Refreshed with a Range of Golden Era Martin Specs
Precious few acoustic guitar models can match the legacy, influence, and genre-defying sound of the mighty Martin D-18. First released in 1931, the D-18 has seen countless spec and design modifications over its nearly century-long life to best fit the needs of music’s ever-changing currents. Martin’s refreshed Standard series turns back the clock to the D-18’s most cherished vintage era, returning several key features to their prewar specs and introducing a selection of performance-minded enhancements. Most importantly, the refreshed D-18’s solid Sitka spruce top now boasts GE-scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing to maximize its response and provide guitarists with a livelier and more resonant feel. Traditional mahogany sides grant the D-18 a warm, punchy, and bass-rich voice that slices through bluegrass ensembles and fills out the foundation of rock, country, and pop mixes. Plus, the select hardwood neck’s GE Modified Low Oval profile and 1.75-inch nut width are geared to please high-speed flatpickers, fingerstyle pros, and couch strummers alike with its fast and comfortable feel. Finished off with several other Standard series refresh upgrades, including a thinner beveled ebony fingerboard and a sleek vintage heel, the refreshed Martin D-18 only enhances what is inarguably one of the 6-string world’s most cherished and time-tested designs.
Related Videos: D-18 Standard Series Acoustic Guitar - Natural with Aging Toner
Savor the sound of solid mahogany
Offering a warm and punchy voice, the D-18’s spruce-topped mahogany tone has graced countless recordings in almost every genre and era since it launched in 1931. Whether you know it or not, you’ve undoubtedly heard the D-18 before if you have even a passing familiarity with guitar-based music of the 20th century. So, what does it sound like? First off, the refreshed D-18’s Sitka spruce top stands supported by GE-scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing — a much-welcomed change by Sweetwater’s vintage Martin fanatics, as it captures the ultra-responsive feel and rich low-end power that have made Martin’s prewar models among the most sought-after instruments on the planet. A mahogany back and sides round out the D-18 with a tone that strongly favors the fundamental of your note, as opposed to the harmonic-dense voice of the rosewood-clad D-28. These qualities have made the D-18 one of the most popular and ubiquitous steel-string designs in history and a longtime favorite of bluegrass pickers, rock strummers, country artists, and every other genre where acoustic guitars reign.
Setting the standard for steel strings everywhere
If there were such a thing as a “standard” acoustic guitar shape, it would undoubtedly be the dreadnought. It’s Martin’s most iconic model and a key component to the cannon-like projection and booming bass response that’s defined the Nazareth sound since the D-18 and D-28 appeared in the early 1930s — and even earlier if you count Martin’s “Ditson” models! Whether you’re a flatpicking bluegrass phenom or a singer/songwriter strummer, a Martin dreadnought will provide you with a lifetime’s worth of superior steel-string tone.
Standard series: revisiting timeless Martin tradition
Considering the storied history of Martin’s acoustic guitar engineering and building practices, there’s no question that the company’s iconic models stand firm as the backbone of American steel-string instrument design. With this sentiment top of mind, Martin presents the refreshed Standard series: a lineup dedicated to reviving the looks and tone of the brand’s golden-era vintage models while introducing a complex set of modern performance enhancements. The result is a comprehensive update to Martin’s most revered range of instruments, combining tonal authenticity with the comfort and versatility of a contemporary instrument. Across-the-board changes include remarkably responsive GE (Golden Era) bracing, thinner fingerboards with beveled edges, a slick vintage-style heel, angled nuts, and GE belly bridges equipped with bone or ebony bridge pins. What’s more, the refreshed standard series introduces a fresh new trio of Martin models back into the fold, including the iconic 000-17, D-17, and OM-45. Refreshed with a plethora of musician-requested features, the Standard series harnesses the power of these legendary acoustics and takes center stage once again.
Martin D-18 Standard Features:
- A refresh to Martin’s iconic Standard series D-18, bringing several key specs back in line with the company’s golden-era models
- Solid Sitka spruce top supported by GE-scalloped, forward-shifted X-bracing supplies massive unplugged punch and projection, along with a truly touch-sensitive response
- Solid mahogany back and sides round out the D-18’s voice with a warm, punchy, and fundamental-focused voice
- Big-bodied Martin dreadnought design ensures ample, chest-thumping bass response
- Easy-playing select hardwood neck, capped with a slick satin finish and carved into Martin’s GE Modified Low Oval neck profile
- Sleek 16-in.-radius ebony fingerboard with traditional Style 18 inlays
- Nickel open-gear tuners preserve pitch-perfect stability and grant a touch of old-school charm
- Premium bone nut and compensated saddle, along with an ebony bridge and ebony bridge pins
- Additional Standard series refresh features include a thinner fingerboard with comfortably beveled edges, a vintage-style heel, and an angled nut
- Traditional Style 18 appointments offer a charmingly understated feel, including black binding and a faux tortoiseshell pickguard
- 1.75-in. nut width is slim enough for strummers and wide enough to accommodate fingerpickers
