Martin D18 vs D28: What's the Difference and Which to Buy?

If you’re eyeing up a Martin guitar, you might be wondering what the difference is between the D18 vs the D28. The truth is, they’re very similar guitars, with a couple of small (but vital) features that set them apart.

If you’re trying to figure out how to find the best acoustic guitar, you might be tempted by a Martin D-Shape. They’re classic guitars that have been used by some (and loved) by some incredible musicians in the past.

The D18 has a crisp and bright sound in comparison to the D28 which is deeper and with more bass. This is down to the wood used, as well as the acoustic guitar bracing – the D18 has scalloped bracing, compared to the forward shifting bracing in the D28 (we’ll cover this in more detail a little later).

The D28 is also going to cost you a little more than the D18. So how can you figure out which one is best for you? We’ll look at both guitars in more depth, including their pros and cons. We’ll start by looking at the main differences first.

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Main Differences Between Martin D18 vs D28

The main differences between Martin D18 vs D28 are:

• Martin D18 is made from Sitka spruce, whereas the D28 is made from East Indian Rosewood
• Martin D18 has scalloped bracing, whereas the D28 has forward shifting bracing
• Martin D18 is slightly lighter in color, whereas the D28 is a darker color
• Martin D18 has a crisp tone, whereas the D28 has a deeper tone
• Martin D18 is slightly more affordable, whereas the D28 is a bit more expensive

Both guitars are of a similar shape and style, with plenty of vintage features but a slimmed-down neck to make playing for long periods a little more comfortable than their retro counterparts. The main thing to focus on in terms of differences is in the sound – the D18’s tone is more bright and crisp, whereas the D28 has a deeper tone, with more bass.

The other main consideration is the price difference. They’re both pricey guitars (which is standard for most Martin guitars), but the D28 is going to set you back an extra few hundred dollars depending on where you buy it from.

Key Specifications

Here are the key specs for the Martin D18 and the D28, for purposes of comparison:

	Martin D18	Martin D28
Body Shape	D-Shape	D-Shape
Body Material	Sitka Spruce	East Indian Rosewood
Neck	Select hardwood, 25.4-inch, low oval profile	Mahogany, 25.5-inch, low oval profile
Frets	Solid black ebony fingerboard, 20 frets	Ebony fretboard, 20 frets
Warranty	Lifetime limited warranty	Limited lifetime warranty
Latest price	See the latest price here	See the latest price here

Martin D18 vs D28 – the Main Features

Here are the main features of both the Martin D18 and the D28:

Martin D18

The D18 is a famous guitar. Introduced in 1931, it’s known as one of the best steel-string acoustic guitars ever.

There have been many attempted dupes over the years, but the D18 can’t really be beaten in terms of quality.

It’s a timeless, classic acoustic guitar, and it makes a beautiful accompaniment for a vocalist. With excellent quality comes a high price tag, but this is to be expected.

If you’re a beginner, however, the D18 may not be the best choice for you. It’s more suited to intermediate or expert players.

Key Features

• Classic look
• Dreadnought shape
• Rich, crisp tone
• Works well on its own, with vocals, or with other instruments
• Suits strumming and fingerpicking

Size and Shape

The D18 has a classic dreadnought shape. Developed by C.F Martin & Company for the Oliver Ditson Company in 1916, the first guitar using this shape didn’t take off initially. Once C.F Martin started producing guitars under their own name, the shape started to take off, proving very popular for folk musicians.

Dreadnought guitars (otherwise known as D-shape guitars, or ‘dreads’) are large – quite a bit larger than your standard c-shape acoustic guitar, which means that younger or smaller players may struggle with it. The size provides a much deeper and louder tone. It has a square bottom and shoulders. This is balanced out by the slim neck, which is a nice modern touch.

It looks beautiful, with a great vintage style with ‘aged’, unfinished wood, and the Martin logo looks sleek. It has a tortoiseshell pickguard which is a nice nod to pre-war era guitars.

Sound

The sound produced by the D-18 is rich, full, and crisp. It has a classic, timeless tone thanks to the mahogany body and the scalloped bracing – this means it has more bass and volume than guitars with straight braces. It has a great midrange bump with an excellent bottom end, but it doesn’t sound too echoey.

It’s an excellent strumming guitar, but it also works really well for fingerpicking thanks to the neck dimensions. It has a beautifully even tone – it works well with other instruments and vocals but sounds great on its own too.

Reliability

The D18 is a reliable guitar. For the price tag, you’d expect it to last a long time – and it does. The wood is solid, with a smooth (almost invisible) join on the back. It’s made with the best materials, and it even comes with a limited lifetime warranty on manufacturing defects. As you might expect, this is reflected in the price tag, which is something to keep in mind – this is not an entry-level guitar.

