D18 vs D28
Ginza Tiger
the two ?
I know the wood is different .
The D18 feels very comfortable
The D28 is louder.
I just strum, no picking no classical just strum.
Tony Done
the D18 and D28, in their basic versions, have the same neck profile. This
means that the comfort difference you feel is likely due to differences in
setup and/or string gauge. These differences may also account for the
differences in loudness. For example, the D28 may have a higher action
and/or heavier strings, which would make it both louder and less comfortable
to play.
However, individual Martin guitars , even of the same model vary quite a
lot, so the difference in loudness you hear may be in the construction of
the guitar itself.
Typically, Martin mahogany dreads such as the D18 are often preferred for
lead playing or fingerstyle, because they are brighter, have great clarity
and an "immediacy" of response. Martin rosewood dreads such as the D28 are
usually preferred for strumming, because they have a "darker" sound that
responds well to being payed hard, and cuts through the rest of the
ensemble. A classic example is Clarence White, the genius of bluegrass
guitar, who used a D28 for playing rhythm and a D18 for playing lead, or so
I've read.
I think that you need to get the D28 as easy to play as the D18, which means
checking the setup and possibly changing it and the strings, and then seeing
which you prefer. Also, try a few other guitars of the same and different
makes and models, because each one has its own unique sound. If you are a
strummer, you might even find that a jumbo does it for you rather than a
dread.
Tony D
"Ginza Tiger" <Ginza...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:824-400...@storefull-3317.bay.webtv.net...
AGonda
I bought a D 18 about a year ago and it is really loud. The action
seemed very high but I got used to it. The D 28 is is more money but
you might buy one used that costs the same as a D 18 new. I wanted to
play mine in person first. Play both and decide.
Andy
paul asbell
Tony Done wrote:
>... Martin rosewood dreads such as the D28 are
>usually preferred for strumming, because they have a "darker" sound that
>responds well to being payed hard, and cuts through the rest of the
>ensemble.
>
>
>
Generally good suggestions and points in Tony's response, I'd say.
Only thing I'd note is that MOST people use the words "cuts" to mean the
opposite of your use here. I think most folks would say that a mahogany
D-18 "cuts" more because of it's brighter, less complex tone, while a
rosewood D-28 is LESS cutting, due to its warmer, less bright sound....
thus, it's common use as a RHYTHM guitar.
--
Best regards
Paul
Ty Ford
Unless you have really small hands, let me muck your decision a bit more.
Also look at the D28S. Slotted head, 12-fret neck, wider neck, less thumpy
than a D28.
I have a 1972 and wouldn't trade it for anything. I have a few samples in
the audio archives on my website. Enjoy.
Regards,
Ty Ford
**Until the worm goes away, I have put "not" in front of my email address.
Please remove it if you want to email me directly.
For Ty Ford V/O demos, audio services and equipment reviews,
click on http://www.jagunet.com/~tford
LarryLarry2003
very high but I got used to it.>>
That can be easily adjusted. If you got it new at a real guitar shop (not a
GC) then they should adjust it to your liking. If, not then any good shop
should be able to help you.
Jerry Dallal
The great difference is the sound. While the D-18 has a rosewood
fingerboard and the D-28 has an ebony fingerboard, both have mahogany
low-profile necks. Any difference in comfort you're noticing is a
matter of setup. There shouldn't be too much instrument-to-instrument
variation because Martin uses CNC technology to cut their necks.
Both the D-18 and D-28 have nonscalloped 5/16" braces, so any
differences you are hearing are a function of tonewood and
inter-instrument variability, which can be considerable. There may also
be some differences due to the strings, especially if one set is new and
the other shopworn or if the dealer has changed them so the instruments
have different brands.
D-28: rosewood, more complex sound, more overtones, more expensive
D-18: mahogany, cleaner sound, fewer overtones, less expensive
Many of today's players grew up in a time when the rosewood was
considered "better", possibly because it was more expensive. Many of
them have satisfied their rosewood envy and have discovered that
mahogany is a great tonewood in its own right.
LarryLarry2003
<<Many of today's players grew up in a time when the rosewood was
considered "better", possibly because it was more expensive. Many of
them have satisfied their rosewood envy and have discovered that
mahogany is a great tonewood in its own right.>>
This is so very true.
Tony Done
thinking in the context of bluegrass, where I assume that the rosewood sound
is less likely to get lost in the mix with mandolin and banjo than the
mahogany sound.
Having said that, I should also say that I have only heard a traditional
bluegrass band once, and I was quite amazed at the way that the D28 (may
have been an HD28) came across behind the mandolin and banjo. I can't
imagine my D16GT doing that. On the other hand, the Martin rosewood dreads
I've tried don't come close to my D16 for fingerpicking, IMO.
Tony D
"paul asbell" <paul....@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:400AB6E7...@verizon.net...
Sheldon
see that the "biggest" difference between the two guitars is mahogany vs.
rosewood, so if both guitars were setup the same, with the same strings,
they should have the same feel. This brings you back to the subjective
issue of which guitar sounds best based on tonewoods, and you're the only
one who can decide that.
Keep in mind that two identical guitars will feel very different if their
nuts are slotted just a few thousands of an inch off from each other, and
that can be adjusted.
"Ginza Tiger" <Ginza...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:824-400...@storefull-3317.bay.webtv.net...
misifus
You don't say how you will use the guitar. For solo, or
accompanying yourself singing, I would prefer the D-28. For
playing in a group, I'd like to try both to see which did the
better job in that group.
I just played both of those models yesterday in a very so-so
music store and while neither one an was outstanding example of
its type, the difference was clear, the D-18 had a less complex,
more straightforward sound and the D-28 had a more complex,
sweeter sound.
Just for reference, my own guitar is a rosewood small jumbo and
has a quite complex, and loud, sound, and I play most to
accompany myself.
-Raf
--
Misifus-
Rafael Seibert
mailto:rsei...@cox-internet.com
http://www.ralphandsue.com