Excellent comparison and lovely playing. Thank you.

Never get tired of the finger picking tune you do. Love that song!

your video uploads are the best by a country mile

They're both Martin's and they both sound great. I have a D-18 GE and a CS-Bluegrass-2016 (kind of a HD-28 variant). Excellent video as always, Ian!

Took me 40 years to get me D-28 last December, what a guitar

One each is the correct answer... Thanks Ian.

I have a D28 2001 and love it. Fallen for a 00017 wiskey burst in january and also love it. Now have to convince my wife a D18 still missing on the wall to complete my collection.

@terrytosh7678

Жыл бұрын

I love my 000-17 WS, too. But dang I want a D-18!

To me the D-18 sounds fuller and sweeter. The D-28 sounds glassier and slightly more clear. I just got my D-18 last week. These videos helped make my decision. Thanks!

@BaronsDuju

2 жыл бұрын

Haha me too!

@johnwashburn3793

2 жыл бұрын

@@BaronsDuju congratulations to both of you! Enjoy and make music. Fill the world with joy (although, I love to play the blues...and church hymns in the key of E ot A)

@BaronsDuju

2 жыл бұрын

@@johnwashburn3793 thanks man! Nice comment.

Perfect! You actually play up the neck, thanks. D28 all the way - retains it's characteristic tone and volume all the way up the fingerboard. Good job Ian.

I'm liking that D-18.

They’re both so dang good. Never thought I’d want a dread but now I’m jonesing for one. Either one.

@wheninroamful

Жыл бұрын

Did you get one?!

Thank you so much for this comparison, though I genuinely still can't decide because I imagine both suit different songs. I'm looking at Sigma all-solid models and perhaps I'm just going to get both mahogany and rosewood versions with time :)

Really good comparisions.

@ianmeadows6351

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you my friend

I just love that Martin tone

I like that Mahogany with full mid tones

They both sound great. To me the Hog sounds more to my liking - it doesn’t sound as “tight” or focused as the Rosewood.

Man, I have a D-28 and I'm passionate about his sound projection and also about the beautiful tone that only the D-28s have as a striking and peculiar characteristic. I love Martin's guitars, especially the D-28. Congratulations on the review!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@ayushpratap4726

3 жыл бұрын

D-28 or HD 28 which one to buy??

@McCambira

3 жыл бұрын

@@ayushpratap4726 The two, but i prefer the D28

@ayushpratap4726

3 жыл бұрын

@@McCambira thanks for replying ! So quick ! I think should buy D28 then , only wants to know is HD 28 more louder in comparison or D28 sounds equally loud?

@McCambira

3 жыл бұрын

@@ayushpratap4726 The two, both the HD28 and the D28, have the same woods in their constructions, so both have the same sound, highlighting the D28 for its sound projection that is unparalleled and peculiar.

@McCambira

3 жыл бұрын

@@ayushpratap4726 If I were you, I would buy the d28 for its history and tradition in the music scene. The d28 is simply a legendary guitar that will never be reached by its competitors.

The D 18 is a Killer guitar !

Ive got the HD 28. Love it! However id really like to have a D18. Seems to be brighter in the midrange. Still very warm without too much tinny treble. But a heard the newer DSS 17 and oh man for the dollar you cant beat it. Too many guitars is a disease.

Nice demo. I preferred the D-18. What pick do you use?

I seem to like mahogany back and sides guitars. So, in this video ,I liked the D18 more.

interesting comparision - but i think the major different sounds come more from the scalloped bracing of the D-18 and the non-scalloped of the D-28.

@chrishyde1216

3 ай бұрын

D18 compared with the HD28 would be a more direct comparison of the wood.

I love D-18 Mahogany is a body that is more suitable for finger style. what a great sound!!

0:23 1:56 In this video, the D28 is warmer.

I have always wondered why the D18 with mahogny is said to be warmer ? To my ears it is quite the other way around. Rosewood for round warm sound.Mahogny for pure tones. Both great guitars !

@pablorustic4115

Жыл бұрын

Hola, yo también siento la caoba muy pronunciada en el tono, no tan cálida

@rodimusprime9599

Жыл бұрын

Exactly

@michael4930

Жыл бұрын

I think the rosewood in the 28 has a darker tone which gives it warmth and more bass but mahogany has a midrange warmth and clarity with plenty of sparkle in the top end; great for fingerpicking and flatpicking. To my ears rosewood can sound muted and muddy sometimes which is why I think it pairs well with Adirondack spruce to help balance that out. Personally, I'd take either guitar and be plenty happy.

