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To: nikos1121
Vintage D-18s are my favorite old Martins and one of my favorite guitars overall.

Given a choice, however, I'll take a late 40s-early 50s Gibson J-45 or Southern Jumbo (the same guitar, but with a Grand Ole Opry pimp factor). It has more of an 'Americana Sound' and you feel the low notes in your gut.

One thing that helps the sound is that the nitrocellulose lacquer finish becomes harder and thinner with age. The wood also ages more for some years, and I think all the vibrations simply loosen the guitar so it can vibrate more. All I know is, it makes a difference, and I think it makes more of a difference with mahogany soundwood than maple or rosewood. That's just my opinion.

40 posted on 09/23/2014 12:16:15 PM PDT by Scoutmaster (I'd rather be at Philmont)
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To: Scoutmaster
I think there are definitely two schools, the D-18 and the J-45, and I'm told a subset where the guitar is built in Montana. :-)
41 posted on 09/23/2014 12:45:06 PM PDT by nikos1121
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