Martin's D-18 has anchored the dreadnought tradition since the 1930s, and this satin-finished version takes the shine off to let the wood breathe. A solid spruce top over solid mahogany back and sides gives it the dry, woody punch that made the pairing famous - strong fundamental, quick response, and enough projection to carry a room unamplified. The thin satin finish adds very little weight or damping, so the top moves freely and the guitar tends to sound played-in from the first strum. Forward-shifted scalloped bracing opens up the low end, while the modern low-oval neck and high-performance taper make it noticeably easier to get around than its vintage forebears. It is the flatpicker's and the songwriter's standard, built for players who want the classic Martin voice without the gloss.
