@@Michael-Ray Pretty much. Honduran mahogany is the only real mahogany, others marketed as mahogany tend to look and sound pretty much the same as the real deal. Dunno if there's any artificial dying of the wood going on with the faux mahoganies, or are they naturally similar.
I recently purchased one of these and cannot stop playing it. I actually prefer the satin to gloss. It does seem to free up the guitar’s tone a bit. Practically speaking, I prefer the way satin feels when my right arm resting on the guitar. That’s just one man’s opinion.
Your friends at the Acoustic Letter compared a gloss d18 to the satin finish and the satin was a little a bit bigger and more resonant sounding. It does make a difference. That amber burst in satin looks especially good.
I have this guitar and it's my main player. I can't say enough good things about it. The neck is so comfortable and the finish feels so good in your hand. It's like a spiritual experience playing this. It's my most prized non-living possession and I will never, ever sell it. This will be an heirloom for my son. The sound that comes out of this thing is hard to believe. I 100% recommend it.
I remember hearing one of Martins reps in another video say they are finding most customers want either all gloss or all satin on their guitar which is why they went this route instead. Gloss top with satin back and sides are nice though!
Last April I bought a Martin D-X2E. It's the first acoustic guitar I've owned with a satin finish. My other 2 acoustics both have gloss finishes. Having owned both now I'm really impressed with withe satin finish. So much easier to keep it looking good. No fingerprints or having to polish it. I just clean it with quick spray of Music Nomad's Guitar Detailer and then wipe it off clean with a lint free cloth.
I've had an MIJ Sigma DR7 in Ambertone for decades. I always knew it wasn't a sunburst but only learned in the last couple of years that the name of the finish was Ambertone. Feels good to finally know.
I just bought a D-18 satin and absolutely love it. I still want a 28 and maybe one day I can get one but I like the satin over the high gloss. I think it’s a better sound.
Satins sound like an older guitar because they don't have the heavy finish and allow the wood to move and resonate better right out of the box. That said, I do wonder how these guitars will hold up after 30 or 40 years. That traditional finish helps protect the guitar from damage and slows the aging process. Love the amber burst coloration. Beautiful guitar!
Satin finish guitars in general are probably my favorite. Strange too cause years ago i didn't really care for them, but after getting my first satin finish les paul i fell in love satin finishes. I will argue with folks it does effect the tone to some degree. For the better too imo. Those of you whom have owned vor do own satin finish acoustics may tend to agree. It sounds just a little more bright, full i think. Allows the wood to breathe a bit more too they say. Thats not to say i dont like gloss finishes because i do. But i will take a satin finish first any day of the week. Thats a beautiful D-18!! Thanks for sharing man!! Sounds great! Wish i could afford one right now. But sounds like they are hard to get anyways. Years from now those satin/ambers are gonna be very collectible. Rock on!
I have always liked the natural sound and playability of natural finish guitars. It just seems to be more crisp & more balanced quicker over time then the gloss finish.
That D18 sounds great. I would prefer a more subtle edge burst, or plain. But about the satin- my other loves are canoeing and traditional archery, and I’ve always preferred a hand-rubbed finish on my bows and paddles. I like for the wood to glow, not glint. I suppose a pore-filling hand rubbed finish isn’t as light as the satin guitar finishes though. I do really love the “silent satin” finish on my Taylor 717.
Is it African mahogany? They use African mahogany (sipo) on a lot, such as the 15s and CEO-7, but I think they use “Honduran South American” mahogany grown in Fiji on the standard series. It’s good wood either way.
I love the deep bass and balanced trebles and midrange of Martin’s D18. But Cooper’s showing us the Yamaha FG9M a couple days ago has spoiled me. $1500 difference, but ,aesthetically and sonically, I like the Yamaha better. It would certainly be a very difficult decision for me. I’d like to know what you decide, Cooper. Tough call.
