Martin D-18 Golden Era  

The Standard Series

They’re the backbone of Martin; distinguished instruments that created the template for the American acoustic flattop guitar. Standard Series models embody nearly two centuries of craftsmanship and technique—history made from wood and wire. These legendary guitars and the artists who played them helped establish country, folk, bluegrass, and rock. Today, you’ll hear their ringing tone echoing across the American soundscape and in music around the world. The models that have been released from 2025 forwards also have a satin Golden Era Modified Low Oval neck. This means that the neck is nice and thin and will thus lie comfortably in your hand.

The D-18

The D-18 is a Dreadnought guitar. Dreadnoughts are very popular because they’re very versatile and produce a full and rich sound. They are the ideal rhythm guitars, although fingerpicking still sounds amazing on a dreadnought. Furthermore, Martin is the place to go for a dreadnought, considering they invented the guitar and are still one of the best when it comes to the production of these guitars. The D-18 has a spruce top. Spruce has a beautiful resonance and produces a warm sound. The back and sides are made of mahogany. Mahogany has a beautiful dark colour and produces a warm and powerful sound. The guitar has a ‘select hardwood’ neck. This means the neck is either made of cedar or mahogany, depending on which of the two Martin can obtain without having to participate in deforestation. Both tonewoods are great choices for a neck and the difference between the two is minimal. The guitar also has an ebony fretboard, which will provide a smooth playing surface.

Martin

Martin is a reputable American company which has been making guitars for almost 200 years. Throughout the years they have become one of the best when it comes to western guitars. This is because quality is their biggest priority. Consequently, Martin guitars are very popular. There are even many famous guitarists who use Martin guitars, like Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan, and David Gilmour. Furthermore, their production process is environmentally friendly. Since the ‘90s they have worked together with the FSC to prevent deforestation. They only use wood from trees that have to be cut down to keep the forest healthy. The other parts of the guitar are recycled, as well. By purchasing a Martin guitar you are thus not only investing in quality, but also the environment.