Greetings.. which of the two did you prefer, or which fits bluegrass more? thx

I believe the D18 has scalloped bracing from a redesign years ago. The D28 still has straight bracing from the 60s. To make this a true comparison you'd have to do the HD28 which has scalloped bracing (along with ornamental changes "H" is for herringbone )

@JohnnyRebKy

Жыл бұрын

Scalloped AND forward shifted bracing. There is quite a difference between that D18 and D28. I agree with you it should be a HD28 for a true comparison

I have a D-18 - Amazed at how good it sounds. I covet the D-28, but when I hit an open G or D on both hard - the D-28 leaves me wanting. The 18 is better for rock (Bowie, Led Zeppelin) in my opinion. I recommend nickel strings for rock.

@ianmeadows6351

3 жыл бұрын

Right on Greg

@BaronsDuju

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve never heard a Neil Young, Bob Dylan or a Paul McCartney acoustic song with a D28 and thought, “wow, beautiful tone”. The 28 always sounds like it needs a fresh set of strings to my ears. I still like them tho - you need it for the Needle And The Damage Done tone. :)

Got myself a Gibson few years back… I truly love it. Than played a Martini 000-15m 🥺

Both sound great. Either one would do in a pinch!

Great comparison! Which would recommend for someone who has been playing for about 15 years, but mainly on electric and doesn't own a full sized dread acoustic? I really love both, but I can't make up my mind for my first full sized acoustic. Thanks!

@ianmeadows6351

8 ай бұрын

There's not a clear winner IMO. You would do just fine with either

To my ears the rosewood was brighter and had “snap”

@maraviyoso8473

3 жыл бұрын

To anyone's ears. Wood is wood is wood.

D28 all day long for me. I love that lingering sustain that goes on forever and all the piano like overtones. They ring like a bell 🔔 👍🏻. When it comes to Mahogany I prefer a Gibson J45. Two total opposites. The D18 and D28 are to similar for me. I like the Martin for rosewood and Gibson for Mahogany. Just my own personal taste and nothing more 👍🏻. D18 D28 J45 are ALL great!

I love the D18, that's why I bought an Eastman E6SS-TC, I swear it sounds exactly the same even though my Eastman is a slope shoulder, why the Eastman.......I still need to put food on the table etc and the workmanship is flawless as well.

What strings on each guitar ?

I prefer the sound of the D-18. To me, the D-28's A and D strings sometimes sound dull. Something about the frequencies from those two strings comes across as sounding like dead strings compared to be much more vibrant high and low end frequencies. I bought a Martin recently and after countless sound comparisons, I preferred what I consider the more balanced D-18.

@kenster865

2 жыл бұрын

Would have to agree with your assessment. The D-18 just sounds better balanced overall. Also a bit more woody to my ears. Think I might do some shopping for a used D-18. 🙂🙂

@BaronsDuju

2 жыл бұрын

@@kenster865 do it! And buy a HD28 as a backup guitar. ;)

Rings for days, my D-18 of course.

I own both. If I had to choose just one. It would be my d18. Plus it's $500 less.

Man, what is the gauge of the strings you used on the D-18 and D-28 to do this review, 0.12 or 0.13? Thanks!

@aaronbolton

3 жыл бұрын

following

Wow I think I actually prefer the d18 I'm really starting to prefer mahogany guitars

I just bought a D18 and I have been playing it for the last two days. It sounds AMAZING!!!! I want a D28 as well but apparently you need at least one kidney to live. 🤔

@ramencurry6672

3 жыл бұрын

Compared to motorcycle hobbies and other hobbies, owning both guitars are still cheaper.

@ayushpratap4726

3 жыл бұрын

D28 or HD28 ??

@kalvino67

3 жыл бұрын

@@ayushpratap4726 HD28 has a more modern sound based on the bracing. I personally would prefer the D28 if I was buying rosewood.

@pablorustic4115

Жыл бұрын

Jajajajajajaja

@multipipi1234

8 ай бұрын

I prefer 18. You don't need 28.

Ian what models of martin are you playing there? Authentic maybe?

@ianmeadows6351

3 жыл бұрын

No sir, those are just Standard Models from 2020.

