Highest Level J45 vs D18 - (Murphy Lab vs Authentic Aged)

Arguably the best models that Gibson and Martin create… today we compare the Gibson J-45 Banner 1942 Murphy Lab to the Martin 1937 Authentic D-18 Aged. Both are exquisite copies of the original models, and probably the best example of how good an acoustic guitar can sound. Which one wins for you?? Leave us a comment!
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Пікірлер: 108

  • @michaelenosmusic
    @michaelenosmusic6 ай бұрын

    I do not get all the complaints about strumming. It IS the essential function of a guitar. I am not a bluegrass player. So personally I am going to want to hear how it strums. And Quinton is a fine player. Let the man play what he feels.

  • @jimmusson

    @jimmusson

    6 ай бұрын

    Yes

  • @G_Demolished

    @G_Demolished

    6 ай бұрын

    Banging on chords is fun but people dropping that kind of money want to hear nuanced playing too.

  • @Anthony-qh1xv

    @Anthony-qh1xv

    4 ай бұрын

    I agree. It is subjective. who cares.

  • @startreker8591

    @startreker8591

    7 күн бұрын

    I will get d18 standard btw I did strum Gibby y bought an om 28…d 28 was okay too…I had the om28 set up

  • @joeldowdy404
    @joeldowdy4046 ай бұрын

    They are both beautiful and sound fantastic.

  • @smandez2023
    @smandez20236 ай бұрын

    Such a variety of options between the two, and it really comes down to what a given player's needs are. Aside from that, they are both clearly wonderful sounding guitars!

  • @toddheimbuch5429
    @toddheimbuch54296 ай бұрын

    I ain't gonna choose. I will be wise, and get both.

  • @WoodworkerDan
    @WoodworkerDan6 ай бұрын

    I am a big fan of the Martin D 18, but to my surprise I strongly prefer the tone of the Gibson. I also think it is a great looking guitar. And please, keep strumming! That's what I need to hear.

  • @raymondreeder3274
    @raymondreeder32746 ай бұрын

    You can't go wrong with either..they both sound amazing..I'm partial to the J45 but I would be proud to own both/either please 😊 in the hands of capable players.. both are stars.

  • @JonathanCurry-rs4kh
    @JonathanCurry-rs4kh6 ай бұрын

    Nice comparison. If had to choose I would take the 45. Some incredible guitars being made right now

  • @Blondesax
    @Blondesax6 ай бұрын

    Thank you for upgrading to 4K! It's really appreciated!

  • @rzh3443
    @rzh34436 ай бұрын

    The D18 has a slightly bigger body (square shoulders), but the J45 had the Gibson thump and , surprisingly , more projection.

  • @tcjensen1
    @tcjensen16 ай бұрын

    The biggest thing I notice when switching between these is the fretboard radius and nut width. I simply prefer the flatter board and wider nut of the Martins on an acoustic. I do like the short scale of the Gibson though, and the way the mids jump out.

  • @roytube10
    @roytube106 ай бұрын

    "caffeinated or intoxicated" quinton has cracked the code!! awesome compare video. both amazing and probably the best way to have someone hear the main difference between martin and gibson acoustics. you can close your eyes and hear the various recorded songs that feature each.

  • @acousticaddiction7719
    @acousticaddiction77196 ай бұрын

    That Murphy lab j-45 might just be the best sounding guitar I’ve ever heard.

  • @garrettchristopher3462

    @garrettchristopher3462

    4 ай бұрын

    I have a d28 and a j45. J45s are awesome my man! Also, 18 and j45 aren't that far apart. Different shapes, more lacquer on the 45.

  • @frogblues

    @frogblues

    3 ай бұрын

    I've got the 42 Banner just not the aged one. So the same guitar before it went to the lab to get marked up. It's the best guitar I've ever played and I can't put it down. I'm aging it on my own, and saving the extra $1200, lol

  • @Iron-and-strings

    @Iron-and-strings

    Ай бұрын

    @@frogbluesit’s not the same bro, Camaro vs corvette

  • @frogblues

    @frogblues

    Ай бұрын

    @@Iron-and-strings They literally take the Custom shop 42 Banner as their starting point. It's the same guitar just aged in the Murphy Lab.

