Nearly eight years later, I'm revisiting the Martin D18 and the Martin D28. These two iconic acoustic guitars are getting my full, undivided attention. I'll cover why these two guitars should be in your guitarsenal, famous players who use them, and 5 excellent alternatives.
To kick things off, I want to cover why the Martin D18 and the Martin D28 should be in your guitar collection. There are tons of reasons why these two iconic Martin acoustic guitars need to be in your collection, but I distilled it down to my top 5 reasons.
Reason #1: The Martin D18 and Martin D28 are EXTREMELY versatile.
There's almost no musical situation where a Martin D18 or D28 hasn't been used. Think about it. These guitars are mostly associated with bluegrass, but these guitars work for almost any genre. To prove it, I've got proof of singer-songwriters, rockers, and trad players using Marin D18s and D28s!
Reason #2: The Martin History
What's remarkable about owning a Martin guitar, especially a D18 or D28, is the history. When you play one of these guitars, you are stepping into history.
Starting in 1916, the dreadnought shape was created. After that, there have been twists and turns that have defined and shaped how this iconic body shape (pun intended) came to be. The dreadnought is a historical guitar shape that Martin absolutely innovated.
Reason #3: The Bass on Martin D18s and D28s
For guitars that have unmatched bass quality, regardless of whether they are vintage or not, look no further than the Martin D18 and D28. Now, just to be clear, each of these guitars has a slightly different bass sound, but the bass levels are truly awesome.
For example, the D18 offers a nice dry and woody bass tone. Meanwhile, the Martin D28 has a wonderful mid-scooped present bass tone. To demonstrate these differences, I have footage of Billy Strings and Molly Tuttle playing both Martin D18s and Martin D28s.
Reason #4: Martin D18s and D28s are the most imitated guitars on the market today.
I don't care what brand of guitar you choose, but they usually have a copy of the D18 and a copy of the D28. Why? Because the recipe is ingenious. With the Sitka spruce top and the mahogany rosewood back and sides, it's an unbeatable combo.
For those of you who recognize that Martin D18s and D28s are expensive, and perhaps are looking for the best imitations, look no further than this list of guitars:
1) Blueridge BR-140 (D18)
2) Blueridge BR-160 (D28)
3) Recording King RD-318 (D18)
4) Recording King RD-328 (D28)
5) Eastman Guitars E6-D (D18)
6) Eastman Guitars E8-D (D28)
Reason #5: The Martin D18 and D28 are used as standards for other guitars.
In my decade of reviewing guitars professionally, I've compared countless guitars to the Martin D18 and the Martin D28. Why?
Both the Martin D18 and the D28 are so finely crafted, that they have become the gold-standard for a well-crafted guitar.
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Now that you know why you need a Martin D18 and a Martin D28, I want to feature Sturgill Simpson, a proud user of Martin dreadnoughts like his custom Martin D18.
Now, I love that he uses a Martin HD28 and a custom D18...but can we talk about his voice for a little bit?
When I listen to Sturgill Simpson sing, he has a classic country quality that I don't hear that much these days. Additionally, his lyrics are masterful, ranging from sorrowful to comical all in just one song.
Be sure to check out Sturgill Simpson and listen to some of his music!
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Now, I know I mentioned some good alternatives to a Martin D18 or a Martin D28 earlier in the episode. However, I want to revisit this topic to give you a more focused list of specific guitars.
#3 for D18 Alternative: The Bourgeois Country Boy
For a guitar that has the same dry bass and projection that the Martin D18 has, the Bourgeois Country Boy is a strong contender. I've been playing this guitar for a while now, and I love how punchy that bass sound can be at times. It never seems to drown itself out or get too muddy, which I also appreciate.
Be sure to catch the full clip of me playing the Bourgeois Country Boy to see if this D18 alternative stacks up to your expectations.
#3 for D28 Alternative: Boucher BG-52
Clocking in at my third-favorite non-Martin D28, the Boucher BG-52 is a stellar guitar from a stellar guitar maker. I've had the most recent experience with this guitar, and I truly believe this guitar can hold its own against a Martin D28. It has the open, voluminous sound as a D28 with maybe just a hair brighter tone.
To catch the full list of alternatives to the Martin D18 and the Martin D28, be sure to watch the full episode and visit Acoustic Life today for links and more!
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