Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar with LR Baggs Anthem Electronics

Legendary Martin flat-top tone

The Martin D-18 has been a top choice for serious performers for decades. The guitar's combination of solid Sitka spruce and mahogany gives it a sound that sits perfectly in a mix, cutting through and holding its own without crowding out the song's other elements. But how do you improve upon perfection? Martin enhanced playability with their sleeker-profile neck featuring their modified Low Oval profile and Performing Artist taper. They also tapped the talent of legendary acoustic guitar pickup designer Larry Fishman to capture the sonic essence of the D-18 using the finest modern and vintage mics, essentially "bottling" the sound, so when you plug in your D-18E, the sound that emanates from the speakers is the purest possible expression of the instrument.

Natural amplified sound from your acoustic

The LR Baggs Anthem Tru-Mic Acoustic Pickup will change the way you look at mic pickups. This feedback-busting, natural-sounding pickup is the result of over 30 years of effort. The Anthem is a well-designed microphone that picks up your guitar — clean, clear, and full of dynamics. While many guitar mics are prone to feedback or sound annoyingly boxy, the LR Baggs Anthem is like having your acoustic sound just "turned up," so it's full of detail, warmth, and personality — and feedback-free.

So how does it work? LR Baggs developed proprietary noise-canceling technology that captures the pure, natural sound of your acoustic guitar. The Tru-Mic system picks up the vibrations of your entire soundboard, so the Anthem is surprisingly free of placement issues. The control unit is extremely lightweight and features just the essentials: Volume, Mix, and Phase. It nestles inside the soundhole for easy fingertip access. And because there are no control holes cut into the side of the guitar, the system is completely unobtrusive. With the Mix control, you can blend between the augmented mic and the full-range pickup. There's also a multi-segment battery check to maximize battery life.

The choice of session guitarists for decades

The Martin D-18E's ideal tonality is just as useful in the studio as it is onstage. Just ask any recording engineer that's been in the business for a couple of decades: the D-18 has an uncanny ability to set itself into any mix nicely, with a minimum of processing. Just grab your Martin D-18E, point your favorite small-diaphragm condenser mic at the 12th fret, and you've got a gorgeous acoustic guitar sound that practically mixes itself.

A cornerstone of modern music history

You've already heard the sweet sound of the Martin D-18 more times than you probably realize. It was the guitar of choice for legends such as Clarence White, Elvis Presley, and many more. Even Andy Griffith played one on The Andy Griffith Show. It's been a workhorse dreadnought acoustic for singers and songwriters since its original release in 1934. The Martin D-18E is a perfect example of this instrument that became iconic because of its tone and craftsmanship.

Martin D-18E Acoustic-electric guitar Features:

• An iconic Martin dreadnought with built-in electronics
• LR Baggs Anthem electronics preserve natural acoustic tone
• Solid Sitka spruce top; solid mahogany back and sides
• Scalloped, forward-shifted Sitka spruce X-bracing
• Traditional dovetail neck-joint construction
• Modified Low Oval modern High Performance neck
• Ebony fingerboard; East Indian rosewood headplate
• Modern belly-style bridge with drop-in compensated white TUSQ saddle and bone nut
• Faux tortoise pickguard; Old Style 18 multi-stripe rosette
• Butterbean-knob tuners