Correctly id'd both. The J-45 projectes a bit fuller when strumming, but the D-18 has the pure musicality of a Martin playing single notes. If I was playing a rhythm gig, I'd take the J-45 with me. Solo gig I would take the D-18.

These two are possibly the most iconic available today, poss. the D-28 as well, great comparison!! Love them both.

I was able to correctly guess the guitars. Thirty years ago I was a "Martin guy." Not only was I incredibly biased toward Martins and vociferously against Gibson, but I was a committed Rosewood back and sides for the tonewoods. Over the years my ears have led me toward the slope shouldered Gibson mahogany dreadnoughts like the J-35 and the J-45. I still appreciate the D-28s, HD-28, OMs, & 000's but it is interesting where one's ears will take you and how different other people's ears and tastes are.

Love these videos keep it up!

I love these kind of videos! Please add some Guilds too (Martin hd28 vs Guild d55 maybe)

I think for me, the more my playing advanced the more I became a huge mahogany fan. I guess I appreciated the rosewood overtones covering up my mistakes and filling in the empty space. I love how clear and dry everything is on a mahogany guitar and the balance makes for some spring on the strumming. Same thing that over time I appreciate a good Gibson with red spruce and mahogany.

I own a J45 I guessed it right. It has a warmer tone on the low e and a strings and at the same time a brighter clarity on the high strings. The 18 sounds crisp and tight but i prefer the 45 by alot. Just a great sounding guitar. im very happy with it.

I really enjoy the blindfold comparison tests. I would love to see some comparisons of budget ($300 to $700), middle($800 to $1500) and higher end Martins, Taylors and Gibsons. That is, comparing Martin to Martin, etc. It would also be fun to see some comparisons of similarly priced guitars from less well-known makers with these top brands.

Great video. Really had a hard time telling them apart until you played the single notes. For sure a difference. That doesn't mean one was better than the other, but that was when I could pick one out.

I will be honest. I did not get it right. Love what you guys do! Great chemistry!!

Got it right. Surprisingly, lol. You guys rock. Love your videos

Loved the video, I got them right...didn't think it was difficult to hear the difference. Please do more like this...include Guild, Eastman, Taylor, and Yamaha. Thanks.

I think that was a really good j-45 wow haven’t heard a Gibson that sounds that deep

Thanks for the cool video, I leaned to guitar #2, I didnt cheat. I played the video again and discovered it was the D18, both sound great, so either is a winner....

I'm a Gibson guy, and identified each correctly. On the basis of this (taking into consideration Quinton's pick and string technique), sound wise I would choose the Martin, but prefer the look and feel of the Gibson which I would probably pick up and play more. Basically, I can't win!

I own the D-18 and it's my favorite sounding acoustic guitar, but the bright liveliness of the Gibson J-45 really surprised me. Had great single note definition.

Got this one right. The single notes are more pronounced and harsher on the J45. The D18 has that Martin “all the strings blended together” sound.

I guessed wrong. And I have an 18 with Adirondack top. They are close and both sound great.

Here we are a year later and I tried it again (no recollection of which guitar was #1 or #2). I got it right again. Both sounded good. The slightly stronger bass in the Martin was the key. I will admit I am a Martin guy and Paul specs out some really great Custom Shop D-18's with adirondack tops. One followed me home from MT and it is probably the most versatile dreadnaught I own. It will never leave the herd.

Recently played a D18 2020 limited edition, and a J45 standard (both were brand new), and I ended up buying the J45. It seemed to project more, and had a little more low end. I was pretty sure I wanted the Martin when I first walked into the shop (because I love my D16r), but the Gibson got me. Happy with my choice.

I was first wrong. But then knowing and listening again, it became obvious which one was which one. Interesting effect... Never had thought that the difference between the two is so small. Probably much clearer when the handling plays a role, too. After all, I still would go with the D18.

I liked guitar 1 more than #2. But guessed incorrectly. I OWN a J45 and a D-28. Glad I liked the one I own. Good video. What about a video that compares a 12 fret slotted head with a solid head?

Very different tones. The Martin has more bass and is somewhat muted. Both have great sound. I guessed correctly after hearing the first demos. I have Gibsons and Martin and love each for their individual characteristics. You can prefer one over the other but you can't fault either. Great instruments!

I got it right. The strum was tough but the single note stuff made it easy. The J-45 is a great guitar, but the D-18 is its own class.

The Gibson sounds louder and brighter. The Martin sounds more reserved

Got it right when Quinton played, but missed when Paul played. Certain style of playing will out a guitar every time as well. I am just glad my wife didn’t see playing KZfaq and not watching (face turned away and eyes closed) she would have me committed!