  • @anthonyb2334
    @anthonyb23346 ай бұрын

    Both are amazing. I’m a Martin guy… but this J45 is extremely nice. Thank you for your videos

  • @sooparticular
    @sooparticular7 ай бұрын

    wowww Im usually always a Martin man..but this J 45 had the horsepower!! I am hearing the scale length difference however...the longer D 18 had a touch more shimmer chime maybe...but loved them both thanks Quinton!!!

  • @johnwashburn3793

    @johnwashburn3793

    6 ай бұрын

    I have two Martin guitars with Adirondack top and mahogany, and I would buy a J-45 just because... I also have more than one hammer in my toolbox,several screwdrivers, wrenches 3tc.

  • @sooparticular

    @sooparticular

    6 ай бұрын

    hahaa tools...i never heard that/////gonna borrow that from you my friend:)@@johnwashburn3793

  • @sooparticular

    @sooparticular

    6 ай бұрын

    do u have an 18 with adi top? do you recommend???@@johnwashburn3793

  • @rentalguy1
    @rentalguy16 ай бұрын

    I have owned practically every model of Martin ever made, and quite a few Gibsons over the years. The two that I have kept in my private collection are the standard D-18 and the Southern Jumbo. The sound of rosewood is nice, but I am a mahogany man all the way.

  • @johncrane6673
    @johncrane66736 ай бұрын

    For me, it's the D-18. I (old + arthritis) find smaller guitars easier to play. But, if you could just put that D-18 tone in a concert sized guitar, I would truly own only one guitar. OK, that's a lie...

  • @mariodriessen9740
    @mariodriessen97406 ай бұрын

    I’ll have both please. Thank you. ❤

  • @jjmuni
    @jjmuni6 ай бұрын

    I have a aged Atkin 000-28 that sonically is having the Gibsons for breakfast but for some reason I still prefer them Mahogany guitars. Theose two are both great guitars for a lifetime.

  • @CenterThePendulum

    @CenterThePendulum

    6 ай бұрын

    Those Atkins are incredible, under-built and under-priced for certain. Few have had the chance to play them, but top-tier without a doubt.

  • @johnwashburn3793

    @johnwashburn3793

    6 ай бұрын

    I have played one in Springfield, Missouri and it was very impressive. I already own a D-18GE (which has Adirondack top).​@CenterThePendulum

  • @twopoms

    @twopoms

    6 ай бұрын

    I also own an Atkin J45 with a baked spruce top and rosewood back and sides ebony fingerboard and bridge that is superb. I also own a Recording King RAJ 26 SN that is superb. Both fitted with LR Baggs Anthem SL’s. The Atkin just edges the Recording King but only just and my mind changes on that on any given day. I string them with D’Addario phosphor bronze XS 12’s which are amazing strings.

  • @sooparticular

    @sooparticular

    6 ай бұрын

    awesome have u played the atkin 18 style? mahogany?? thanks@@twopoms

  • @twopoms

    @twopoms

    6 ай бұрын

    No I haven’t played any other Atkin apart from mine. I got mine used from a guy who got it NOS from a store that had custom ordered it to their specification. I got it for a fantastic price too good to disclose.😮. I have a 000 126 Recording King that is a superb guitar. Obviously it lacks power by comparison to a dreadnaught. But it has a beautiful balanced tone for recording with no or minimal EQ required depending on the microphone / placement. The early Recording Kings are generally lightly built and resonant. Imho they are ‘sleepers’ in terms of IYKYK. You don’t see many for sale on the used market…

  • @shred5
    @shred56 ай бұрын

    I got to play an authentic D-18 a few weeks ago, it was fantastic, definitely a step above the standard D-18 but I had to force myself to stop playing it because I saw the price tag and did not need to take that home.

