I love that people hear these 2 differently. I started on mahogany, then later "upgraded" to rosewood. At the time, I felt it was an improvement but I also went from a yamaha to a Martin. As I developed as a player, rosewood just sounded more muted and less note separation as opposed to Mahogany. I'm a Mahogany man now without question.
Interesting. I've been psyching myself to buy a 000-18 but I kept wincing when the 000-28 sounded better. But for the most part, it was really hard to tell them apart. I doubt I could tell these guitars apart blindfolded.
I got an 18 and was kind of scared to watch this vid because I thought the 28 might smoke it but it was just the opposite for me. I got super lucky my local store had a 000-18 in the store and as soon as I felt it I just knew. I played it for less than a minute before I said let’s do it. I always planned on getting a dread but the way it , sits on the player , sounds , and feels , just put it in a special place for me. If I hold a dread , or even a big electric like a jazz master , I can feel it in my back a little the next day. Nothing huge, but enough to piss u off ya know ? The 18 is feather lite Really hard to be dissatisfied with it in any sense.
I own and love the 000-18. It's very balanced , has amazing bass response and volume for it's size and the short scale makes it really comfortable for string bending too.
The 28 is ever so slightly boxy, but more articulate/focused. That said, and I own an HD-28V, I prefer the 18. The 18 is warmer, a little more full, and it just blends the frequencies better. Just my two cents.
one of the best guitar comparison videos I've seen....those fast switches from one guitar to the other is the best way to judge the differences in sound....anything longer than 5 sec and the tonal memory fades fast.
I like the way the mahogany sounds nicer strummed, seems to blend the frequencies nicely, but the rosewood gives a pleasant clarity on the picked licks.
The 28 sounds much thinner despite the price difference… theres just a lot more bass coming from the 18 and I can't help but feel more in favor of it. They're both beautiful, though.
The 18 is the way I always go now! I've owned two d-28, two d-18, one 000-28 and three 000-18. I presently have two d-18 and two 000-18. The 28 can be a tiny bit muddy and booming but the 18 hits the nail on the head. Of course each guitar is an individual and I would advise trying as many as you can before purchase. The 18 is a no frills guitar which leaves more tone wood and less use of binding and rosette. The new Reimagined line from Martin is a great improvement, one of my 000 is from the Reimagined line and I absolutely love it! But remember that Martin's are a delicate instrument and must be cared for diligently!!! (Especially the forward-shifted Martins) As Chris Martin says "a guitar sounds it's best at just before the point of self-destruction" this is why Martin's are so delicate. Anyone can make an acoustick guitar that is tough and sturdy but they sound like sh*t! Here are some tips, DO NOT HANG A GOOD MARTIN! It will eventually cause warping. Do not use strings heavier than 12-53 or 12-54 gauge strings! Do not leave the guitar tuned to standard pitch when not in use, I always tune down to D for my 000 or C# for my D series when not in use. I'm not a believer in totally loosening the strings when not in use. Keep guitar in its case when not in use. Do not subject the guitar to big temperature or humidity changes when out of the case! Let the guitar while in the case acclimate to the conditions before removing from case. Newer Martin's have a habit of separating at the bindings so I always use boiled linseed oil or tung oil applied with a Qtip around the bindings, rosette, neck - fingerboard joint, fingerboard tongue-soundboard joint and bridge to keep moisture (sweat) from causing separation . Anywhere that wood meets binding! I also coat the entire fingerboard with linseed oil so it doesn't pit. The bridge string holes should be oiled also. When restringing, make sure the string ball rest on the bridge plate and that the string pins are fully inserted to hold the string ball to the bridge plate. Do not force bridge pins into the bridge as this may cause bridge to split. The oil will harden the wood. Do this when the guitar is brand new if possible. The curing of the oil takes about a month or so but the guitar can be played after a couple of hours of drying time. Clean off excess immediately with a clean pure cotton rag, then wash the rag to remove as much of the oil as you can so it doesn't catch fire (read instructions on linseed or tung oil container) and don't use that rag on the guitar again. I do this about every 3-6 months or when I see wear occurring(especially on the neck and where your arm rests on the body when playing and at the waist of the guitar). If binding comes loose before you have a chance to oil it, it can be securely reattached with careful use of super glue. I also remove tuners to seal the bare wood of the tuner holes with the oil. I also apply a drop of super glue into the screw holes for the tuners so they don't get stripped (be very careful and let the glue fully dry before re-inserting the screws). Do not overfill, just let a little soak into the wood. I have found that following these procedures keeps the instrument in excellent playing condition. (I've been playing Martin's for 49 years and I've learned these procedures from practice and repair).
@@paulneedham9885 A player Martin (played everyday for an hour) last me about 4-5 years. A stage Martin last no more than 2 years. It's the frets that wear out!
when I'm watching the video I can clearly hear the differences between the two guitars but, when I close my eyes and listen to both guitars I can't tell one from the other.
A great review, which I feel I can take seriously. I think the 000-18 has slightly more bass response, & sounds brighter, while the 000-28 is more balanced between bass and treble. Both sound good, but this was illuminating.
Hey “Pete” thanks for the review! I love nice sounding guitars and these both sound wonderful. Oddly I’d still take the 000-18 over the 000-28 even if I was given either one for free and got to choose.
