Totally agree with your advice and summing up. I have a modern HD-35 and a vintage 40ish yr old J-40. They both have their place, but when that vintage tone and balance creeps in it is unmistakable. I know I’m comparing a dreadnought and jumbo 🤷🏻♂️ I wouldn’t part with either of them! There is definitely a fragility to the vintage but I also tolerate its (very few) shortcomings, just because it’s had a life and that’s it’s character 😂
Well said! I love letting an instrument’s unique character lead me down a new path of inspiration. That’s why “one more guitar” is always my answer to how many is enough 😂.
Terrific video (as always). Signal chain details , strings and tuning all really helpful to understand how that beatiful sound is created. Please keep the excellent content coming our way ! V best from a cold damp UK - no Summer here so far this season.
Absolutely fascinating video and subject!!! To my ears, the ‘51 Martin has a beautiful BLOOM to its sound that the newer version just doesn’t have. Well, Jonathan, this video served to remind me that with acoustic guitars, older guitars usually have “something” that is unobtanium any other way.
Thanks for your observations! Agree about the bloom - well said! I find it difficult to discern how much of the vintage appeal is in the sound or feel, but I think both factors create that certain "something" that is seldom experienced in newer guitars. That said, I find this far less relevant among electric guitars.
Excellent recording and playing! As for slippery picks, I take a razor or utility knife and score the finger grip area with a sort of diamond pattern. Works wonders for grip on any pick style. I will also typically score the picking/strumming area of the pick as well. It gives a real nice texture to both strumming and picking.
Just bought a d18 standard. Loved it in the guitar store and then after I brought it home I realized it was just a little bit too bold for me to sing up against. I actually should have sang alongside it in the guitar store but that's okay. I remedied the situation experimented with five different sets of strings ended up using the Martin 2.0 1152s. Before I even put them on I figured they probably wouldn't work it would sound too thin I figured I'd be taking them back off in an hour. But ended up they sounded great just took a little bit of volume away without sacrificing a great sound. And most important I can sing with it. Which is the reason I bought it in the first place. Probably the last guitar I'll ever need
Thank you! Agree. The vintage one draws me in more to play it, which is hard to convey in a video, but ultimately most important to me. The reissue does sound great under a mic too.
I grew up with a vintage Martin propped in the corner at the great grandparents’ place. It’s tough because that is now my “ur” guitar. With headphones though, I like the reissue here.
This came at the perfect time, as I’ve been diving deep into the Gibson j45, Atkin 43, Bourgeois Country Boy Deluxe and the Martin d18 golden era. Always thought baked Adirondack would be the best top but the sweet vintage sound of spruce just has a vibe. Surprisingly, I preferred the reissue better! But the ‘52 is hypnotic and intoxicating. Or maybe that’s your playing lol. As always, exceptional all around so nice work and thank you!! Also, recently played a Gibson custom 1934 Jumbo that was a cannon.. cheers!
Thanks for the kind words, Brian! So many great options you are considering. I think baked adi is a great option. It will give some vintage vibe with the peace of mind of a modern build. I have a Fairbanks J-45 that feels and sounds close to vintage (it has RW back and sides and is cannon!). Let me know how you make out!
While there are definite differences in the tone of the two guitars, your expertise and touch made them both sound fantastic. I believe for the cost difference I would be fine with the modern however feel would probably dictate the best choice. Thanks again for another great comparison video.
Vintage for me, but I have one of the HD28 reinvented models, and based on how good it sounds now I think it will be an absolute monster in 50 years (it's already amazing). Martin is making excellent guitars right now, at any price, but especially at their price point.
Great video. I had a 2019 D18 but sold it to get the ‘65 Gibson J45 that I currently own. I’ve played the J45 pretty much daily since I bought it (over a year ago), so the vintage guitar has been more exciting to play. For your comparison, I prefer the vintage guitar for most situations. The newer D18 sounded great for strumming, and is also a fantastic guitar.
Thanks for the kind words and reflections! We’ve been down a similar road as I sold my 2015 D-18 to a family member (borrowed it to make the video) and also own a vintage ‘64 Southern Jumbo (which is basically a J-45). The microphone loves the SJ in the studio!
@@RatherBeRiffing I haven’t recorded with my vintage Gibson yet, but should give that a try. Maybe a vintage D18 and Southern Jumbo comparison video at some point? 😁 I’m subscribed now and will check out some of your other videos.
‘52 sounds like a well rounded, mature, wise person :) And it looks amazing. You said it all by describing it as having intimacy and clarity - that’s perfect. The action looks pretty low on both - did you adjust the bridge heights?