I’ve called Martin shortly before this went to Nam and ask them if these Amber tones were stickers, just like the street masters, and was told indeed that they are it is not a spray essentially just a sticker very disappointing for the price. Also regular the 18s don’t come with African mahogany I think it’s Honduran right? So they’re quite a bit different for the price I’d still like one but I’ll wait to find a used one for under 1700.
A lovely instrument. Like mahogany’s straightforward tone. Makes sense it’s in short supply. Have to ask of the satin haters here, just like the Taylor haters, all of whom would absolutely despise my guitar selections, why do you spend so much time watching and commenting on videos about instruments you know beforehand would never in a million years appeal to you? “Oh goody! Cooper’s making awesome music, and sharing his honest and helpful thoughts, I think I’ll shoot him down.”
Unless something has changed recently, Martin uses Central American Mahogany (Genuine Mahogany) rather than African Mahogany on all Standard Series guitars, inculding the D-18. African Mahogany is used on many non-Standard Series Martins.
I owned all gloss finished guitars then bought my EVH Frankie Relic, and now I’m only buying satin or unfinished necks, it’s so much nicer and easier to play, I have sticky skin or something, and I sweat easily.
Sorry can't do satin...I even buff out the satin necks & headstocks on any new Martins I get. I'm highly skeptical that it makes any diff tonally, it's a cost cutting and, in the case of these new all-satins, a marketing measure to move more guitars.
I'm not bragging but I've owned two d28 two guild d40 traditional a larrivee d44r a taylor 317 and others got some debts too lol. But I finally found my baby a natural satin d18. Don't know why it's my Goldie Lox just is glad finally for it no more hunting well after debts are gone probably a dove or a d41 no kids buy the way Chef life.
I may be in the minority here and I sense going against Cooper's preferences as well, but to me satin almost always says downmarket/cheaper to me and not the other way around. It's not the same treatment as giving it a vintage (or relic) effect either, like they've done on their really nice 1954 Rich Robinson or Aged series. Give me gloss b&s or one of those, not these overtly assembly-line, satin poly looking and feeling models.
For me, when a satin guitar opens up after playing for a while, it tends to be too open or mushy sounding. But sounds good when new. So no satin for me.
im a lif long musician and have always loved the gloss finish on guitars and these satin finishes on any guitar as far as i am concerned cheapens the look of the guitar
@@BryanClark-gk6ie With the gloss finishes of today you can have bth and Gibson and Epiphone both have proven that. I have owned 2 martins in my lifetime and neither ne of them played true. The intonation was VERY bad on both of them the first one I owned was a D35 he second oe was a D76 Both were nothing but junk. Ill take the Jumbo sound any day over the dreadnought sound. If the finish is done right Ill take the Gloss over the satin
As some have pointed out, this is genuine mahogany, not African mahogany- apologies for any confusion.
So African mahagony is fake?
@@Michael-Ray Pretty much. Honduran mahogany is the only real mahogany, others marketed as mahogany tend to look and sound pretty much the same as the real deal. Dunno if there's any artificial dying of the wood going on with the faux mahoganies, or are they naturally similar.
African Hog is genuine...there are many Hogs...!
@@scottbranham4839. You sure know your hogs.
Great guitar . . . Great guitarist. Love listening to both Chris and Cooper.
I recently purchased one of these and cannot stop playing it. I actually prefer the satin to gloss. It does seem to free up the guitar’s tone a bit. Practically speaking, I prefer the way satin feels when my right arm resting on the guitar. That’s just one man’s opinion.
Mine is on back order but you shared my sentiments exactly. enjoy my friend
Your friends at the Acoustic Letter compared a gloss d18 to the satin finish and the satin was a little a bit bigger and more resonant sounding. It does make a difference. That amber burst in satin looks especially good.
I have this guitar and it's my main player. I can't say enough good things about it. The neck is so comfortable and the finish feels so good in your hand. It's like a spiritual experience playing this. It's my most prized non-living possession and I will never, ever sell it. This will be an heirloom for my son. The sound that comes out of this thing is hard to believe. I 100% recommend it.