  • @davehenriksen2073
    @davehenriksen20736 ай бұрын

    Martin all the way.

  • @ratwynd
    @ratwynd5 ай бұрын

    I have owned a 1971 J50 since new. Cost me $245 in 1971. It has blossomed with aging and still goes out to play on occasion. Rich balanced and smooth tone even though from the early NORLIN period of Gibson when they started building brick guitars. I own a 2019 Martin D35 as well. Very different voicing. Both beautiful and rich but the overall feel is really apples to oranges. Tonal balance is very different, more even on the Gibson. Boomy on the Martin. Why would you want multiple guitars that all sound alike.

  • @christthernikow274
    @christthernikow2746 ай бұрын

    They say that only a gibson is good enough! But I say only a martin satasfieds your soul !!!!

  • @gladesowards
    @gladesowards2 ай бұрын

    Martin guy here. I've been cross-shopping both of these for months, and my sense is that the D-18 Authentic is more versatile and polished, but the J-45 Banner/Banner Murphy is WAY more interesting. The latter probably isn't a "quiver of one" guitar (unless you have a really specific style that it matches), but wow does it work as a complementary sound to round out a stable of guitars. Very spooky sounding in person. Like a piano in an old saloon vs. a standard grand piano. Really special.

  • @russg.9348
    @russg.93486 ай бұрын

    Martin for my ears

  • @richardlucascronley5128
    @richardlucascronley51286 ай бұрын

    Gibsons have a beautiful mystery to their tone

  • @danleyrold45
    @danleyrold456 ай бұрын

    I prefer the tonality of the Martin over the Gibson. The Gibson may be a little louder than the Martin but louder doesn’t always mean better in my opinion. The Chordal blend of the Martin is more pleasant to my ear.

  • @bosse641

    @bosse641

    6 ай бұрын

    I agree.

  • @benadam7084

    @benadam7084

    6 ай бұрын

    I have the non aged version of both and I would be shocked if the J45 is louder in the room. The j45 has it's own thing and it's great but compared to a martin D shape especially an authentic it is not loud, I'm often shocked by how much quieter it is. It's a good thing though a martin can easily overpower a singer.

  • @slpc30
    @slpc306 ай бұрын

    Oh wow that's two amazing guitars

  • @raymondperez1110
    @raymondperez11106 ай бұрын

    I'm curious, what gauge strings on these Guitars, the Martin usually come with Medium gauge, but the Gibson usually come with Light gauge, wouldn't the gauge strings make a difference?

  • @MrJbangoy
    @MrJbangoy6 ай бұрын

    Maybe it's the mic or the speakers in my car but the Gibson sounds harsh. I'd need to hear them in person

  • @trollstjerne
    @trollstjerne6 ай бұрын

    Gibson has the more louder in your face grainier mids, but lack the depth of the Martin. Martin has low mid cut/scooped mids, but with more highs and lows. I like both.

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    None of mahogany B/S Martins have scooped mids. The RW ones have.

  • @trollstjerne

    @trollstjerne

    6 ай бұрын

    The J45 has more pronounced mids, so compared to that the D18 sounds a bit scooped. Guitars made of rosewood does not have scooped mids, they just got more lows and highs. A more balanced sound.

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    @@trollstjerne It is like the bottle is half full or half empty ;) The J45 is not a full sized dreadnought in the first place.. the Hummingbird and Dove are... And if, as you rightly say, RW guitars have more lows and highs (or overtones more exactly) - then the mids ARE scooped.. in this context, right ? The most balanced sound to me have maple B/S guitars, like SJ 200 or even better SJ 185 .. my favorite

  • @WhiteVelvet40
    @WhiteVelvet406 ай бұрын

    Always been a fan of the Murphy Aged on the electrics but I've yet to see an Acoustic Murphy Lab that I thought looked tasteful

  • @dividedbytimestudios
    @dividedbytimestudios6 ай бұрын

    I have a J-45 standard, those banners have an extra jangle, mine is more tamed, but still fairly new, I do prefer the Martin bridges, the J-45 in this video, the bridge is too light and ashy looking

  • @blindcanseemusic
    @blindcanseemusic6 ай бұрын

    the Gibson has a "muffled" sound compared the the Martin. A good muffled sound.

