spruce Vintage Tone System (VTS) top has been torrefied for maximum projection and harmonic excitement. The dovetail neck joint reinforces the classic Martin tone. And with its East Indian rosewood binding, gold frets, gold open-gear tuners, and unique 1930s-style logo on the headstock, the 000-18 Modern Deluxe looks unlike anything else from Martin’s production line. Complete with other modern advancements and a Vintage Deluxe neck shape designed for maximum comfort, there’s a lot to love about the Martin 000-18 Modern Deluxe acoustic guitar.

Related Videos: 000-18 Modern Deluxe Acoustic Guitar - Natural

Comfortable Auditorium body style

The forward, balanced tone of the 000-18 comes from its Auditorium body style. This body style provides excellent projection and focus, perfect for competing with a banjo (which was a common combination in the ’30s). The Auditorium body style’s well-balanced tone also means the 000-18 is perfect for recording in your studio.

Vintage design with modern enhancements

The luthiers at Martin are happy to embrace modern enhancements if it means better tone for you, the player. In the Martin 000-18, you’ll find modern advancements such as a steel truss rod and Liquid Metal bridge pins, and the inclusion of a carbon fiber bridge plate boosts volume without adding weight. Even the neck shape has been refined for maximum playability and comfort. Many of us Martin fans at Sweetwater are wary of changes to a winning recipe, but we’ve certainly embraced the sound of the Modern Deluxe’s improvements.

VTS top: aged to perfection

Martin has perfected the process of torrefying its top woods and bracings to achieve the sound of an aged, broken-in Martin. The Vintage Tone System (VTS) lets Martin age the woods to a specific age/time period without the typical change in color of the wood from the torrefaction process. A special vintage gloss finish is then hand applied to give the guitar the coloring of a vintage instrument. Martin’s guitars with VTS tops and bracing not only look like vintage guitars, but they also possess that sought-after sound.

Martin 000-18 Modern Deluxe Acoustic Guitar Features:

  • Classic Martin style and tone with modern refinements
  • Vintage Tone System (VTS) ages the woods to a specific age/time period
  • Solid spruce top yields great projection and note definition
  • Solid mahogany back and sides for deep and rich tonality
  • Innovative Liquid Metal bridge pins enhance attack and overall volume
  • Carbon fiber bridge plate enhances projection and sustain
  • Vintage Deluxe neck shape is designed for comfort and playability

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

What is Demo Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call a "demo" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

What demo means to us is that we've had it out of the box, or maybe it was in a customer's hands for a few days and isn't "factory fresh" as a result. Every demo item we sell has Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty, and has been tested and verified up to "new" specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it's in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

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Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: 000-18
  • Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Spruce
  • Finish: Gloss
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Bracing: X-bracing
  • Binding: European Flamed Maple
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Neck Shape: Vintage Deluxe
  • Radius: 16"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Abalone Diamonds and Squares Long Patterns
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 24.9"
  • Nut Width: 1.75"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Open Gear with Gold buttons
  • Strings: Martin, .012-.054
  • Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: 1000018MODERNDELUXE

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Customer Reviews

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Wow. PUNCHY. DEPTHY. PLEASANTLY SURPRISED.

I wasn't sure if the VTS (vintage tone system) was an actual real thing or just a marketing gimmick. I should know better, as this is my 6th Martin. I went with this modern deluxe over the standard because I loved the gold hardware and look of the spruce top. I can say it's absolutely beautiful. But Martin ain't lying about being able to age their spruce tops. Oh my goodness. This thing is PUNCHY! I'm sure the liquid metal pins and carbon fiber bridge plate also plays a part in the sound. It also has surprisingly amazing lows! It's such a well rounded guitar. As soon as I began playing, any sort of buyers remorse was gone, if it was there to even begin with. Sounds crazy, but to me, the extra $1000 from the standard to the modern deluxe is well worth it. Go with a Martin. You'll NEVER be disappointed. VERY HAPPY WITH MY PURCHASE.
by Micah from Texas on
Music background: Worship Pastor

Elite Tone, magnificent feel, unmatched playability

This is truly ann elite expression of a "player's guitar". It's capable of tonal complexity that inspires creativity with its magnificently balanced harmonic response and tuned resonance. It's an absolute testament to versatility and innovation, providing a tantalizing experience that nuanced and demanding players covet. This is a guitar that I've found holds my fascination as a player and takes up roots within my imagination. Simply put, this guitar compliments the player's style, skill, and expressiveness.