Great to hear as I am looking at this exact model and finish as my lifer guitar. Cheers!
I just managed to snag one on Reverb for close to 500 off ..can't wait to give it a go!
@@SteveMiller-yw7kv I'm sure it'll be great. They have good quality control at the factory.
Sounds magical
Great sound. Cooper’s usual excellent playing doesn’t hurt either.
Love satin guitars. Awesome job as always Coop, and Rocking that Montreal JazzFest tee too! Love it
I have D-18 satin with natural top and it is amazing❤
Can’t go wrong with any D-18. I really like the burst, maybe a gloss top with satin back and sides would be nice .
I remember hearing one of Martins reps in another video say they are finding most customers want either all gloss or all satin on their guitar which is why they went this route instead. Gloss top with satin back and sides are nice though!
Have one on the way..one reason I like the satin is you don't have to worry so much above scratches and such..
Sounds sooo good
Last April I bought a Martin D-X2E. It's the first acoustic guitar I've owned with a satin finish. My other 2 acoustics both have gloss finishes. Having owned both now I'm really impressed with withe satin finish. So much easier to keep it looking good. No fingerprints or having to polish it. I just clean it with quick spray of Music Nomad's Guitar Detailer and then wipe it off clean with a lint free cloth.
I've had an MIJ Sigma DR7 in Ambertone for decades. I always knew it wasn't a sunburst but only learned in the last couple of years that the name of the finish was Ambertone. Feels good to finally know.
I just bought a D-18 satin and absolutely love it.
I still want a 28 and maybe one day I can get one but I like the satin over the high gloss. I think it’s a better sound.
Satins sound like an older guitar because they don't have the heavy finish and allow the wood to move and resonate better right out of the box.
That said, I do wonder how these guitars will hold up after 30 or 40 years. That traditional finish helps protect the guitar from damage and slows the aging process.
Love the amber burst coloration. Beautiful guitar!
Satin finish guitars in general are probably my favorite. Strange too cause years ago i didn't really care for them, but after getting my first satin finish les paul i fell in love satin finishes. I will argue with folks it does effect the tone to some degree. For the better too imo. Those of you whom have owned vor do own satin finish acoustics may tend to agree. It sounds just a little more bright, full i think. Allows the wood to breathe a bit more too they say. Thats not to say i dont like gloss finishes because i do. But i will take a satin finish first any day of the week. Thats a beautiful D-18!! Thanks for sharing man!! Sounds great! Wish i could afford one right now. But sounds like they are hard to get anyways. Years from now those satin/ambers are gonna be very collectible. Rock on!
Damn Cooper, that speech at the end was articulate and beautifully put. And that Travis Picking song sounded great, what is it? One of yours?
I have always liked the natural sound and playability of natural finish guitars. It just seems to be more crisp & more balanced quicker over time then the gloss finish.
I always felt gloss finish acoustic guitars held back the sound of an acoustic so the satin finish on a d-18 seems like it’ll be very nice
Beautiful instrument! Love that finish also.
The D18 sounds wonderful.
Cooper, do you prefer the Martin over the Taylor of similar specs?
Great sound
A real beauty!
That D18 sounds great. I would prefer a more subtle edge burst, or plain. But about the satin- my other loves are canoeing and traditional archery, and I’ve always preferred a hand-rubbed finish on my bows and paddles. I like for the wood to glow, not glint. I suppose a pore-filling hand rubbed finish isn’t as light as the satin guitar finishes though. I do really love the “silent satin” finish on my Taylor 717.
Is it African mahogany? They use African mahogany (sipo) on a lot, such as the 15s and CEO-7, but I think they use “Honduran South American” mahogany grown in Fiji on the standard series. It’s good wood either way.
would be interested to hear this compared to the j45 50s faded that is also satin and looks similar
I love the deep bass and balanced trebles and midrange of Martin’s D18. But Cooper’s showing us the Yamaha FG9M a couple days ago has spoiled me. $1500 difference, but ,aesthetically and sonically, I like the Yamaha better. It would certainly be a very difficult decision for me. I’d like to know what you decide, Cooper. Tough call.
