Theme & Variation
A pick of D-18 and 000-28 models from across the Martin range
MARTIN D-18 STANDARD £2,299 Martin’s belt and braces dreadnought has established itself as the staple diet of the singersongwriter. With a Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides and scalloped bracing, this is a dread with a wealth of tonal scope and character. It might not look as ornate as its illustrious cousin, the D-45, but it will be your faithful no-frills companion on anything from an open mic night to the Royal Albert Hall.
MARTIN 000-28 STANDARD £2,750
The 000 body size and shape is an archetype for many players. The combination of Sitka spruce and East Indian rosewood along with the herringbone trim and antique white binding add up to stunning good looks and a great sound. Its ease of playing is enhanced by its shorter scale length (632.5mm/24.9 inches) and superb balance with a voice that’s much bigger than its svelte good looks might suggest. Another great all-rounder. MARTIN D-18E RETRO £2,699 If you’ve been charmed by the D-18’s acoustic voice but want an instrument that is stage-ready, then look no further than the D-18E Retro. Everything that enchanted you with the Standard model remains, but the winning formula of spruce and mahogany has been enhanced by a factory-fitted Fishman Aura VT pickup/preamp system, offering the D-18’s already very capable lungs the lift it needs to reach your audience via an amp or PA.
MARTIN 000-28EC £3,575
One high-profile fan of Martin’s triple-0 charm is none other than Eric Clapton, who famously played his own 1939 000-42 on MTV’s Unplugged back in 1992, the guitar later being sold at auction for $791,500. The 000-28EC is one of several signature models that Martin has produced for EC, maintaining the Sitka/East Indian rosewood tradition with a slight V-shape to the neck and a standard neck taper. Layla, anyone? MARTIN D-18 AUTHENTIC 1939 AGED £6,799 We couldn’t look at the various D-18 models on offer from Martin without going seriously upmarket with the 1939 Aged variant. It’s a time machine trip back to the golden era and Martin actually employed the services of a CAT scanner to ensure this model is as close as you can get to the one your great-granddad lusted after. All the vintagecorrect appointments provide you with the tone you thought only existed on the vintage market.
MARTIN 000-28VS £3,599
The 000-28VS represents a departure from the standard model’s aesthetic with a slightly elongated body, longer 645mm/25.4-inch scale and slotted headstock. The sound is different, too, than you might expect from a 12-fretter and we’re including it here to demonstrate how not all Martin acoustics that bear the 000-28 moniker are alike. A favourite among fingerstylists and pickers alike, the 000-28VS is one to look out for.