Firstly being new to channel i digging it alot and no you are not talking to much your info and explanations as you do them are super you do a fantastic job. As for your playing i llove it your sound or influences im fairly sure of so far . I would love to know about if you are schooled at all on guitar which i believe you are and do you play out and where you schooled in guitar at and those sort of things. If you have a video telling this please excuse me im very new to the channel and trying to catch up on your great content. Again i love the channel and your veru tasty playing thanks ❤❤🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎶🎵🎸🎶🎵🤺🤺🔥👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎼🎼🎼🤘🤘🤘
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’ve learned every way I could. My dad taught me the basics, I emulated my heroes, took Jazz guitar lessons for some theory, and learned from other musicians playing in bands.
In 1939 Martin went from 1 3/4” nut width to 1 11/16” nut width. Your ‘52 is 1 11/16” and so is the 2015. Martin did not re-introduce 1 3/4” nut width as standard until the “re-imagined” acoustic line was released in 2018.
Thank you for the info, Tyler! The dealer ads for 2015 say 1 3/4” so it got me curious. I just measured and it is 1 3/4”. Maybe they had different versions out then.
The D-18 was the first model to be re-imagined, in something like 2012. So a 2015 D-18 will be re-imagined and thus have 1 3/4". The other models were re-imagined several years later than the D-18. They probably wanted to test the waters with the D-18 before going all in on the re-imagining.
As is nearly always the case, vintage gear takes the high end out with a very gentle roll-off and people obsess over it like there's some magic involved.
I find vintage gear to be over hyped to an extent as not all of it is great. I played a ton of vintage stuff during a trip to Nashville earlier this year. Maybe it was just a bad sampling, but nothing I played moved me.
The vintage Martin sounds to me like the classic D-18 with a very focused midrange and sweet woody overtones. The headroom test shows that the vintage Martin doesn’t compress as much as the reissue. The reissue compresses and gets flat and thin when you dig in. At least that’s how it sounds to me on my laptop here and how I have experienced it when playing them. I don’t much care for the post-2012 re-worked D-18s. To me they get so close to occupying the space of a D-28 which is great but not what I want in a D-18. They lose some of those sweet woody mids. Interestingly, all of the original vintage D-18s with forward shifted scalloped bracing and ebony fretboard and bridge that I have been lucky enough to experience DO have that midrange. They are very piano like. So maybe with some age and playing in the reissues will develop some of that sweet midrange? I guess I am more of a fan of the straight-braced D-18 and the to me 50s era 18s are the perfect almost-semi-affordable Martin dreads. Your 52 there is pretty amazing. Definitely a keeper!
Thanks for the insight! The focused mids and woodiness make it more expressive to play for me than the reissue. And now that you mention it, the reissue does resemble D-28’s I’ve played.
The daddario 80/20s and phosphor bronze strings are different, they are not the same. You’ll get a brighter tone with 80/20s. The phosphor bronze will have a warmer tone.
I hate to point this out but you have a under the saddle pickup installed in the Newer D18 . That is going to effect the sound , believe me or not . But yes the vintage guitar is going to sound better .
@@RatherBeRiffing most of the piezo under the saddle pickups are like a wire mesh and it's sandwiched between the bone saddle and the wood of the bridge. . there is a tonal difference .. it's a known thing . Nice guitars and nice playing by the way .
@@RatherBeRiffingyeah you'd have to get another saddle that was a little taller to make up for the pickup height and take the pickup out and swap out the saddle . Would be an interesting Test ... Anyways great D18s you got there .
Totally agree with your advice and summing up. I have a modern HD-35 and a vintage 40ish yr old J-40. They both have their place, but when that vintage tone and balance creeps in it is unmistakable. I know I’m comparing a dreadnought and jumbo 🤷🏻♂️ I wouldn’t part with either of them! There is definitely a fragility to the vintage but I also tolerate its (very few) shortcomings, just because it’s had a life and that’s it’s character 😂
Well said! I love letting an instrument’s unique character lead me down a new path of inspiration. That’s why “one more guitar” is always my answer to how many is enough 😂.
I loved the presentation of this video! In the end, I preferred the vintage D-18. Liked and subscribed!
Thank you for the kind words and sub! I favored it as well. It really draws me in when playing it.
Really good job on the video! Super well done comparison and interesting to hear the result. The 1952 sounds really really nice.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!
Terrific video (as always). Signal chain details , strings and tuning all really helpful to understand how that beatiful sound is created. Please keep the excellent content coming our way ! V best from a cold damp UK - no Summer here so far this season.