It would be helpful to know what strings you have on them and if they both have the same string type and gauge. As you know, strings make a dramatic difference. (Hopefully they do, as that would change everything if not.) Also, the microphone makes a big difference to as to the frequencies transmitted and overall sound. So if someone is using these videos to make a purchase decision, they need to know that, and really need to listen in person if possible. Thanks. I enjoy your videos!

Got it right. Maybe luck. Both are really similar, when you don’t look - the J45 sounded it little brighter to me, even the depths. Was fun!

I got it wrong as well! The Martin sounds like a j45 used to , if that makes sense. Both real nice and similar sounding though

the mic alone is possessed lol they both sound good but I can distinguish them blind folded, nothing like that gibson sound and martin has its own sound too. rock on guys! watch out for that magical moving mic :P

Great video. Interesting test. I remember being a guest at CF Martin years ago and playing two D-28 Authentic prototypes. Both were built identically by the same person with hide glue. The necks were made from the same mahogany billet, and the Appalachian spruce tops were cut from the same billet as well. The only difference was that the backs and sides while both being Brazilian Rosewood, were taken from different trees and one set was flatsawn while the other was quartersawn. The difference in tone between the two was incredible and I and the other five guests had varying opinions about which one sounded better. Go figure!

I didn't even try to get it right. But I did focus on which tone I liked better. It ended up being the martin. The martin has a little more growl, reverb whatever you want to call it. It sounded better to me. These challenges are great!!!

I think I would know by the way each guitar feels. My D-18 is a featherweight compared to my somewhat more substantial J-45. I love them both for their unique sound quality.

The single-note playing towards the end definitely was where the difference lay for me. I guessed it right, but not sure if it was bc of my ear or the fact that I had a 50/50 chance of getting it right. J-45 is what sounded better to me. For my taste, Martins tend to be more muddled on the top end and I like a little more sparkle up there. Thanks for the comparison!

Dangit I got it wrong. That j45 sounds incredible

Well, it's settled then. I need them BOTH!

That 45 said hello to me!

It would be cool to do an A/B test with the D18 vs. the Eastman dread with spruce/mahogany. That would shake some folks up, I bet.

I have a J-45 and still got it bass-akwards! They are very similar and if you start screwing around with different strings - I'm sure you could make yourself crazy doing this.

Is Paul playing this time??! I’ve seen most of these vids but I think this is the first time I’ve seen you play!!! Love your guys’ vids. Keep it up!

I got it right but I have the advantage of owning one of each. However, my J45 is a Custom Rosewood which, of course, is a completely different animal. The fellas call the Gibson "The Grand Piano"; loud with more 'phumph'. The Martin (2015 standard D-18), is the 'Cannon', dryer and more cutting. I'm set for acoustic guitars. (Though I wouldn't mind a smaller 12-fret!)

I got it wrong....btw the J45 sounds better

I guessed wrong and I have an HD 28 and a Gibson CL-50. Love both of them.

I got it wrong and I have a d18! It has an adi top though, but these both sound great

What a great comparison! I thought the Gibson was slightly preferable because it was more balanced across the strings (against my expectations). If between the two specific samples, i'd choose the Gibson because I usually find them more comfortable.

I love Gibson's & Martin's and both had beautiful tone but the J-45 was to my ear the best sounding of all of them and superior to the Martin D-18. It rang out with more definition and more girth. I would also say the Taylor 314 would have been my second choice. Of course this is relative to each and every ear. Rock on guys...

I got them wrong ... love both Martin and Gibson Great video idea

I think the Gibson has a more open sound. Has clarity and full bass.

That Martin rumble I love so much, I got it right!

I'm more of a strummer so I prefer the J45 but the D18 is best for lead parts and finger picking. Much more versatility with the Martin.

In my experience the tusk bridge pins and saddle make the attack fuller and stronger witch is great but the negative effects is it makes them brighter. You can hear it in the vidio but that particular j45 is perfect for the materials used aperantly because it does both and sounds amazing!

This was very helpful. I can definitely tell the difference. I am currently trying to decide between these two guitars, as to which is more appropriate to the way I play. I would say that the Martin is ‘punchier’, with each note standing in its own in a way that punches the ear with extra bass at the attack end of the note. The J45 has a brighter attack with the sustain having something like a compressed ‘growl’. This is true of the individual notes. When you chord/strum, it has a different effect on each as well. On the Martin, when a chord is struck the notes each hold their own in the low register and blend beautifully in the upper register. It creates a warmer low end that to my ear is not necessarily as ‘clean’, with each note refusing to succumb to the strength of the other notes. On the Gibson, the whole guitar seems to respond to chords differently than as described above. It’s almost like the guitar plays ‘mixer’ and balances them together and blends them ‘pre-projection’, so that they come out if the sound hole sounding exactly how they are going to sound in the room. So, the Martin platforms each note at full strength and let’s the room mix them into harmonious resonance, but the Gibson seems to blend the notes into a mixed product within the box, so that the strummed or comped chords come out of the guitar as a finished product. I did not cheat, and I definitely hear the difference and was able to pick it out blind. In conclusion I’d say the Martin is punchier and has a more ‘brute’ appeal, where the Gibson has more growl and blends the notes in a way that sounds more sophisticated, maybe ‘smoother’, almost like natural compression.