The 18 is warmer while the 28 sounds crystalline & a little more complex harmonically, if I had to choose I'd go with the comforting fuzziness of the 18
I played with an 000-18 recently, and boy, what a sweet sound it was too! I still love my beautiful sweet-sounding Fender Malibu though! But I would buy an 000-18 because it is a real beauty! Dear Santa...
I played both the 18 and the 28 in a music store and preferred the 18. I love the sound of both, but thought the 18 would highlight my meager guitar playing skills best. I went home after playing both and ordered a custom shop 000-18 with sunburst. I have a D18 with the exact same finish. I put them next to each other in my closed as though they're brothers, LoL.
I wanted a D-18, but for the price, I settled for a Larravee OM-40R (OOO) AND a Larravee L-40MH. (L slightly larger) I think mohoghany and rosewood are complamentary. I often wonder about having the the same guitars with opposite wood.. win win situation though..
Another exceptional Side-by-side demo! I was surprised how close these sounded. I wanted to prefer the 28, but the 18 had a more distinct voice note-to-note. At times the reverberation and harmonic resonance I associate with Rosewood back/sides made the 28 a bit less distinct and the low end was just a little muddy (to my ears). I am splitting hairs. If I owned either of these guitars I would play it and be elated! Just trying to describe some of the minor differences. If I was not watching when the recording switched to the other guitar, I would probably not have detected any difference. That's how similar they sounded to me. A testament to the quality that Martin is clearly capable of reproducing. Well done!
Are these guitars really almost identical? I have a 000-15M and have long been wondering about getting a 000-18 - because it's a spruce guitar but also because it has a wider fingerboard and shorter scale length, at least according to the Martin specs. As far as I can tell the 28 but it has the same size fingerboard as my 000-15, which I find a little bit narrow. I also tend to use 12-gauge strings and tune it down a bit so it's a bit easier on the fingers, hence the shorter scale would help. I wonder if I am reading too much into these differences?
In the opening strumming, even before your started your comparison, seems like I heard a buzz on the 18. Kind of weird, but don't think it was the guitar. These two sound so great and what a technically correct comparison. Great work! I think I like the mid range of the 18 better cause that's where I'm comfortable.
The 18 has a little less sustain than the 28. I'm growing very partial to the sound of mahogany though, I just love the warmth and low-mid thickness. 18 would be my choice for fingerstyle, 28 for strumming. Can definitely hear the added top-end response from the shaved top!
To my ears, the 28 sounds more open and sometimes a bit boomy, while the 18 sounds more focused in the bass and a bit more scooped. Impossible to tell which one sounds better, but I'm going to give a very slight edge to rosewood.
I agree, i have one 000-18, when I bought it was the only option on the guitar center store and i was traveling. It's an amazing guitar and I really love it...but in the future i will buy a 000-28 a signature of John Mayer or ERic CLapton
I have noticed the 18 has ebony bridge pins. Would be keen to see a video with the pins swapped out. For a more accurate comparison but also to see if the pins make a real difference in tone
18 all the way. don't get me wrong, the 28 is great-but the 18 is just so much more solid sounding where the 28 sounds a little bitchy in places. wider tonal range isn't always best and that's what I hear from the 28's rosewood. I'm sure that if you graphed out the frequency response/range of both guitars the 28 would *look* better better... but that's on paper. I guess I'm just not one for graphs and charts.
First - this is by far the best head-to-head "sound off" I've heard. Too bad there's not more of this approach - it really cuts through the hyperbole of what is "better", "brighter" or whatever else. These are both great sounding guitars- and for many of the clips there was literally no difference to my earss, so so minor that differences between specimens of the same exact model would probably vary more. But there are certain instances where the rosewood model did sound better to me. That is totally subjective, but if I wanted to record one vs the other and given the choice- I'd take the 28. It was slightly fuller and with better high-end to my ears, but only in certain passages. Again - two instruments of the exact same model number would probably vary as much as these two- and that would be another interesting "sound-off" comparison.
Both sound great but even with the limitations of youtube the 18 just has better definition and this comparison just further reinforced my preference for mahogany. But that is what it really comes down to- personal preference as both are incredibly beautiful sounding instruments.
I'm a strummer. The 18 sounds fuller. The D's are fantastic too, but I prefer the comfort of a shallower body and slightly shorter scale. A joy to play.
Does anyone have objective insight into how these two might compare after ten or twenty years? How does aged mahogany sound when compared to equally aged rosewood?
Rosewood J-45 with electronics and cutaway??? Wonder what pickup most of you guys would put in one of these Martin's? Or an in soundhole pu to leave to wood alone?
They both sound gorgeous. The 18 is warmer than the 28. The 28 is brighter. A matter of taste. Age and playing in will probably help both of them. Thanks for the video.
Would it be strange to like rosewood O or OO for finger style but for OOO and bigger prefer Mahogany for anything but especially strumming? By strange I mean uncommon or unprecedented... or is that a common viewpoint?
The 18 has more bottom end and sounds amazing to my ears. The Rosewood certainly has more color to it. There is a reason why most guitars use rosewood. it is superior, but just doesn't have the low end of Mahogany. I have a John Mayer martin with Engleman spruce top and rosewood back and sides. my next gutiar will be a Martin Quad with Mahogony. 0000- 18. They are canons and absolutely amazing.