Thank you - will do! Hope summer comes soon!
Absolutely fascinating video and subject!!! To my ears, the ‘51 Martin has a beautiful BLOOM to its sound that the newer version just doesn’t have. Well, Jonathan, this video served to remind me that with acoustic guitars, older guitars usually have “something” that is unobtanium any other way.
Thanks for your observations! Agree about the bloom - well said! I find it difficult to discern how much of the vintage appeal is in the sound or feel, but I think both factors create that certain "something" that is seldom experienced in newer guitars. That said, I find this far less relevant among electric guitars.
Excellent recording and playing! As for slippery picks, I take a razor or utility knife and score the finger grip area with a sort of diamond pattern. Works wonders for grip on any pick style. I will also typically score the picking/strumming area of the pick as well. It gives a real nice texture to both strumming and picking.
Thanks for the kinds words and tip! I'll have to give that a try!
Just bought a d18 standard. Loved it in the guitar store and then after I brought it home I realized it was just a little bit too bold for me to sing up against. I actually should have sang alongside it in the guitar store but that's okay. I remedied the situation experimented with five different sets of strings ended up using the Martin 2.0 1152s. Before I even put them on I figured they probably wouldn't work it would sound too thin I figured I'd be taking them back off in an hour. But ended up they sounded great just took a little bit of volume away without sacrificing a great sound. And most important I can sing with it. Which is the reason I bought it in the first place. Probably the last guitar I'll ever need
Price difference?? Haha! They both sound great but that vintage... something special for sure. Great video.
Thank you! Agree. The vintage one draws me in more to play it, which is hard to convey in a video, but ultimately most important to me. The reissue does sound great under a mic too.
I grew up with a vintage Martin propped in the corner at the great grandparents’ place. It’s tough because that is now my “ur” guitar. With headphones though, I like the reissue here.
Nice! Does "ur" mean universal reference?
This came at the perfect time, as I’ve been diving deep into the Gibson j45, Atkin 43, Bourgeois Country Boy Deluxe and the Martin d18 golden era. Always thought baked Adirondack would be the best top but the sweet vintage sound of spruce just has a vibe. Surprisingly, I preferred the reissue better! But the ‘52 is hypnotic and intoxicating. Or maybe that’s your playing lol. As always, exceptional all around so nice work and thank you!! Also, recently played a Gibson custom 1934 Jumbo that was a cannon.. cheers!
Thanks for the kind words, Brian! So many great options you are considering. I think baked adi is a great option. It will give some vintage vibe with the peace of mind of a modern build. I have a Fairbanks J-45 that feels and sounds close to vintage (it has RW back and sides and is cannon!). Let me know how you make out!
While there are definite differences in the tone of the two guitars, your expertise and touch made them both sound fantastic. I believe for the cost difference I would be fine with the modern however feel would probably dictate the best choice. Thanks again for another great comparison video.
Thanks and my pleasure! Agree - the modern D-18 is a very fine instrument!
Vintage for me, but I have one of the HD28 reinvented models, and based on how good it sounds now I think it will be an absolute monster in 50 years (it's already amazing). Martin is making excellent guitars right now, at any price, but especially at their price point.
I bet you’re and wish we could time travel and hear it!
Great video. I had a 2019 D18 but sold it to get the ‘65 Gibson J45 that I currently own. I’ve played the J45 pretty much daily since I bought it (over a year ago), so the vintage guitar has been more exciting to play. For your comparison, I prefer the vintage guitar for most situations. The newer D18 sounded great for strumming, and is also a fantastic guitar.
Thanks for the kind words and reflections! We’ve been down a similar road as I sold my 2015 D-18 to a family member (borrowed it to make the video) and also own a vintage ‘64 Southern Jumbo (which is basically a J-45). The microphone loves the SJ in the studio!
@@RatherBeRiffing I haven’t recorded with my vintage Gibson yet, but should give that a try. Maybe a vintage D18 and Southern Jumbo comparison video at some point? 😁 I’m subscribed now and will check out some of your other videos.
@@dwales510 Thanks for the sub! That would be a cool comparison. My SJ an D-18 sound so different from one another.
Spot on, you nailed it.
Thanks!
Beautiful sharing my dear friend!!
Love and respect Kyle!! 😊🥁🇵🇭
Thank you as always!
The vintage by far. Much more open and resonant.
I’m enjoying those qualities in it very much!
‘52 sounds like a well rounded, mature, wise person :) And it looks amazing. You said it all by describing it as having intimacy and clarity - that’s perfect.