When you spend some time listeingn to really old martins and gibsons like 40's to 55's You can really start to recognize the diiferent tonal characteristics. Martins have a very controlled sound while gibson are kind of looser and jangly. Dont know if its because all the braces are falling out but that can be a really cool personality. Something about old gibsons with thin sounding notes but giant sounding bass overtones that is like the best thing ever.

I guessed right but not until the single note stuff. I heard what I can only describe as a ping on the high e and recognised it as a sound I hear on my Gibson. Other than that I most probably made a good guess. That said I can hear the difference in all my seven high end acoustics as I change from one to another but apart from the L00, which has a totally different sound, they all sound very much alike after a few minutes playing. I would bet if someone played each one at me, I would have a problem identifying each of them. PS just picked up my hummingbird, this is one I would recognise!

Got it on the single notes! Yes honestly!! ♥️J45 Great test thanks

I got it wrong as well and I preferred the J45 everso slightly.

The Martin has that classic midrange scoop. I was able to pick out the difference for SURE by the second sample of guitar 2... it sounded exactly like that specific model :)

Martin sounds drier, tighter, more bluegrass, more Neil Young... Gibson sounds sweeter. II was able to pick them out, both in the beginning and in the end of the video. No cheating.

At 7:39 you can tell the Gibson is a White Label Standard and not a custom shop Red Label....one thing to take note of is all Gibson’s are now made with hide glue on the neck joints which as the guitar ages it’ll just keep getting louder and crisper and better sounding this is my experience with all Bozeman Montana Gibson

You should tell us the model year of each guitar, the weight of each guitar in ounces, and the strings on each.

I got it correct and the Martin has more bass. I actually got it. But, as an HD 28 guy (Rosewood), I think I like the slightly brighter tones of the J-45. Thanks.

I got it right, and who knows if I'm lucky or good. What I heard was the Martin had strong mids, while the J45 was more balanced from to top. They are close enough that I think string selection could even switch the results. I, too, was always a Martin guy (68 D28), but Collings is made here and I wanted to support my local biz. Heard a CJ and was blown away by the smooth response bottom to top. Bill said it was inspired by the old Gibson Advanced Jumbo. I bought one of each and, while I had never had any use for big Gibsons, the round shoulders sound even better to my ears than my beloved Martins. Since Quinton is a long scale guy, I'd like to see a comparison of an HD-28 and an Advanced Jumbo, or the AJ with a J-45. Thank you guys for doing these comparisons. I have particularly enjoyed these last two.

To me it's easy to tell the J45 from other guitars like Martin or Taylor. It usually doesn't have that typical strings chyme when you strum it. The sound of it is less from the strings but more from the guitar, if that makes sense. Its a whole sound as one instead of a separaration of sounds from individual strings that you can commonly hear especially from Taylor.

I totally got that wrong! I was convinced they were the opposite, based on what I thought I heard earlier in the episode. When I re-wound it and watched, I've got to say I just loved the sound from the D18. One day....

I am brand loyal to MARTIN(I own several) - rarely disappointed. In this comparison, however, I do prefer the 'crisp'; less boomy sound of the J45. Thank you guys, it was a treat to my ears.

I did the same thing in person. I have a martin d-35 and hd-28 but wanted a mahogany. Side by side off the rack the j-45 blew the d-18 away. From the set up to the finish. My wife even chose the j-45 so now the martins have to share time with a gibson.

I have a 97 D18 and really like it. I've played a few J45s and they are equally great guitars but not enough for me to sell my d18. But I could clearly hear the difference in this comparison. But if you compare two d18s or two j45s you'll also hear a difference. Aged wood vs new wood makes the biggest difference.

Thread is old but the comparison is still relevant. I have a J-45 and contemplating a D-18 so this was helpful. The J-45 sounded a tad better to me on this video as it had more clarity and sparkle while the D-18 sounded thicker and bassier, which I love but also sounded a bit more compressed when strumming. I think both would be great for vocal accompaniment. Both are wonderful guitars. I guessed wrong on the first part with strums and then guessed correctly on the single notes. As a strummer/singer, I guess I have the right guitar for me as I liked the strumming tone of the J-45 a bit more. Great video guys.

I got it right. The low E on the Martin gives it away. It’s not about better; rather, it’s about what you want to play on it!

