Name: Ray S Date: 09/27/09 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D18 Authentic: 5 - Best thing I ever played
Like about the Martin D-18 Authentic: Bought guitar sight unseen on the net. It is a 2006 model but was unplayed. I've had it for a year and a half now, put Elixir Nanoweb phosphor bronze medium on as soon as I got it. Awesome and keeps getting better. Get lots of positive comments on it. Really enjoy it.
Dislike about the Martin D18 Authentic: Case could be much better quality for such a guitar. Mostly use Calton from my 1976 HD28 when travelling with it.
Forum username: kitesurfer314 Date: 5/22/09 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D18 Authentic: 5 - Best thing I ever played
Likes: Once you play it you'll buy it. It was the best sounding guitar in the store other than a Martin 0-45 SS. Waverly's now on the guitar. I guess Martin saw the complaints. It is so light.The neck is chubby but plays like a dream. I love it. Note separationis wonderful especially for bluegrass. Sustain's much better than my D-42.Chords sound glorious and rich. I can't say enough.
Dislikes: None. This guitar is perfect.
Additional Comments: I love how elegantly plain it looks. Then you play and BOOM! Unreal. Martin is a wonderful company and this guitar is worth every penny.
Forum username: Bigblue Date: 3-3-08 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D18 Authentic: 4 - Highly recommend it Like about the Martin D-18A: The Tone and projection is the best I've ever heard. Action leaves a little to be desired...but that can be adjusted. The Soundboard is extraordinary.
Dislikes: The neck is a little fat for my tastes.....but hey, it's an authentic.
Additional Comments: Overall for the price, I could only give it a 4....as my D-42 can do most everything as the 18..with better action.
Name: Earl Date: 9/18/2007 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D18 Authentic: 5 - Best guitar I ever played
Like about the Martin D-18 Authentic: This guitar is absolutely incredible. I have played hundreds and hundreds of guitars over the years and the D-18A is best. Have no beef with the case.
Dislike about the Martin D18 Authentic: The tuners freakin' suck. That's not even what they looked like in 37'. The first thing I'd do is get some Waverly's with the vintage oval knobs and get those junkers off there. Also, I played about 8 of the D-18A's and they were all fantastic but one was just a tad bit exceptional. Will pay to play more than one if you are considering a purchase.
Additional Comments: Buy one as soon as possible. It will be the last guitar you will ever buy because there is nothing on the market in Mahogany better.
Name: Bri Date: 9/11/07 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D18 Authentic: 4 - Highly recommend it
Like about the Martin D-18 Authentic: Not the best I've ever played (I've played a '39 snowflake D-45), but the best I've owned. Great range and volume for a new guitar and has balance and sustain that truly puts it into the vintage class. What will it do when it's opened totally? I'm scared!
Dislike about the Martin D18 Authentic: It drowns out my partners...oops! Their problem...
Additional Comments: Love it to death...
Name: Philip Date: 12/19/06 Review: D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D18 Authentic: 5 - Best thing I ever played
Like about the Martin D-18 Authentic: Loud,loud,loud
Dislike about the Martin D18 Authentic: Nothing
Additional Comments: I have owned and played a lot of guitars over the last 30 years and Have owned a 1943 d-18 and sold it about 10 years ago. I have always thought i would never have another guitar that sounded as good so when i started reading about the authentic I thought no way a new martin could be near a good as my old war time Ax but everybody said the hype was real so i bit the bullet and bought one, I love it and If my old one sounded this good no wounder I miss it. This guitar is really a cannon and is a ton of money but truly worth the dough.I am a finger picker and this guitar has inspired me to learn how to flat pick.
Name: Les John Date: 12/14/06 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic
Like about the Martin D18 Authentic: I'm comparing this to my 1999 D-18GE. First I must say it doesn't have the volume of the D-18GE because it hasn't opened up yet but already the bass notes are superior & it has a well defined mid range. It takes a while for the adirondack top to really open up & then I'm certain in a couple of years it will sound fabulous. The neck is really good I love it more chunky than on the D-18GE and no V shape. The woods used are better quality than on the D-18GE the top has bear claw figuring. I expected it to be lighter in weight and it is, slightly lighter than the D-18GE.
Dislike about the Martin D-18 Authentic: A guitar of this value should have a better quality case than this. Mine has a lid that doesn't fit properly and the hardware isn't tough enough and do we need to see the C F Martin logo on the tuners I think not.
Additional Comments: I've no doubt the guitar will improve greatly with age and in a few years will get 5 stars from me.
Forum username: Frontporchdog Date: 11/3/06 Review: Martin D18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D-18 Authentic: 5 - Best thing I ever played
Like about the Martin D18 Authentic: I was very skeptical when I heard of this guitar and the price Martin was asking; until I played when that showed up at our local music store. Holy cow! Loud, loud, loud. Wide projection, great base and clear note separation. I have a great Collings D1A and it blew it away when I brought it in to compare it to the D18A. Great neck.
Dislike about the Martin D-18 Authentic: The case. I know it's supposed to be retro, but it has cheap hardware. They could have used the brown color but put on good quality hardware. I might have liked Waverly's instead of the Gotoh's
Additional Comments: Best guitar I have ever played. I bought it the same day I heard it.
UMGF username: jackhall99 Date: 2/24/2006 Review: Martin D-18 Authentic Rating you give the Martin D-18 Authentic: 5 - Best thing I ever bought
Liked about the Martin D18 Authentic: I am amazed by the guitar's projection, clarity and bass response. It is incredibly loud. It has that crisp mahogany sound, and in addition the bottom end is very impressive. The finish is flawless. The top is a wide-spaced grain; tighter in the center and wider at the edges. The pewter finished Gotoh Nickel open geared tuners are nice. The case is very good looking. And the neck is a wonderful, chubby piece of wood; simply to die for.
Disliked about the Martin D18 Authentic: In my mind, there is nothing to dislike. The cost is relatively high, but the Authentic is worth every cent.
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