The Yamaha was perfect in every way!
You sure know how to demo a guitar's sound Cooper.
Sounds really good.
That's a beautiful guitar!!
Sounds great. How much different is the satin finish frame the Martin "Authentic " finish on a Authentic series ? Thanks Cooper
oh man, that's a winner
I’ve called Martin shortly before this went to Nam and ask them if these Amber tones were stickers, just like the street masters, and was told indeed that they are it is not a spray essentially just a sticker very disappointing for the price. Also regular the 18s don’t come with African mahogany I think it’s Honduran right? So they’re quite a bit different for the price I’d still like one but I’ll wait to find a used one for under 1700.
That's a killer box
I’m a fan of the D-18 and I like the original finish or aged finish, I would go with that amber burst. 3:08
A lovely instrument. Like mahogany’s straightforward tone. Makes sense it’s in short supply. Have to ask of the satin haters here, just like the Taylor haters, all of whom would absolutely despise my guitar selections, why do you spend so much time watching and commenting on videos about instruments you know beforehand would never in a million years appeal to you? “Oh goody! Cooper’s making awesome music, and sharing his honest and helpful thoughts, I think I’ll shoot him down.”
Unless something has changed recently, Martin uses Central American Mahogany (Genuine Mahogany) rather than African Mahogany on all Standard Series guitars, inculding the D-18. African Mahogany is used on many non-Standard Series Martins.
What brand strings and gauge are on the this satin amber burst D-18? Thank you for your Reply in advance.
I owned all gloss finished guitars then bought my EVH Frankie Relic, and now I’m only buying satin or unfinished necks, it’s so much nicer and easier to play, I have sticky skin or something, and I sweat easily.
18's make great fingerstyle guitars. Rich and warm.
Never owned a satin finished guitar. Does the saying finish hold up like a gloss finished guitar? Does it wear quicker than gloss?
I wish I could make my Martin D-18 Sinker Mahogany guitar sound that good.
What songs did we hear in the demo?
Sorry can't do satin...I even buff out the satin necks & headstocks on any new Martins I get. I'm highly skeptical that it makes any diff tonally, it's a cost cutting and, in the case of these new all-satins, a marketing measure to move more guitars.
Cool 🎸 guitar
I'm not bragging but I've owned two d28 two guild d40 traditional a larrivee d44r a taylor 317 and others got some debts too lol. But I finally found my baby a natural satin d18. Don't know why it's my Goldie Lox just is glad finally for it no more hunting well after debts are gone probably a dove or a d41 no kids buy the way Chef life.
Do you ship to India?
High velocity?
I may be in the minority here and I sense going against Cooper's preferences as well, but to me satin almost always says downmarket/cheaper to me and not the other way around. It's not the same treatment as giving it a vintage (or relic) effect either, like they've done on their really nice 1954 Rich Robinson or Aged series. Give me gloss b&s or one of those, not these overtly assembly-line, satin poly looking and feeling models.
For me, when a satin guitar opens up after playing for a while, it tends to be too open or mushy sounding. But sounds good when new. So no satin for me.
im a lif long musician and have always loved the gloss finish on guitars and these satin finishes on any guitar as far as i am concerned cheapens the look of the guitar
I agree
I've played 48 years' for me it's about the sound ' satin let's the guitar breath better. Most musicians would rather sound better than look better.
@@BryanClark-gk6ie With the gloss finishes of today you can have bth and Gibson and Epiphone both have proven that. I have owned 2 martins in my lifetime and neither ne of them played true. The intonation was VERY bad on both of them the first one I owned was a D35 he second oe was a D76 Both were nothing but junk. Ill take the Jumbo sound any day over the dreadnought sound. If the finish is done right Ill take the Gloss over the satin
No sure about satin finish. D-18 authentic 1937 was kind of nice.
Satin sux! Just my opinion 😂 I don't like them.