D-18V

freddairy · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 66

Seeing that I'm not going to get a used 50s D-18 or anything else close to Clarences guitar in the cheap range I decided to buy this.
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItemVersion&item=230444323885&view=all&tid=0[/img]

It went for about 300-350 less than the going price of a D-18V and I think it's because of the poor pictures. Upon arrival at my place yesterday morning I found what appears to be a almost new 2008 D-18v. The case in the pictures on the ebay auction looks all dusty and worn, not so. This guy took the worst pictures and I think I may have benifited from that.

I did a little a/bing with the D-18GE. Here's what I found:

Playability: For me the D-18V has the edge when it comes to flatpicking. I've been working through the Clarence White book and I've had trouble doing some runs off an anchored C chord with the D-18GE neck. I've also had trouble on that guitar doing the down down up crosspicking. The closer strings on the D-18V make that so much easier. Which is odd, because I'm a big guy with large hands.
Lastly, I can finally capo way up on the 5th fret and play Dark Hollow and not have to stretch my fingers so much on the V as I did the GE.

Fingerpicking the D-18 GE is a bit easier.

Tone: My D-18GE is a 2003 and I feel it may have had a chance to open up more. The D-18V does not sound like a pre-war Martin as much as the GE. The tone is really tight and has more bassey mid tones. The GE is louder, but in a more brass, almost out of control way.

I'll try to get some better pics.

Dogbear · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 275 Location: Florida

Brian · Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:03 am Post subject:

Yes it could it could be a Taylor Cool

freddairy · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 66

Dogbear · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 275 Location: Florida

Murr · Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject:

It all adds up ...bracing, top wood, side and back woods, plus the differences between each individual guitar with the same specs.

As for tops, I hear adirondack as being slightly scooped in the mids.

As for back and sides, to my ears, rosewood intensifies a certain range of frequencies, somewhere in the mids to lower mid range.

Btw, congratulations freddairy on the D-18V. I think its a good choice.

Dogbear · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 275 Location: Florida

As for being slightly scooped in the mids, I haven't heard that in any of the adi tops that I have heard or played. What I have heard is that adi when properly braced has greater volume, power and sensitivity than other types of spruce.

It is important to note that Adirondack or Red Spruce was the preferred wood for flat picking guitar tops prior to WWll (GE). The vast use of red spruce for aircraft and other war craft vastly deleted the stock piles of this wood. Even today, custom guitar makers are finding it hard to find good quality suitable adi logs. Close, straight grained AAAA grade woods in dreadnought sizes are very rare and expensive.

I agree with you on Indian Rosewood. Sometimes mahogany has a better tone range and is more preferable than Indian. Brazilian on the other hand is different; it has sparkle on the high end that is not found in other woods.

And yes, congrats on the D-18V. It is a very nice guitar.

Murr · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 7:51 am Post subject:

Btw, it should be noted that flatpicking as we know it wasn't born until well into the sitka top era. The adirondack era would be players like Jimmie Rodgers, aside from the jazz guys playin L5's and such.

Brian · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 2:41 pm Post subject:

Murr · Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:06 pm Post subject:

Btw, regarding the timeline, I wouldn't group Tony in with Doc and Clarence -since he came on the scene later.

The origin and development of fiddle-tune flatpicking is Doc and Clarence.

freddairy · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 66

Dogbear · Joined: 23 Jun 2007 Posts: 275 Location: Florida

Murr · Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 3:55 am Post subject:

Thats some fast pickin'.

freddairy · Joined: 21 Sep 2007 Posts: 66