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    I wonder what you are listening to....

  • @BB-ft6nd
    @BB-ft6nd5 ай бұрын

    They both sound fantastic. Anyone with the cash to buy either will be happy...

  • @todddammit4628
    @todddammit46286 ай бұрын

    There is only one right answer to this age old debate: both. I currently have an amazing D18 that I hand picked from a big lineup. Still need to get a good J45.

  • @sooparticular

    @sooparticular

    6 ай бұрын

    what kind?? standard? or did u go CS martin??

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    J45s differ a lot... I never found one I´d snatch, but this one here sounds great

  • @rinkydinky-ob9pe
    @rinkydinky-ob9pe3 ай бұрын

    I like the neck and weight of the martin much better for my needs so I sold my j45 and bought a d28 🥳

  • @DB-rr1eo
    @DB-rr1eo5 ай бұрын

    The J-45 has more mid-range. The Marting has the Martin mid-range scoop.

  • @Unclemoutu19xx
    @Unclemoutu19xx6 ай бұрын

    Dari segi suara yang dihasilkan saya cinta j45, tapi dari tampilan saya suka martin d18❤

  • @Randorita
    @Randorita6 ай бұрын

    I know this says vs, but that suggests a winner and a loser. Both are winners. I would buy the Martin, but only because I am a Martin guy.

  • @rickhadley2203
    @rickhadley22036 ай бұрын

    The Martin sounds great, but the J45 is just plain awesome.

  • @RWUBRISTOL
    @RWUBRISTOL3 ай бұрын

    Both are fabulous, but if I could afford one of them, I'd go with the Gibson. It has a fuller, more lush sound.

  • @biagiocauso2791
    @biagiocauso2791Ай бұрын

    My D18 Authentic was mud like a dud and the same for M36, Om 21, Om 28. The best Martin I had was a 00015 M beautiful sound I sold it for the Authebtic big mistake. After 3 J45 standard 1 dude and 2 very good but modern sounding I can tell my J45 1942 banner sounds very very good, still not like a real '40. The old wood was on another level sad but true.

  • @randallstevenson1973
    @randallstevenson19733 ай бұрын

    Why doesn't Gibson ever make 1 3/4 nut size? I often wondered, I look at and compare Martins and Taylors because of that.

  • @RahulSharma-ry2pg
    @RahulSharma-ry2pg6 ай бұрын

    D18 Absolute BEST look no further ..... Martin no one can beat

  • @ClaytonWillisMusic
    @ClaytonWillisMusic4 ай бұрын

    That Gibson sounds huge

  • @nige99
    @nige994 ай бұрын

    At 08.10 he plays a bluegrass lick on both i honestly cannot tell the difference my ears are 55 years old ! Lol

  • @gam1471
    @gam14713 ай бұрын

    I wish that Martin would stop using the 'aged' finish - it just looks like sprayed-on yellow paint, nothing like a genuinely old guitar. It doesn't take long for clear nitrocellulose lacquer to darken and mellow - and it looks much better. In case you're wondering, for a while I owned a secondhand D-18 which I bought at a good price. That finish irked me every time I looked at it!

  • @garywilliams6692
    @garywilliams66926 ай бұрын

    45 all day long

  • @Stephane_Pro
    @Stephane_Pro6 ай бұрын

    Who wins? Honestly, the cheapest!!!😅

  • @darthsensei3838
    @darthsensei38384 ай бұрын

    Martin.

  • @christinepropper3661
    @christinepropper36616 ай бұрын

    Potato, Pahtato

  • @multipipi1234

    @multipipi1234

    6 ай бұрын

    Doodlbap rooodies.