Prefer the 00018's sound...the difference is mahogany back/sides??? :) Who would have thunk it...didn't think the back/side tone would would make a noticeable difference.
Both sound great, though that strumming at the end sounded much better on the 18. Still, there's something about rosewood I suspect is just impossible to capture in a youtube video. Just a gut feeling.
Honestly, they sound almost identical. Just a bit deeper bass on the 000-28. I have a GE 000-18 1937 and honestly I believe the mahogany with that particular bracing just makes it! I am thinking a hot rod D-18 is just what I need to complete my collection.
Where I hear the difference is the EAD Strongs on the 28 having more bass overtones --- I have a 69 D35 --- so that is familiar to me -- for second martin I would go for the 000 18 as an alternative sound -- I also thought it stood out a tiny bit better finger picking
I'm shocked. I thought the 28 would crush the 18, but I couldn't find enough difference to justify getting the 28. I am currently in the market for a 000 and was looking at both of these as well as a couple of other labels. This demo eliminates the 28, though my first choice as of right now is either a Boucher or a Furch. But the 18's lower price has to be taken into.consideration.
The biggest difference is heard when strumming with a pick... the rosewood is more "crystalline", or "chimey" with overtones and brightness... the mahogany is more "woody", or "organic" with warmth. The differences are really very small, indistinguishable when played fingerstyle. Buy the one that smells and looks the best to you. Personally I prefer the warmth of mahogany for vocal accompaniment, as do most vocalists.
One more thing! I tend to play more riff type stuff mixed with chords all over the neck. I really wish there were more comparisons of that rather than only playing chords and licks in first position.
I need a guitar to play while singing. So i went to my local shop and tested much, heared every guitar on the youtube and read through forums between the: 000-28, 000-28 MD, 000-18, 000-18 MD, OM-28 and OM-28 MD and i think the 000-18 might be the right one for me. All of the Modern Deluxe guitars are very nice but they are more suited to play without singing. For a nice warm sound while singing the 000-18 and the 000-28 are very nice options, even the OM-28 was very "in-your-face" and direct, same with the modern deluxe series, the guitars sings with you in a duet instead beeing a accompaniment to your voice. And the golden standard nowadays and in the past is the Gibson J-45, which is too big for me, i like the triple O size. The J-45 is like the 000-18 spruce top and mahogany sides and back - beautiful combination for notes that doesn'r ring too long so you can hear the voice niceley. I think the Martin 000-18 is a marvelous choice for singers/songwriters and even small stages. If i wanted to impress with the Guitar and let it sing, my choice probably would be the OM-28 Modern Deluxe. I hope that helps anyone ...
I feel like the 18 has much more low midrange and less highs.. for this reason I think it’s much better choice for a singer songwriter or rhythm guitar player. The 28 would be better for anything requiring better note separation.
Tough one. The 18 sounded sharper, the 28 slightly warmer with more bass but less mids. I'd have to play thm in my hands and go with another sense: Feel.
Ben Flores Good lord, you're not even in the ballpark here. Which is "better" - a Ford or a BMW? The D28 is so completely in a different league in every way there's no way to compare the two. But at the end of the day , its first about what feels and sounds the best to YOU to play. That's why you should never buy an acoustic instrument without playing it. Overall "sound" might be wonderful on one guitar, but if it's uncomfortable or uninspiring to play - you may not make the most of it. Totally subjective.
To me, mahogany is warmer, right from the get go. Rosewood to my ears has a weird, cold quackiness to it (I don't know how else to describe it - maybe like the tone is coming through an old soup can or something?). I have a 2006 D28 and I rarely play it because a) it is very difficult to play at A440 - I have to tune down 1/2 step so the strings have enough flex in them that my arthritic thumb doesn't scream at me, and b) that tone quirkiness - it just seems like its never going to open up. I have 2 other Martins, both mahogany (well, one is sapele -but that's mahogany, right?!?!) and their tone is always warm. I will say that sonically the rosewood is tighter, therefore clearer across all 6 strings, but mahogany comes out the box warm and well balanced, although with a wee bit of a lack of distinction through the ranges - not necessarily a bad thing.
Seems like the 28 has brighter high end than the 18. I have a 000-15M and am in love with the sweet mellow sound. I have a tiny house and don't need the slightly more boomy-ness of the 000-28 or the volume of the D28. love them all though!
Both sound great, but surprisingly similar. Tony does the best video comparisons; MusicVilla NEEDS to get him back. Their current videos are very poor now.
Maybe it is UA-cam but I can;t hear a difference, although both are lousy sounding in the bass region. Perhaps a better mic or mic placement would help.
Duane Brocious Well I'm hearing this through a Jbl flip 2 speaker and I can easily tell the difference. The overtones firstly surrounding the notes are better on the 28, and it's louder less tinny along with a clearer definition. Why don't u try watching again and get better speakers Clean ur ear maybe. 😛
Good job on the hot rodding! I am using Sennheiser HD-500 headphones, an external DAC, and a headphone amp, so UA-cam compression and my hearing is the limiting factor. The custom 000-18 with mahogany back and sides is "softer" on the attacks, warmer, with less overtones in the upper range. It emphasizes the fundamental frequency being played. The custom rosewood 000-28 maintains the strong bass but also has strong treble and upper overtones. It sounds more sparkly and has snappier attack when picked. It's easier to reduce the high frequencies during play than it is to add them, so I prefer the rosewood, but I wouldn't mind owning either guitar.
