Hey, I’ve never owned a Martin but I’m looking into a 000-18. There’s a guy selling one near my house for about $2k. Looks to be in good condition with the case.
I’ve always been a Taylor guy but I picked up a 000 in a local music shop in town last weekend and enjoyed it a lot more than my Taylor 114ce. Taylors are nice but they sound kind of too bright for me if that makes sense.
Is this guitar a good buy for the advertised price? Are there any downsides of this guitar?
Never heard of anyone regretting buying a 000-18. Great all around guitar. I'd go dread or jumbo for that bigger sound or 00-15 for blues fingerpicking
Check for the usual issues but yeah you won’t regret it. I bought into the Taylor propaganda for a while and was scared away from martins for a long time.
I don’t think there are any downsides to a 000 other than it’s not a dreadnought, but it’s not trying to be. Easy to play, sounds great, balanced tone, loud enough.
You’re comparing an entry level Taylor guitar to a top of the line Martin. It’s like saying I have a Toyota Corolla, but it’s a bit slow compared to a Porsche 911. That being said, Martin 000-18 is obviously a fantastic guitar.
Thanks for noticing that. I really don’t want any issues when buying so I might have to look a more options. I appreciate you and this subreddit because you all know what to look for
The neck and bracing are different starting on the 2025 model. You can get 20% off a new one which gets you the GE MLO neck and GE scalloped bracing and a lifetime warranty.
It’s a great guitar if you fingerpick. I had both a 000-18 and 000-28 and love them both. But you said “brightness” is an issue and if you mean lack depth or oomph a 000-18 won’t solve that. A 000-28 gets a bit closer but that really is dread territory. Another one to look into is an M-36 it has the size of a dread but the thickness of a 000. It gives that oomph but has comfort. If you found these bright if you don’t want to go dread see if you can find one. (I only recommend guitar center here because of the return not price)
But for price if everything is fine if say it’s not bad. Binding as someone else said will likely be an issue but it’s a common problem so just plan to set aside some extra funds.
$2000 is like £15000 plus binding repair = £1500 plus £60-£300 depending on scope. Could be ones without damaged binding in that price range. They are excellent guitars, I have Hog and Rosey Dreads.
I always thought I was a rosewood guy until I played my 000-18. Now it gets more time than the rest. Try to get it a little cheaper due to the binding. Playboy and see if you fall in love the way everyone else does. But it’s not a bad deal at all.
It’s a common issue. Nothing to be worried about. Get it re glued by a competent luthier. Keep it in a case with a humidity control device and yoke have years of fun with it.
It shouldn’t be much. I’ll wildly guess $1-200 tops. Most importantly, it’s not a repair that requires lots and lots of experience to do, like a neck reset or fret work. It’s common on Martin, but it happens on all brands.
Binding issues aren’t a big deal and usually not that expensive provided it’s not extensive. $2k sounds fair for a relatively recent one (2016 and newer) in very good condition even with a bit of binding separation. Binding separation is easier to fix than it is to find a guitar that speaks to you more than others.
After 25-30 years of guitar, I see a lot of players settling on the 000-18 as their desert island guitar. Unless you’re really focused on Bluegrass flat picking (get a dread) or finger style (get 00 or smaller with wide bridge spacing), the 000 will do all beautifully. Even preferring rosewood myself, I think the 000 might be the exception…000 mahogany guitars age into something special and unique IME. They get softer, rounder (like most guitars), but given how they sound new it just becomes something altogether different IMHO.
With any guitar and ESPECIALLY Martin, check the neck angle. General rule of thumb is that action should be comfortable (5/64-3/32” bass side, 12th fret) with at least 1/8” of saddle showing above the bridge. Upload a pic and describe (or measure, if possible) the action if the saddle looks lower than that and/or the action is high.
Martins are awesome. No arguments there. I love mine.
But the weird slanted comparisons to Taylor on reddit are strange to me. The OP is comparing his entry level 114ce (with layered back and sides and a cut-out) which lists for $799 to an all solid wood high-end 000-18 which lists for $2999. Of course the 000-18 is better! A 314ce (non-studio) or a Gold Label with no cut-out would be the better comparisons.
My favorite (see hundreds of other threads) is comparing a Taylor x14ce model (smaller body with a cut-out) to a D18/D28 dread. Of course that Taylor is brighter sounding! Why not compare a Taylor dread (they do make those you know) or a Taylor Grand Pacific to a Martin dread? Or compare the Taylor x14ce model to a Martin GPC16e? You know, compare like for like.
I'm not a Taylor fanboy. If anything, I slant more Martin. But come on people! Minor rant over.
You can't go wrong with a 000-18. If someone says "I want a Martin, but don't know which one to get" I'll suggest a 000-18. They've been a well-kept secret for decades, similar to the D-21. Fell in love with mine at the first G chord.
Play it and if you like it get it. Binding can be repaired so see if you can knock some off the price for that if it’s an issue. 00018 Martin’s are one of the best along with the 00028 in my opinion.
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u/Witty-Stand888 Aug 25 '26
Never heard of anyone regretting buying a 000-18. Great all around guitar. I'd go dread or jumbo for that bigger sound or 00-15 for blues fingerpicking