I found it east to guess. As the Martin to me always have that distinctive suppressed treble. Both gems of guitars :)

Had it right but it was a 50\50.. The strumming made me feel strongly that the first was a J45, but the single notes part was pretty similar and I wasn't as sure....

I got it right but I was surprised how good the Gibson sounded, did they have the same strings, both fresh?

I am a Martin guy. Surprisingly, I was wrong...But,I have only been playing for a year and a half. Everyday for a year and a half.

I’m looking to get my first acoustic to begin learning, absolutely love the sound of the j45, are there any good cheaper alternatives that are similar to the sound projected by that?

I have replaced my D18 with a J45 and I also own a D28...I got it wrong but I turned around before the single note..I LOVE ALL MARTINS AND GIBSONS!!

With all the videos that compare the D18 to the J45 with mentions of 'more mid-rangy' , 'boomy', 'louder because of the shape', you might expect the expert to at least hear the difference between them. Eye-opener!

I got it right - but then, I do have a D18 myself - but they are quite similar

I first thought #1 was D-18 from strums but changed my mind to #2 when Quinton played the single notes. There is just something about “the Martin sound”. MV is an awesome guitar store! One of three Martin dealers in the country that I trust.

Thanks guys - great challenge. Man, those are CLOSE. I guessed correctly, but I could've been convinced the other way. How 'bout going head-to-head with Collings? Or maybe Huss & Dalton, or even PreWar?

Got it right. Can definitely tell in the lows for me

I've played guitar since 1979. Owned over a hundred brand new acoustic guitars. Martin, Gibson, Guild. etc....I've had Hoboken, Westerly, Tacoma and Oxnard made Guild D-40'S and 5 Gibson mahogany guitars through these past 44 years. I closed my eyes as Quinton suggested. I heard his strumming and I guessed correctly!!! The Guild has a deeper bass note articulation compared to the Gibson. The J45 is no slouch of course but I can tell that higher Gibson mahogany sound! Great sound test!

I took the blindfold test myself and got it right. I have a D-18MD and a D-21, so that may have helped me. Both the D-18 and the J-45 are winners in my book!

like these 2 however tryinh to pick between martin d15 streetmaster and martin d18

Both sound great... Martin sounds that little bit sweeter to my ears but it’s not by much

Easy. They sound very, very different on my audiophile iPhone. :)

I own both the J-45 and an HD28...I think that would have been a better comparison test. I can definitely tell the difference in the sound of each. And the build of the J-45 is more closely related to the HD28.

I think the D18 sounds better. Tighter & boomier. But I like the playability, the look and the fact that the j45 got a Pickup. Dilemma

i got it right away but honestly i dint think i would. I like the dark martin tone. never played a gibson but to me it sounded like a sweeter tone (more melodic?) idk just my impression

It all depends on the music you play and the sound you get from your guitar. Tried many Martins but it was a Gibson that warmed my heart. It really a personal choice. My bluegrass friends swear on Martin and my blues friends prefer Gibson. I say play what makes you feel musical.

Did not peek, but was not trying to ID the guitars. It seem like Guitar 1 (the Gibson) had a bright crisp, "ringy" sound where each string could be heard clearly whereas Guitar 2 (the Martin) had a deeper more "mixed" sound a "richer" sound where the notes melded together into a common sound. That is my take.

I was initially wrong until you did single notes. Then I changed my mind and guessed correctly. That J45 is 🙌🏼

Amazingly I guessed right and I did prefer the J45. I thought for sure I would pick the D18 as the better sounding to MY ear.

I actually did keep my eyes closed and correctly identified the guitars. I have a Martin DCPA4R and my brother has a D18 that I have played. I actually really like the J45.

I got them both right. Although I feel that the in consistency in the production of Gibsons makes it harder to tell which one is the j45. I've played several J45s and watched numerous demo videos and I can say that the sound of J45s vary a lot depending on which one you are playing. If someone were to make another video with a different J45, you'll probably hear a bigger difference from the D18.

I couldn’t tell you which was which, but I definitely heard a difference, and guitar 2 was my favorite both times. The Martin sounded more open with more treble and bass and less midrange

My main guitar is a d-18 that I play everyday. I still had a hard time picking out the d-18, felt like a coin toss. I got it right though, mostly because the single note picking on the higher strings/higher frets really gives away the scale length.

Both guitars are great! However J 45 is a bit closer to my taste. Thank you for the amazing video!

I’ve failed, surprisingly the Gibson had more articulation while the Martin had more bass. Thanks for letting us viewers take part it was fun!

they are both amazing ! classic americana! i guess only real difference is the longer scale of the martin...Im a life long Martin player BUT ABSOLUTELY LOVED THE 45 HERE!!!

I got that right all 3 times, martin has the "martin tone" and i can hear that here a lot.