The action looks pretty low on both - did you adjust the bridge heights?
Thanks for your reflections as always, Lorenzo! Indeed - low action on both… just the way I like it! Both came to me that way.
Firstly being new to channel i digging it alot and no you are not talking to much your info and explanations as you do them are super you do a fantastic job. As for your playing i llove it your sound or influences im fairly sure of so far . I would love to know about if you are schooled at all on guitar which i believe you are and do you play out and where you schooled in guitar at and those sort of things. If you have a video telling this please excuse me im very new to the channel and trying to catch up on your great content. Again i love the channel and your veru tasty playing thanks ❤❤🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🎶🎵🎸🎶🎵🤺🤺🔥👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🎼🎼🎼🤘🤘🤘
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’ve learned every way I could. My dad taught me the basics, I emulated my heroes, took Jazz guitar lessons for some theory, and learned from other musicians playing in bands.
In 1939 Martin went from 1 3/4” nut width to 1 11/16” nut width. Your ‘52 is 1 11/16” and so is the 2015. Martin did not re-introduce 1 3/4” nut width as standard until the “re-imagined” acoustic line was released in 2018.
Thank you for the info, Tyler! The dealer ads for 2015 say 1 3/4” so it got me curious. I just measured and it is 1 3/4”. Maybe they had different versions out then.
@@RatherBeRiffing Yeah, that’s strange. I just looked it up and see it is 1 3/4”.. maybe the wider nut width was introduced sooner than 2015?
The D-18 was the first model to be re-imagined, in something like 2012. So a 2015 D-18 will be re-imagined and thus have 1 3/4". The other models were re-imagined several years later than the D-18. They probably wanted to test the waters with the D-18 before going all in on the re-imagining.
What strings did you use in the recording on the guitars, are they the same?
Fresh set of D’addario 80/20 bronze .012 - .053 on both guitars.
As is nearly always the case, vintage gear takes the high end out with a very gentle roll-off and people obsess over it like there's some magic involved.
I find vintage gear to be over hyped to an extent as not all of it is great. I played a ton of vintage stuff during a trip to Nashville earlier this year. Maybe it was just a bad sampling, but nothing I played moved me.
The vintage Martin sounds to me like the classic D-18 with a very focused midrange and sweet woody overtones. The headroom test shows that the vintage Martin doesn’t compress as much as the reissue. The reissue compresses and gets flat and thin when you dig in. At least that’s how it sounds to me on my laptop here and how I have experienced it when playing them. I don’t much care for the post-2012 re-worked D-18s. To me they get so close to occupying the space of a D-28 which is great but not what I want in a D-18. They lose some of those sweet woody mids. Interestingly, all of the original vintage D-18s with forward shifted scalloped bracing and ebony fretboard and bridge that I have been lucky enough to experience DO have that midrange. They are very piano like. So maybe with some age and playing in the reissues will develop some of that sweet midrange? I guess I am more of a fan of the straight-braced D-18 and the to me 50s era 18s are the perfect almost-semi-affordable Martin dreads. Your 52 there is pretty amazing. Definitely a keeper!
Thanks for the insight! The focused mids and woodiness make it more expressive to play for me than the reissue. And now that you mention it, the reissue does resemble D-28’s I’ve played.
I personally would prefer the old one.
The daddario 80/20s and phosphor bronze strings are different, they are not the same. You’ll get a brighter tone with 80/20s. The phosphor bronze will have a warmer tone.
Thanks for the info. I’ll try the phosphor bronze next!
I hate to point this out but you have a under the saddle pickup installed in the Newer D18 . That is going to effect the sound , believe me or not . But yes the vintage guitar is going to sound better .
Interesting! I was aware of it, but didn’t know it effects the sound - how so?
@@RatherBeRiffing most of the piezo under the saddle pickups are like a wire mesh and it's sandwiched between the bone saddle and the wood of the bridge. . there is a tonal difference .. it's a known thing . Nice guitars and nice playing by the way .
@@fedexnmanthanks for the explanation. It would be interesting to text with and with our it.
@@RatherBeRiffingyeah you'd have to get another saddle that was a little taller to make up for the pickup height and take the pickup out and swap out the saddle . Would be an interesting Test ... Anyways great D18s you got there .
Tooooo much talking! I like to hear guitars played side by side with the discussion at the end. This was just like an educational video.👎
2015 isn't exactly new either
True. Still feels new relative to the '52.
Fair nuff
Rather be strumming rhythmically.
Haha - yes, sometimes! 😁