It’s interesting how we hear things differently. On the 18 the bass is less deep to me. But the bass that it does have projects more. With the 28 to me there is much more low and low - mid overall. So I would describe that warmer or woollier. The highs are there but slightly overtaken by the lower frequencies. They are both beautiful sounding guitars however. I own a 000-18 golden era and I love it. I would agree with the person who said the 28 would be nice strummed and accompanying a singer. However either one would do solo guitar work just fine. just my two cents
мне кажется в 000-18 более глухая атака, по видео это не заметно, но из личного опыта (являюсь владельцем 000-18). Я бы рекомендовал использовать 000-18 для смешанного стиля (фолк, кантри, блюз), а 000-28 подойдет для всего, в том числе для простого бренчания аккордами!
the 18 has more overtones the 28 has just a cats whisker more focus so I have to give a preference to the 18 here now if you had a Brazilian rosewood that may be different altogether
Thanks for this, Tony. Your reviews are always great. They are both fantastic guitars, but the 18 sounds brighter. I prefer it for fingerstyle. The bass response is slightly less muddy than on the 28 - at least to my ears. I think it stems from the Mahogany back and sides. Anyway, I am a fan of the 18s))) I have one, a really great fingerstyle box for a shade under 3000 bucks.
From the tone wood perspective, mahogany has an emphasis in the midrandge whereas rosewood has more of a scooped frequency band with nice high highs and warm lows. Just two distinct, both great, widely accepted in guitar applications. It's basically an apple to orange comparison. Having said that, I personally like mahogony better in this comparison. Mid-range focus adds a sense of balance to the looser, boomier nature of the shorter scale 000. 000-28 isn't bad sounding either, but if you're fan of rosewood, try the OM28. It has amzing balance and sound--nice tight bass, smooth soft mid, and typical-rosewood musical shimmering highs. Great for finger picking as the nut is 1 3/4 wide, but the right hand still plays like strat/LP with 2 1/16 string spacing at the bridge. Good for strumming as well.
Nochaser Guitar Channel Reminds me of alternating between my Martin D17M and my Gibson J45.. the Martin is like the 18, the Gibson like the 28. Love both... Depends on the mood, song, situation.. Yes, we do need more than one guitar... Or two or three or four...
Thanks. That's how you do a comparison review: side-by-side short identical clips. Well done!
YES!
I love that people hear these 2 differently. I started on mahogany, then later "upgraded" to rosewood. At the time, I felt it was an improvement but I also went from a yamaha to a Martin. As I developed as a player, rosewood just sounded more muted and less note separation as opposed to Mahogany.
I'm a Mahogany man now without question.
That's so weird how an ear can change. 20 years ago I thought mahogany was inferior, case closed.
I want the 000-28 to sound better but I have to say the 000-18 has the edge in this demo.
Interesting. I've been psyching myself to buy a 000-18 but I kept wincing when the 000-28 sounded better. But for the most part, it was really hard to tell them apart. I doubt I could tell these guitars apart blindfolded.
@@jazzgtrwannabe8415 That's more or less how I feel....
I also have to admit that the 18 sounded better for me even though I was kinda wanting the 28 to win
JazzGtrWannabe 18 louder bass and such beautiful mids and highs
I got an 18 and was kind of scared to watch this vid because I thought the 28 might smoke it but it was just the opposite for me. I got super lucky my local store had a 000-18 in the store and as soon as I felt it I just knew. I played it for less than a minute before I said let’s do it. I always planned on getting a dread but the way it , sits on the player , sounds , and feels , just put it in a special place for me. If I hold a dread , or even a big electric like a jazz master , I can feel it in my back a little the next day. Nothing huge, but enough to piss u off ya know ? The 18 is feather lite Really hard to be dissatisfied with it in any sense.
I own and love the 000-18. It's very balanced , has amazing bass response and volume for it's size and the short scale makes it really comfortable for string bending too.
The 28 is ever so slightly boxy, but more articulate/focused. That said, and I own an HD-28V, I prefer the 18. The 18 is warmer, a little more full, and it just blends the frequencies better. Just my two cents.
one of the best guitar comparison videos I've seen....those fast switches from one guitar to the other is the best way to judge the differences in sound....anything longer than 5 sec and the tonal memory fades fast.
I like the way the mahogany sounds nicer strummed, seems to blend the frequencies nicely, but the rosewood gives a pleasant clarity on the picked licks.
The 28 sounds much thinner despite the price difference… theres just a lot more bass coming from the 18 and I can't help but feel more in favor of it. They're both beautiful, though.
Great stuff Tony
The 18 is the way I always go now! I've owned two d-28, two d-18, one 000-28 and three 000-18. I presently have two d-18 and two 000-18. The 28 can be a tiny bit muddy and booming but the 18 hits the nail on the head. Of course each guitar is an individual and I would advise trying as many as you can before purchase. The 18 is a no frills guitar which leaves more tone wood and less use of binding and rosette.
The new Reimagined line from Martin is a great improvement, one of my 000 is from the Reimagined line and I absolutely love it!