Other Features

There are a few options in terms of the D18 – you can also buy the D18 Electro-Acoustic guitar, as well as the D18 Modern Deluxe. These are a little pricier than the standard D18, but it depends on what you’re looking for. The D18 Modern Deluxe looks particularly nice, so it’s worth checking out if you’ve got a higher budget to work with.

There are some great accessories available for the Martin D18, including cases, straps, and wall hanging kits. We like the Dreadnaught Style Case by Gator Cases – it’s a durable, protective case that will help keep your D18 safe in transit.

Martin D28

Now, the Martin D28 has its own history. Used by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, The Beatles, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and more, the classic D28 has been loved by some incredible musicians over the years, which in itself makes it a sought-after guitar.

The newest Martin D28 has been given an update, keeping hold of some of the vintage touches with a newer neck profile to make it a little more comfortable to play.

Key Features

• Classic vintage look
• Beautifully deep tone
• Suits strumming and fingerpicking
• Works well solo as well as with vocals

Size and Shape

The new D28 keeps the shape of the classic in the same dreadnaught style as the D18 – it’s a large guitar with a square bottom and shoulders. Just like the D18, this gives it a loud, deep, rich tone. It’s been given an update with the neck profile, which is much slimmer, and a lot more comfortable to play whilst still feeling like a truly vintage guitar.

It has a similar look to the D18, with a beautiful rosewood body and a faux tortoiseshell pickguard. They’ve kept some vintage touches as a nod to the past, with open-gear tuners, an aged toner top, and white accents.

Sound

There’s a reason why the D28 is so beloved. The notes are bright and well-balanced – not too bassy, not too echoey. It rings clearly and produces a rich sound which is ideal for all sorts of situations – it won’t overshadow vocals or other instruments but won’t get lost in the mix either.

Unlike the D18, the D28 has forward-shifted bracing. This results in a louder sound and a better bass response. The key difference here is in tone – the D18 has a crisp sound, whereas the D28 has a deeper sound. This is down to the spruce and rosewood combination as well as the bracing.

It’s pretty playable too thanks to the updated neck profile. There’s a little more room for your fingers on the fretboard compared to the original D28’s.

Reliability

Just like the D18, the D28 is very reliable. Made with incredible materials, this is a guitar to last a lifetime. It doesn’t slip out of tune easily, and you should expect it to be able to withstand hours of play whilst still giving you the same deep, rich sound.

Other Features

There are a few options when it comes to the D28. There’s the D28 Re-Imagined Acoustic in Ambertone, which is built with beautiful Indian Rosewood, the D28 Modern Deluxe, and the D28E Reimagined Electro Acoustic Guitar. These vary in price, with the Modern Deluxe being the most expensive.

Like the D18, you can get a range of accessories for the D28 – a good strap, a decent case, and a wall hanging kit could be just what you’re looking for. The String Swing Guitar Hanger and Wall Mount looks nice and will hold your D28 securely.

Martin D18 vs D28 – Pros and Cons

Here are the pros and cons of the D18 and the D28:

Martin D18 Pros

• Beautiful crisp tone
• Classic vintage style
• Hard-wearing and reliable
• Works really well on its own, with other instruments, or with vocals

Martin D18 Cons

• High price tag
• Not the best choice for beginners
• Smaller players may struggle with the size

Martin D28 Pros

• Vintage style
• Excellent quality materials used
• Deep tone
• Formerly used by some incredible musicians

Martin D28 Cons

• Pricey
• Large size may make it unsuitable for beginners or smaller players

Alternatives to Try

If you want to look at different guitars, here are a few to choose from:

• The Taylor 110E Dreadnaught is a similar guitar to the D18/D28, with the classic D-Shape. It’s lightweight, durable, and at a much cheaper price. You can find out more about it in our Taylor 110E Review.

• If you like the look of Martin guitars but you need an electric acoustic, you could try the Martin DX1AE, which is discontinued but still available in some stores. Read more about it in our Martin DX1AE Review.

• The Taylor Big Baby is a simple guitar that is more suited to beginners based on the low price. It’s not ideal for smaller players though as the name suggests – it does require bigger hands! Find out more in our Taylor Big Baby Review.

FAQs

You can find out more about these steps, and more, in our guide on How to Properly Maintain Your Acoustic Guitar to Build Lasting Love.

To Sum Up – Which is the Better Guitar?

We won’t be able to call this one, because ‘better’ is pretty subjective in this case. It really depends on the kind of sound you’re after. If you want a bright, clear, crisp sound, go for the D18. If you’re after something rich and deep with a little more bass, it may be worth splashing out on the Martin D28.

The price difference may be a factor though if you’ve got a tighter budget, in which case, the D18 is an excellent choice. Both guitars are excellent – so it’s down to personal choice. It’s definitely worth looking at them in person if you can, so you can get a feel for what works best for you.

Both guitars suit intermediate to expert players, so if you’ve been playing acoustic for a while and you’re looking to ‘level up’ to something better, we think it’s worth thinking about investing in a Martin guitar.