The neck shape feels well considered and appeals to players of all styles. With an innovative truss rod approach and natural adhesive, the +2db of volume from the Liquid Metal bridge pins, you can express your articulation with speed and accuracy. Precision style players across all genre will appreciate the taper down its scale. This natural evolution of its neck shaping from nut to joint give players freedom to play how they want without sacrificing articulation or placement. This will take a little time to adjust to if coming from a standard production shape. As I play with all digits, I discovered the shape allows me to shift its weight more easily (no strap), which permits faster travel along the fretboard.

I cannot stress enough that this is a meticulously crafted instrument that allows the player to shine. Therefore it can only be as good as the player. The 000 is built to coax out the detail and touch lost by other guitars while maintaining a balanced attack and depth in chord-based styles. This makes it a perfect guitar for players mixing various styles and techniques. You will hear detail that you haven't heard before. The thing to remember with the highest quality guitars—hand made by master luthiers—is that every single one has a personality, and are only just beginning to reveal themselves. This is a guitar for experienced players who understand the guitar's nature and how to correctly set up their instrument.

Don't spend this kind of money unless you understand how to own it. It's one thing to not mesh with an instrument, that's common. But sadly it's also common for players to assign blame or discourage others simply because; they don't want to admit they bought too much guitar, didn't take the time to research their selection, or to put it bluntly should consider a less expensive investment that requires less thought.

For me and my style, this guitar has become an extension of me. I saved up every spare penny I could for more than 3 years to make this mine… If that makes me an "elite collector" then that's a designation that I'll gladly assume.
by Ryan M from New Mexico on
Music background: Professional sound designer and musician

Sweetwater is great but ordering online with guitars and shoes is a gamble. I got a dud.

I think the 000-18 series is one of Martin's best guitars and figured the MD version would make it even better. The reality is, if you line up 100 identical model Martin guitars they will all sound different and 99 will be mediocre. Martin build quality is fairly consistent but they couldn't care less about tone. They never bother inspecting that before they send it out as they capitalize on subjectivity, and the prestige of their name for inexperienced buyers. Specifically, the neck on this guitar is a nightmare. Martin knows the tech features will displease rich traditionalists who only want ancient and original appointments, so they retained the wretched outmoded unplayable neck so as not to offend that dying breed of elitists who collect and don't play. The asymmetry is shifted to the thumb side so if you're right handed you can't use your thumb which completely cripples my play. It might as well be a classical guitar neck except it's much thicker then those. The action is as expected, so high that it is best suited as an acoustic slide guitar. Lowering it is dicey. The distance between the bottom of the nut slot and top of the copper fret is miniscule so you need to dress the frets, drop the saddle, play with the truss, and then pray. You are playing with tiny tolerances. Of course any such change voids the warranty and the dealer refund policy, so such a move has to be very seriously considered at these hyperinflated prices, and seriously considered for multiple reasons, because if it doesn't work. you own it and now you own a total disaster. This is NOT the dealers fault. This guitar is hard to find at the local stores. Production at Martin is backed up and this is a newer model that sells out fast because of the unjustified hype. Gold Waverlys and Abalone logos do not add up to good sound or playability and the fact is that most Martins are Vastly overrated muddy sounding boxes with no brightness. This is supposed to be the exception with the VTS and titanium and carbon fiber. But the fact is, if the wood is lousy nothing can rescue it and Martin hasn't used good mahogany since the 1930's or good rosewood since 1969. This one sounded like a good idea until I had it in my hands. Torrefaction usually results in a body color that looks like a slice from an emulsified ball of turkey that they sell at crummy grocery stores. And in that sense I was lucky because I got one that retains a kind of nice golden tone reminiscent of mild aging toner. A small % are like that.....but so what? I'd rather it had a truck tire print across it if it sounded good. I have played $150 guitars that sound better, no lie. I have owned nine Martins to date and this one is the least playable with the freakish neck taken from a 30's thing in their museum, and wood from a tree that should have been used to build a shed. Martin makes sure they look good, and that's where the inspection process ends. Through in abalone and now a little gold plate, slap the name Martin on it, out the door and into the hands of inexperience, and c'est la vie.
by Sweetwater Customer on
See also: 6-String Guitars, Martin, Martin 6-string Acoustic Guitars
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