But remember that Martin's are a delicate instrument and must be cared for diligently!!! (Especially the forward-shifted Martins)
As Chris Martin says "a guitar sounds it's best at just before the point of self-destruction" this is why Martin's are so delicate. Anyone can make an acoustick guitar that is tough and sturdy but they sound like sh*t!
Here are some tips,
DO NOT HANG A GOOD MARTIN! It will eventually cause warping.
Do not use strings heavier than 12-53 or 12-54 gauge strings!
Do not leave the guitar tuned to standard pitch when not in use, I always tune down to D for my 000 or C# for my D series when not in use. I'm not a believer in totally loosening the strings when not in use.
Keep guitar in its case when not in use.
Do not subject the guitar to big temperature or humidity changes when out of the case! Let the guitar while in the case acclimate to the conditions before removing from case.
Newer Martin's have a habit of separating at the bindings so I always use boiled linseed oil or tung oil applied with a Qtip around the bindings, rosette, neck - fingerboard joint, fingerboard tongue-soundboard joint and bridge to keep moisture (sweat) from causing separation . Anywhere that wood meets binding! I also coat the entire fingerboard with linseed oil so it doesn't pit.
The bridge string holes should be oiled also. When restringing, make sure the string ball rest on the bridge plate and that the string pins are fully inserted to hold the string ball to the bridge plate. Do not force bridge pins into the bridge as this may cause bridge to split.
The oil will harden the wood. Do this when the guitar is brand new if possible. The curing of the oil takes about a month or so but the guitar can be played after a couple of hours of drying time. Clean off excess immediately with a clean pure cotton rag, then wash the rag to remove as much of the oil as you can so it doesn't catch fire (read instructions on linseed or tung oil container) and don't use that rag on the guitar again. I do this about every 3-6 months or when I see wear occurring(especially on the neck and where your arm rests on the body when playing and at the waist of the guitar). If binding comes loose before you have a chance to oil it, it can be securely reattached with careful use of super glue.
I also remove tuners to seal the bare wood of the tuner holes with the oil. I also apply a drop of super glue into the screw holes for the tuners so they don't get stripped (be very careful and let the glue fully dry before re-inserting the screws). Do not overfill, just let a little soak into the wood.
I have found that following these procedures keeps the instrument in excellent playing condition. (I've been playing Martin's for 49 years and I've learned these procedures from practice and repair).
You have owned 12 Martins?? Didnt you look after them? one should be enough! lol
У меня D16 Jet 2007г звучит просто кайф💪 Но сейчас задумался о 000-18 конечно рипус меньше но удобнее и звучит как D16 в дред ноуте
Why are you making stuff up?
@@kamilzabiegala1649 What do you mean?
@@paulneedham9885 A player Martin (played everyday for an hour) last me about 4-5 years. A stage Martin last no more than 2 years.
It's the frets that wear out!
I love how you switch guitars mid-riff. It allows us to hear the differences better. I wish everyone did that.
They both sound great!
Wow two beautiful sounding instruments
when I'm watching the video I can clearly hear the differences between the two guitars but, when I close my eyes and listen to both guitars I can't tell one from the other.
Something about the black pins stands out so perfectly to me.
A great review, which I feel I can take seriously. I think the 000-18 has slightly more bass response, & sounds brighter, while the 000-28 is more balanced between bass and treble. Both sound good, but this was illuminating.
Hey “Pete” thanks for the review! I love nice sounding guitars and these both sound wonderful. Oddly I’d still take the 000-18 over the 000-28 even if I was given either one for free and got to choose.
The 18 is warmer while the 28 sounds crystalline & a little more complex harmonically, if I had to choose I'd go with the comforting fuzziness of the 18
I of each please. They are both amazing sounding guitars.
Thanks for the review Pete:)
Amazing review!
I played with an 000-18 recently, and boy, what a sweet sound it was too!
I still love my beautiful sweet-sounding Fender Malibu though!
But I would buy an 000-18 because it is a real beauty!
Dear Santa...
I'll take the 18 please. Oh no, no need to giftwrap it. Thanks for asking.
Thanks Pete, the coffee in the right cup sounded warmer than the coffee in the left cup. Well played as usual.
can you guys compare an OM 28 to a OOO 28?
I will always recommend Acoustic Letter for reviews
I played both the 18 and the 28 in a music store and preferred the 18. I love the sound of both, but thought the 18 would highlight my meager guitar playing skills best. I went home after playing both and ordered a custom shop 000-18 with sunburst. I have a D18 with the exact same finish. I put them next to each other in my closed as though they're brothers, LoL.
I wanted a D-18, but for the price, I settled for a Larravee OM-40R (OOO) AND a Larravee L-40MH. (L slightly larger) I think mohoghany and rosewood are complamentary. I often wonder about having the the same guitars with opposite wood.. win win situation though..
Another exceptional Side-by-side demo! I was surprised how close these sounded. I wanted to prefer the 28, but the 18 had a more distinct voice note-to-note. At times the reverberation and harmonic resonance I associate with Rosewood back/sides made the 28 a bit less distinct and the low end was just a little muddy (to my ears). I am splitting hairs. If I owned either of these guitars I would play it and be elated! Just trying to describe some of the minor differences. If I was not watching when the recording switched to the other guitar, I would probably not have detected any difference. That's how similar they sounded to me. A testament to the quality that Martin is clearly capable of reproducing. Well done!
