Got to say.. I own 3 Gibsons... Hummingbird Original, Southern Jumbo Original, J45 Standard. Bought a 2024 D18. The Gibsons never leave their cases now.. liked the D18 so much. I purchased a 2024 D18 with the 1933 Ambertone Finish.. put a pickup in the natural finish. So, these two are all I need...
i always love your comparisons, as much for your clear and beautiful playing as for the guitars you are showing us. Since i have a mahogany guitar (Taylor 518) I have a strong desire for that Martin D28. Maybe someday! For now i will just learn your chord progressions!
After testing dozens of guitars, Gibsons, Taylors, Maton, Larrivées, a Martin D-18 hit me in the first minute like lightning. It was immediate love. Best balance ever
True. I think the best way to compare any guitar is to play it into a recorder on the mobile device and play them back. That's the best way to make a comparison and decision.
Excellent comparison! I like the D18 more for sure. D28 has a few moments that make me wonder though. I’ve had a D28, HD28 and D35. I’m leaning toward mahogany these days.
Ian great comparison. Would you say the d18 is warmer but the d28 has a sweeter sound at least that's what I'm hearing? Also which one is a louder guitar in the room?
In 1973 my buddy bought a D-18. I bought a D-28. The 18 was darker. Both are well balanced but I still have and prefer my D-28 to any acoustic I've played. Granted, not many but Taylor's, Gibson's, Ovation's, Yamaha and Takamine.
I noticed it too. The D28 had a brighter sound. But they both sang like the angels in heaven. I have a Guild, two Yammies, and a Sigma. I just don't know if I'll eventually get a Martin D28, or the Gibson Hummingbird. Either is a win in my book.
@@michaelainsworth6966 I have owned 15 Martins, most of them D-18 or D-18S variants.. long story. but I will never buy another new Martin. Bought my first one in 1961.. a 1939 00-17 . I currently own three.. but new,, never again especially Custom Orders. Screwed too many time by substandard materials and workmanship and abysmal "customer service". 2 high dollar customs ordered in 2010 and 2011. Both unplayable.. returned.. spent over a year in Nazareth while they decided what to do, they lost one of them and declared the other (never played) as un repairable and destroyed it and forgot to contact me. Not the Martin Company I knew prior to CFM IV. Let's here your story.. BTW I paid $4 for the 00-17.. yes 4 dollars... ripped off though, no case.
That's great and all...but which one is which? We can make assumptions, but it would be nice to know for sure. Maybe in the notes? Maybe at the end of the vid?
The D-28 has a slightly deeper toner with a little more volume.. but as “new” Martins.. they both sound restrictive… they both have their places in my opinion… 28 better for flat picking and competing with bluegrass bands… 18 warmer sound better for finger picking and blues patterns… just my opinion
The D-28 is the first one played. You can tell the difference between the two by the color of the wood behind the sound hole. The D-28 has rosewood, which has a very dark color when compared to the mahogany of the D-18.
They both sound great, but that woody clarity of the D-18 is where the money’s at in my book.
Got to say.. I own 3 Gibsons... Hummingbird Original, Southern Jumbo Original, J45 Standard. Bought a 2024 D18. The Gibsons never leave their cases now.. liked the D18 so much. I purchased a 2024 D18 with the 1933 Ambertone Finish.. put a pickup in the natural finish. So, these two are all I need...
i always love your comparisons, as much for your clear and beautiful playing as for the guitars you are showing us. Since i have a mahogany guitar (Taylor 518) I have a strong desire for that Martin D28. Maybe someday! For now i will just learn your chord progressions!
After testing dozens of guitars, Gibsons, Taylors, Maton, Larrivées, a Martin D-18 hit me in the first minute like lightning. It was immediate love. Best balance ever
Hi Ian, thanks for a lovely comparison. I must admit that on my crappy compute speakers, I could hardly tell a difference!
True. I think the best way to compare any guitar is to play it into a recorder on the mobile device and play them back. That's the best way to make a comparison and decision.
fingerpicking - rosewood
strumming - mahogany
Excellent comparison! I like the D18 more for sure. D28 has a few moments that make me wonder though. I’ve had a D28, HD28 and D35. I’m leaning toward mahogany these days.
Thanks! I came to the conclusion that I want both :(
Another lesson in why you need both. Both sound great, in their own unique ways. Nice one!
Superbe comparaison !!! Le matin en partant au boulot je met ça dans ma voiture rien que pour la beauté du son 😎.. Très apaisant au passage !!
Ian great comparison. Would you say the d18 is warmer but the d28 has a sweeter sound at least that's what I'm hearing? Also which one is a louder guitar in the room?
In 1973 my buddy bought a D-18. I bought a D-28. The 18 was darker. Both are well balanced but I still have and prefer my D-28 to any acoustic I've played. Granted, not many but Taylor's, Gibson's, Ovation's, Yamaha and Takamine.
I noticed it too. The D28 had a brighter sound. But they both sang like the angels in heaven. I have a Guild, two Yammies, and a Sigma. I just don't know if I'll eventually get a Martin D28, or the Gibson Hummingbird. Either is a win in my book.
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Very good comparison. Straight to the point. Thank you.
Excelente comparação. Da pra perceber com clareza a diferença de timbres. Os 02 violões são ícones....
My choice.. D-18 without hesitation.
I have a 1937 D-18 and it has been in two wars…long story🎸🎶💟
@@michaelainsworth6966 I have owned 15 Martins, most of them D-18 or D-18S variants.. long story. but I will never buy another new Martin.
Bought my first one in 1961.. a 1939 00-17 .
I currently own three.. but new,, never again especially Custom Orders.
Screwed too many time by substandard materials and workmanship and abysmal "customer service".
2 high dollar customs ordered in 2010 and 2011. Both unplayable.. returned.. spent over a year in
Nazareth while they decided what to do, they lost one of them and declared the other (never played) as un repairable and destroyed it and forgot to contact me.
Not the Martin Company I knew prior to CFM IV.
Let's here your story.. BTW I paid $4 for the 00-17.. yes 4 dollars... ripped off though, no case.
That's great and all...but which one is which?
We can make assumptions, but it would be nice to know for sure. Maybe in the notes? Maybe at the end of the vid?
Check out the binding - the 28 has the white strip.
I will try and edit the video
The D28 has 2 fret markers on the 7th fret
The binding is always the hive away
The binding is always the give away
What’s the difference
The D-28 has a slightly deeper toner with a little more volume.. but as “new” Martins.. they both sound restrictive… they both have their places in my opinion… 28 better for flat picking and competing with bluegrass bands… 18 warmer sound better for finger picking and blues patterns… just my opinion
Timestamps would help a lot
Ok I will try and do it someday
You never differentiate btwn the 2 models played. You just play. How can the newbie know which is which?
The D-28 is the first one played. You can tell the difference between the two by the color of the wood behind the sound hole. The D-28 has rosewood, which has a very dark color when compared to the mahogany of the D-18.
@@bradmeredith7569 Also, the D28 has white binding around the sound board while the D18 has a dark binding and looks less decorative.
D18 has black ebony bridgepins, D28 has white plastic pins.