@eddyj3862

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianmeadows6351 Thank you for that Ian!! They are all incredible and your playing is too!!!! 🎸😉👌

18 for me

Hog for me overall. But the 28 finger picked nicer.

I'm surprised. I always thought I preferred rosewood Martin guitars to anything else in the world. But that D-18 sounded more focused and punchy whereas the venerable D-28 sounded vague and slightly muddy. I mean...they're both great guitars, but to my ear I'd take the D-18. (Or the 000-18.) :-D

@todddammit4628

3 жыл бұрын

That's why D18's are the most common guitar to record with (besides the J45).

@skaybaltimore

3 жыл бұрын

@@todddammit4628 You had to say J-45, didn't you? LOL. I had a 1956 J-45 that I gifted to a local luthier who I went to high school with. He had fixed it a few months ago and I could tell he really loved that guitar. Honestly, it was wasted on me. I'm more of a Yamaha FG-830 level player. (And even that guitar is way better than I'll ever be.) So I went to his shop, told him that the guitar was great after he'd fixed it but there was one big problem -- its owner. He said he couldn't do anything about that. We laughed. And I said: "Well, there's something I can do about it. I'm giving it to you". He cried. It was a great moment. So yeah...the J-45, especially one that old, is truly an iconic guitar. And one that's meant to be used in a studio to record. He has contacts if/when he ever decides to loan it out. At least that way it'll be used properly.

@todddammit4628

3 жыл бұрын

@@skaybaltimore Wow. That just brought tears to my eyes. What an incredible thing to do. You're a good man.

@skaybaltimore

3 жыл бұрын

@@todddammit4628 Actually...he's a good man. He always was. Great bassist (his brother was/is a great guitarist). And he just has this goodness/kindness about him. Plus he's a hell of a luthier. And I said to him: "Man...you literally know this guitar inside and out". (Which he did, since he had to re-glue some loose bracing.) And the thing is...I had made out a will that didn't include the J-45. I was talking with the person who I'd chosen to be the executor and it seemed like it was too much of a hassle for her to take the info on the luthier and on how to get him the guitar. So I pre-empted the whole thing and gave it to him early, so at least now he can enjoy it. As I said...it really was wasted on me. It just sat in the case most of the time. It cried out to be played and really enjoyed. Now, it is.

@pcbif

3 жыл бұрын

@@skaybaltimore Wow, now that story made my day!

I think the D-18 sounds just a bit better than the D-28. But....in my opinion, the D-28's rosewood with the white binding looks so much better than the D-18's mahogany and black binding. The sound difference is so small, but the look, in my opinion, is a big difference. That's why I bought the D-28.

I do play my D18 more than my 28, could be the attack.

i vote rosewood all the way

The mahogany is punchy and crisp.... the rosewood sounds like you put a wet towel over the sound hole compared to the mahogany D-18.... change my mind.

@paulkline3011

2 жыл бұрын

I played both today at a local guitar shop and that's a pretty accurate statement. I would have bought the D18 but I was about $2,500 short. 😂

@TMoody

2 жыл бұрын

@@paulkline3011 Ha..... keep on saving brutha. :-)

the notes jump off the d18 like popcorn

D18 👐

D18!!!!

I like sound of the D-18 better

so i ve got very much 28 like rosewood dread from furch, i love it, but i keep thinking about hog guitar. well , gas is back.

@ianmeadows6351

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! GAS is dangerous

@tcoudi

3 жыл бұрын

@@ianmeadows6351 i guess gas is a feature of being in love with guitar, but this one will wait for sometime, mostly because of the cost. the furch was 1700 EUR, D18 or small luthier build will cost much more and I want to be sure, it will be the right one.

I didn't hear enough difference in the sound to justify the difference in price. I just bought a rosewood guitar and I hope I get better results from my brand.

18 No contest. In the shop the 28 is reserved. Wants to expode..but 4:53 doesn't. 18. Yes indeed. Slightly better bang for your American buck.

D-18…more bite, airier and bright. D-28…more round, robust with overtones…darker sounding. I own both. Problem solved

@alann5003

2 жыл бұрын

If you had to choose one which would it be?

@jasonusaf6326

2 жыл бұрын

@@alann5003 I honestly don’t know if I could choose…I guess if I had to choose, I’d go with the D-28…it’s more versatile IMHO. You can sing and do solo work with it better…or play bluegrass…or anything really. The D-18 is a fine instrument but I don’t think it accompany’s a solo vocalist as well as the D-28… but the D-18 will bark harder with an ensemble of instruments

@alann5003

2 жыл бұрын

@@jasonusaf6326 I also own both but slightly prefer my d18. It just sounds more pleasant to my ears when strummed. But they are both great guitars.