Are these guitars really almost identical? I have a 000-15M and have long been wondering about getting a 000-18 - because it's a spruce guitar but also because it has a wider fingerboard and shorter scale length, at least according to the Martin specs. As far as I can tell the 28 but it has the same size fingerboard as my 000-15, which I find a little bit narrow. I also tend to use 12-gauge strings and tune it down a bit so it's a bit easier on the fingers, hence the shorter scale would help. I wonder if I am reading too much into these differences?
In the opening strumming, even before your started your comparison, seems like I heard a buzz on the 18. Kind of weird, but don't think it was the guitar. These two sound so great and what a technically correct comparison. Great work! I think I like the mid range of the 18 better cause that's where I'm comfortable.
The 18 has a little less sustain than the 28. I'm growing very partial to the sound of mahogany though, I just love the warmth and low-mid thickness. 18 would be my choice for fingerstyle, 28 for strumming. Can definitely hear the added top-end response from the shaved top!
To my ears, the 28 sounds more open and sometimes a bit boomy, while the 18 sounds more focused in the bass and a bit more scooped. Impossible to tell which one sounds better, but I'm going to give a very slight edge to rosewood.
I agree, i have one 000-18, when I bought it was the only option on the guitar center store and i was traveling. It's an amazing guitar and I really love it...but in the future i will buy a 000-28 a signature of John Mayer or ERic CLapton
The John Mayer one is an OMJM it's a bit diferent from 000, but it's a 28
I have noticed the 18 has ebony bridge pins. Would be keen to see a video with the pins swapped out. For a more accurate comparison but also to see if the pins make a real difference in tone
LOVE the 18. The only dilemma now is whether to get the OOO or the D. Really tough choice!
Exactly what I’m thinking!!!!
What did you end up with?
18 all the way.
don't get me wrong, the 28 is great-but the 18 is just so much more solid sounding where the 28 sounds a little bitchy in places. wider tonal range isn't always best and that's what I hear from the 28's rosewood.
I'm sure that if you graphed out the frequency response/range of both guitars the 28 would *look* better better... but that's on paper.
I guess I'm just not one for graphs and charts.
First - this is by far the best head-to-head "sound off" I've heard. Too bad there's not more of this approach - it really cuts through the hyperbole of what is "better", "brighter" or whatever else. These are both great sounding guitars- and for many of the clips there was literally no difference to my earss, so so minor that differences between specimens of the same exact model would probably vary more. But there are certain instances where the rosewood model did sound better to me. That is totally subjective, but if I wanted to record one vs the other and given the choice- I'd take the 28. It was slightly fuller and with better high-end to my ears, but only in certain passages. Again - two instruments of the exact same model number would probably vary as much as these two- and that would be another interesting "sound-off" comparison.
+Tioga Fretworks Totally agree. I am almost certain if blinded I could not tell the difference. Very surprising
Both sound great but even with the limitations of youtube the 18 just has better definition and this comparison just further reinforced my preference for mahogany. But that is what it really comes down to- personal preference as both are incredibly beautiful sounding instruments.
Both are seriously good guitars. I couldn't tell the difference between them though. They're so similar.
Too hard to choose so I have both
spankystrat49 no, no you don’t
Then why bother watching the video? Haha ;-) not calling you out, just joking around. I wish I had both....
@@superdriver777 yah and I have a John Mayer and an Eric Clapton model just for kicks. Hahaha
I'm a strummer. The 18 sounds fuller. The D's are fantastic too, but I prefer the comfort of a shallower body and slightly shorter scale. A joy to play.
Will you please review the 000mmv?
000-18. Spruce and Mahogany sounds great!
great comparison.
both great gtrs.
i slightly preferred the 000-18
thanks for this!
Does anyone have objective insight into how these two might compare after ten or twenty years? How does aged mahogany sound when compared to equally aged rosewood?
Rosewood J-45 with electronics and cutaway??? Wonder what pickup most of you guys would put in one of these Martin's? Or an in soundhole pu to leave to wood alone?
They both sound gorgeous. The 18 is warmer than the 28. The 28 is brighter. A matter of taste. Age and playing in will probably help both of them. Thanks for the video.
I prefer the mohogany in this particul comparison, even though I really like the bright sound of the 28.
Would it be strange to like rosewood O or OO for finger style but for OOO and bigger prefer Mahogany for anything but especially strumming? By strange I mean uncommon or unprecedented... or is that a common viewpoint?
haha.... Tony got a phone call since the 30th second! Ringtone off, but I can hear the vibration! :D
The 18 has more bottom end and sounds amazing to my ears. The Rosewood certainly has more color to it. There is a reason why most guitars use rosewood. it is superior, but just doesn't have the low end of Mahogany. I have a John Mayer martin with Engleman spruce top and rosewood back and sides. my next gutiar will be a Martin Quad with Mahogony. 0000- 18. They are canons and absolutely amazing.
We have a custom Shop 0000 with Mahogany on order now. It's going to be a great guitar!
Prefer the 00018's sound...the difference is mahogany back/sides??? :) Who would have thunk it...didn't think the back/side tone would would make a noticeable difference.
I wouldn't kick either out of bed, but the 18 seemed more "broken-in". That dry,woody sound that reminds me why I prefer mahogany.