  • @11KT11
    @11KT116 ай бұрын

    D18 by a country mile for me. The J45s of late sound a bit buckety (like a cheap chinese guitar usually does)

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    How many Martins and Gibsons do you actually own, expert ? Thanks for coming by anyway...

  • @dalehamon4295
    @dalehamon42956 ай бұрын

    Wow. The Gibson won

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    indeed

  • @Cowboy2659
    @Cowboy26595 ай бұрын

    LOL yeah cause everyone can afford a D28. maybe the Dreadnaught is the most selling but not specifically the D28

  • @jonathanboss131
    @jonathanboss1314 ай бұрын

    As I've grown as a musician, I have come to prefer D-18's, but I think when everyone's first getting into the acuoustic world the D-28 ranks #1 on the bucket list.

  • @loringuysingersongwriterfo1917
    @loringuysingersongwriterfo19176 ай бұрын

    D18 is an amazing guitar but no way the "Flag Ship".. the D28 may well be the best selling but when we talk about "flag ships" lets talk 40 series (40,41,42,45)

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    For sake of comparison, this was about mahogany B/S guitars, not rosewood...

  • @billdedrick1914
    @billdedrick19146 ай бұрын

    Strumming every guitar does little to display the guitar voice or tone. You should learn how to extract tone not just strum hard.

  • @timwaterlow3702

    @timwaterlow3702

    6 ай бұрын

    Well strumming is also part of displaying voice?

  • @billdedrick1914

    @billdedrick1914

    6 ай бұрын

    His aggressive strumming is annoying to the ear...does very little to show the guitars actual tonal palate..@@timwaterlow3702

  • @gam1471

    @gam1471

    3 ай бұрын

    Agreed - a few notes played slowly and deliberately, low to high, caressing the guitar (so to speak) to extract a full tone would I'd say be helpful for listeners. There's nothing wrong with good strumming (Pete Townshend of The Who comes to mind - brilliant!), but these guitars also have lots more to offer.

  • @Michele_R13
    @Michele_R136 ай бұрын

    Sir, please strum LESS!! It's not like the more You strum the better it sounds...PLEASE. Strum. LESS!! WHAT THE HECK. Let the strings resonate once in a while...

  • @madamkirk

    @madamkirk

    6 ай бұрын

    Lol. Who cares? I mean, I can hear it fine.

  • @Christ-is-King-

    @Christ-is-King-

    6 ай бұрын

    He is an amazing guitar player. Playing hard shows that it can hold up to that. Some guitars don’t sound good strummed hard.

  • @sooparticular

    @sooparticular

    6 ай бұрын

    make some vids and we can comment ???

  • @gregoryrupp6097

    @gregoryrupp6097

    6 ай бұрын

    I think he’s a really great player and musician! He likes to dig in and I would too if I had those guitars in my hand 😂

  • @Michele_R13

    @Michele_R13

    6 ай бұрын

    I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be disrespectful. On the contrary, I actually admire that way of playing: great left hand, amazing skills, strong personality...but my point is: it's not possible to hear and enjoy the sound of a guitar, in all its aspects/nuances, if one always strums so much. Ok, that can be good for a few moments, or a bit more...but not for the whole review's duration. I'm sorry that my comment was a bit excessive, but it's not the first review where such thing happens. It was just a suggestion, with deep respect and admiration.

  • @Narrowboat.and.offgrid.living
    @Narrowboat.and.offgrid.living6 ай бұрын

    Eastman e10ss is much better than the gibo 45

  • @tomasvanecek8626

    @tomasvanecek8626

    6 ай бұрын

    lol, just lol

  • @slowhandblues187

    @slowhandblues187

    2 ай бұрын

    Eastman are very good value for the money and do sound really good but compared to the 1942 Banner Reissue Gibson or Murphy Lab 1942 Banner, there is NO comparison. NONE whatsoever. That is not a knock against Eastman but you get what you pay for.