0:00 1:34

1:34

I figured my HD-28 just about does it all.....really can't go wrong with those high end Martin styles though.

Mahogany sounds better when playing rhythm with power chords. Rosewood sound better for finger style

Rosewood: dark sound Mahogany: clear

D18

I'm not a huge Martin fan and do not like the sound of a D18 at all tried many but the D-28 is my favorite outta martins, I switched over to Taylor guitars there's something about Taylor that I love but I do really like my 1980 D-28 but not as much as any of my seven Taylor guitars. You gotta play hundreds of Martins guitars and that's what I did,I can play any Taylor and fall in love with them I am watching this video because I do own a D-28 and love to compare mine to other martin guitars,I think I have the best martin ever made and I've owned eight martin guitars including a D45 , Two guys I know are really good guitar players and I put my martins against there Taylor's and I got rid of every martin I had except the D-28 ,And those guys was martin maniac's as I was too ,But like me they fell in love with the Taylor guitars . I love guitars of all kinds as long as they play good and sound great . That's the reason so many people love Taylor guitars .Martin are loud but that don't mean they sound good and there's great sounding martins but you have to hunt them down to get a great one.

@GbsnF9

2 жыл бұрын

What style of music do you play? I agree Taylor have a more consistent sound (never played a bad one), but bluegrass players have to have the volume to compete (unplugged). I played a lot of mediocre martins before I finally found a good d28 and then the d28 1937A

@markstaggs7342

2 жыл бұрын

@@GbsnF9 I play a little bit of everything there's no music or styles of anything I don't like ,But probably mostly Country and Bluegrass and Gospel ,But I kind of like the ole stuff a little more

@johngalt6838

Жыл бұрын

Only thing........Never found a Taylor get that really deep, rich tone. But they make a great guitar.

@markstaggs7342

Жыл бұрын

@@johngalt6838 I haven't had that problem with my Taylor guitars I just bought a new Gibson J-45 Sixties specs and I love it.I have ten acoustic guitars and I don't think I could part with any of them,Every one of them sound different but I love the way they play and I love the sound of each one of them.I guess I lucked out and got some really great beautiful guitars.

@johngalt6838

Жыл бұрын

@@markstaggs7342 You have a Taylor with deep lows? What model?

I was hyped about the d28, but it sounds nasal to me

@ianmeadows6351

8 ай бұрын

Hmmm - listening back to this vid it doesn't sound particularly nasal to me. Could be the way I was playing

Mahogany sounds brighter, but the rosewood sounds warmer.

@CatsInDungarees

3 жыл бұрын

For £1000 more I'd really not mind, and mahogany is used less than rosewood weirdly.

@CatsInDungarees

3 жыл бұрын

So more of a rarity

0:22 e 1:56

D18 all the way. That specific d28 sounds too dry and ironically lacks overtones.

D28 is too dry sounding for a dread. Almost sounds like a gibson. I prefer the D18

Is it possible you could play something different, it's really getting pretty lame to hear you repeat the same licks ..thx

@ianmeadows6351

2 жыл бұрын

You are more then welcome to not watch my videos, Bro.

@revzone3544

2 жыл бұрын

@@ianmeadows6351 wasn't intended to offend, but after a year of watching your videos, one would think, you might have learned a few more chords and riffs.. if the licks you use are the measuring bar for tone, you need to learn and present something that touches on the overall tone.. instead of whipping a dead horse, respectfully. there are tons of guitar courses.. look into it, might learn something new, bro

@ianmeadows6351

2 жыл бұрын

The whole point of the channel is consistency from guitar to guitar, it's not supposed to be about me performing. Idk what you mean by learning something that's "touching on the overall tone" - I strum, I flatpick, I fingerpick, I capo. Again, the Channel was never really about binging for three hours hearing me play a G chord. It was more "oh I wonder what a 000-18 sounds like compared against a 000-28. Look, here's a video of the same guy playing the same things with the same pick and recording setup, maybe this will help me out." I get that it's not for everybody.

@revzone3544

2 жыл бұрын

@@ianmeadows6351 No worries, thanks man..

Great videos and super high value content what you do here and I really appreciate your effort but please make TIMECODE!!!