OOO 18 is a little little less boomy, more accurate than OOO 28, hard to guess only hearing. Nice video by the way
That's how I heard it too.
Whats the tune called that you play starting at 2:48?
Both sound great, though that strumming at the end sounded much better on the 18. Still, there's something about rosewood I suspect is just impossible to capture in a youtube video. Just a gut feeling.
Honestly, they sound almost identical. Just a bit deeper bass on the 000-28. I have a GE 000-18 1937 and honestly I believe the mahogany with that particular bracing just makes it! I am thinking a hot rod D-18 is just what I need to complete my collection.
Way closer than I thought but I'd have to give the slight edge to the 18. The 28 was slightly boxy for my liking.
How is your serve holding up?
I started out as a mahogany fan but Rosewood has really grown on me it's really punchy and almost sweet.
Must be my headphones....they both sound identical....i would have to hear them in person.....thanks for posting
hey there, if anybody could tell me the name of the second tune there I'd appreciate it ... thanks ...
Where I hear the difference is the EAD Strongs on the 28 having more bass overtones --- I have a 69 D35 --- so that is familiar to me -- for second martin I would go for the 000 18 as an alternative sound -- I also thought it stood out a tiny bit better finger picking
I'm shocked. I thought the 28 would crush the 18, but I couldn't find enough difference to justify getting the 28. I am currently in the market for a 000 and was looking at both of these as well as a couple of other labels. This demo eliminates the 28, though my first choice as of right now is either a Boucher or a Furch. But the 18's lower price has to be taken into.consideration.
Could someone please tell me what song is being played at 2:24?
Hi guys, can anyone list out all the songs he plays in the demo please? Thanks! The only one i know is last steam engine..
The biggest difference is heard when strumming with a pick... the rosewood is more "crystalline", or "chimey" with overtones and brightness... the mahogany is more "woody", or "organic" with warmth. The differences are really very small, indistinguishable when played fingerstyle. Buy the one that smells and looks the best to you. Personally I prefer the warmth of mahogany for vocal accompaniment, as do most vocalists.
One more thing! I tend to play more riff type stuff mixed with chords all over the neck. I really wish there were more comparisons of that rather than only playing chords and licks in first position.
What's the song at 2:50? Thx!
I love them both!!! I would take the 18 though. 👍
I need a guitar to play while singing. So i went to my local shop and tested much, heared every guitar on the youtube and read through forums between the: 000-28, 000-28 MD, 000-18, 000-18 MD, OM-28 and OM-28 MD and i think the 000-18 might be the right one for me.
All of the Modern Deluxe guitars are very nice but they are more suited to play without singing.
For a nice warm sound while singing the 000-18 and the 000-28 are very nice options, even the OM-28 was very "in-your-face" and direct, same with the modern deluxe series, the guitars sings with you in a duet instead beeing a accompaniment to your voice. And the golden standard nowadays and in the past is the Gibson J-45, which is too big for me, i like the triple O size. The J-45 is like the 000-18 spruce top and mahogany sides and back - beautiful combination for notes that doesn'r ring too long so you can hear the voice niceley.
I think the Martin 000-18 is a marvelous choice for singers/songwriters and even small stages.
If i wanted to impress with the Guitar and let it sing, my choice probably would be the OM-28 Modern Deluxe.
I hope that helps anyone ...
I feel like the 18 has much more low midrange and less highs.. for this reason I think it’s much better choice for a singer songwriter or rhythm guitar player. The 28 would be better for anything requiring better note separation.
Do the martin 000-15m vs the 000-15sm please!
RascoH12 They did.
Tough one. The 18 sounded sharper, the 28 slightly warmer with more bass but less mids. I'd have to play thm in my hands and go with another sense: Feel.
auramac Exactly. I couldn't make up my mind- perfect description why.
Hi I am looking for a suggestion. Which one is better. Martin d 28 or the Martin lx1e ed sheeran model?
You're joking, right? If not the d28 is so much better in every single aspect
Ben Flores Good lord, you're not even in the ballpark here. Which is "better" - a Ford or a BMW? The D28 is so completely in a different league in every way there's no way to compare the two. But at the end of the day , its first about what feels and sounds the best to YOU to play. That's why you should never buy an acoustic instrument without playing it. Overall "sound" might be wonderful on one guitar, but if it's uncomfortable or uninspiring to play - you may not make the most of it. Totally subjective.
Yeah, you're right!
Ben Flores I'm not biting. Sarcasm screams...
Damn I fell in love with the 000-18. Are there also any guitars sound similar to this?
Great show of difference and similarity. I thought the 28 was a little warmer
Also same nut and scale?
Will you do any epiphone reviews
Marcus Segura Seriously?...
auramac u commented already!?hahaha
From my personal experience, the difference between two series is smaller than the difference of individual guitar within series.
you forgot to mention that the OOO18 has a shorter scale a wider fretboard, and wider string spacing.
That's funny because that in itself is probably the biggest difference in acoustics….
+Tom Canfield No, the 000-28EC is wider, the 000-28 isn't (I have one)
+ROY NADAV Nah, they're both short-scale, even on the production models, and additionally, these are both Music Villa models.
Doesn't the 18 have an 1 3/4 width at the nut?
To me, mahogany is warmer, right from the get go. Rosewood to my ears has a weird, cold quackiness to it (I don't know how else to describe it - maybe like the tone is coming through an old soup can or something?). I have a 2006 D28 and I rarely play it because a) it is very difficult to play at A440 - I have to tune down 1/2 step so the strings have enough flex in them that my arthritic thumb doesn't scream at me, and b) that tone quirkiness - it just seems like its never going to open up. I have 2 other Martins, both mahogany (well, one is sapele -but that's mahogany, right?!?!) and their tone is always warm. I will say that sonically the rosewood is tighter, therefore clearer across all 6 strings, but mahogany comes out the box warm and well balanced, although with a wee bit of a lack of distinction through the ranges - not necessarily a bad thing.
Seems like the 28 has brighter high end than the 18. I have a 000-15M and am in love with the sweet mellow sound. I have a tiny house and don't need the slightly more boomy-ness of the 000-28 or the volume of the D28. love them all though!
I know this is an old vid but why did Tony introduce himself as Pete Sampras? 😂
Anyone knows the name of the riff at 2m14s？
I have an 000-18 which is very nice....however...if I had it to do all over again I would go with a OM 28.....
The 000-28 amplifies the mids of the overtones of a sustained cord
Martin 000RS1 or Dreadnought ?
Do an OM vs 000.
The 000-28 has slightly more depth, warmth, and character to it, but for some styles, I really like the twang the 000-18 has
Both sound great, but surprisingly similar. Tony does the best video comparisons; MusicVilla NEEDS to get him back. Their current videos are very poor now.
Maybe it is UA-cam but I can;t hear a difference, although both are lousy sounding in the bass region. Perhaps a better mic or mic placement would help.
Duane Brocious
Well I'm hearing this through a Jbl flip 2 speaker and I can easily tell the difference. The overtones firstly surrounding the notes are better on the 28, and it's louder less tinny along with a clearer definition.
Why don't u try watching again and get better speakers
Clean ur ear maybe. 😛
Good job on the hot rodding! I am using Sennheiser HD-500 headphones, an external DAC, and a headphone amp, so UA-cam compression and my hearing is the limiting factor. The custom 000-18 with mahogany back and sides is "softer" on the attacks, warmer, with less overtones in the upper range. It emphasizes the fundamental frequency being played. The custom rosewood 000-28 maintains the strong bass but also has strong treble and upper overtones. It sounds more sparkly and has snappier attack when picked. It's easier to reduce the high frequencies during play than it is to add them, so I prefer the rosewood, but I wouldn't mind owning either guitar.
It’s interesting how we hear things differently. On the 18 the bass is less deep to me. But the bass that it does have projects more. With the 28 to me there is much more low and low - mid overall. So I would describe that warmer or woollier. The highs are there but slightly overtaken by the lower frequencies. They are both beautiful sounding guitars however. I own a 000-18 golden era and I love it. I would agree with the person who said the 28 would be nice strummed and accompanying a singer. However either one would do solo guitar work just fine. just my two cents
BUY A 000-18 AND STICK A PILLOW IN IT AND IT WILL SOUND LIKE THE 000-28
мне кажется в 000-18 более глухая атака, по видео это не заметно, но из личного опыта (являюсь владельцем 000-18).
Я бы рекомендовал использовать 000-18 для смешанного стиля (фолк, кантри, блюз), а 000-28 подойдет для всего, в том числе для простого бренчания аккордами!
Иосиф Сталин That's easy for YOU to say...
Maybe it's me......didn't hear much (if any) difference..........both sound great !!
the 18 has more overtones the 28 has just a cats whisker more focus so I have to give a preference to the 18 here
now if you had a Brazilian rosewood that may be different altogether
Thanks for this, Tony. Your reviews are always great. They are both fantastic guitars, but the 18 sounds brighter. I prefer it for fingerstyle. The bass response is slightly less muddy than on the 28 - at least to my ears. I think it stems from the Mahogany back and sides. Anyway, I am a fan of the 18s))) I have one, a really great fingerstyle box for a shade under 3000 bucks.
I completely agree with your comments. I give the 18 the edge, but both are great.
the 28 has more of a responsive, reflective tone. The notes FLY off the soundboard. The 18 is stuffier and stiffer, but still sounds fantastic.
I thought this guys name was Tony Polecastro ?? or is that someone else ??
From the tone wood perspective, mahogany has an emphasis in the midrandge whereas rosewood has more of a scooped frequency band with nice high highs and warm lows. Just two distinct, both great, widely accepted in guitar applications. It's basically an apple to orange comparison.
Having said that, I personally like mahogony better in this comparison. Mid-range focus adds a sense of balance to the looser, boomier nature of the shorter scale 000. 000-28 isn't bad sounding either, but if you're fan of rosewood, try the OM28. It has amzing balance and sound--nice tight bass, smooth soft mid, and typical-rosewood musical shimmering highs. Great for finger picking as the nut is 1 3/4 wide, but the right hand still plays like strat/LP with 2 1/16 string spacing at the bridge. Good for strumming as well.
Nochaser Guitar Channel Reminds me of alternating between my Martin D17M and my Gibson J45.. the Martin is like the 18, the Gibson like the 28. Love both... Depends on the mood, song, situation.. Yes, we do need more than one guitar... Or two or three or four...