Martin Super D-18 evaluation: strap in, it’s gonna get loud

$3,399 / £3,399, martinguitar.com

In the guitar world we’re fairly used to seeing manufacturers throw round all kinds of impressive-sounding adjectives to present their merchandise added kudos – extremely, skilled, max, deluxe and maybe mostly of all, ‘super’.

Typically, these phrases are primarily there to catch our consideration and sign that the factor in query is prone to value a good bit greater than the unique model, however at times these modifiers are well-earned.

Take for instance, the brand new for 2026 addition to Martin’s USA-made Standard sequence, the Super Dreadnought. This isn’t some kind of method of upselling you on some fancy new expertise or a bunch of additional pearl – it’s a method of telling you that that is, fairly actually, the most important single-necked guitar Martin at present makes.

The Super D has been round for a couple of years now as a part of the Custom Shop line-up, and has discovered a couple of well-known followers alongside the best way – notably Jason Isbell. But is larger essentially higher? Well, there’s just one method to discover out…

Martin Super D-18 – what’s it?

Well, because the identify suggests, it’s a dreadnought, however larger! The dreadnought, famously, is about as massive as most of us are used to seeing an acoustic guitar – however the Super doesn’t make it slightly bit larger.

The complete factor is roughly 13 per cent larger general, and has a monster 20 per cent extra inside air quantity (the ‘lungs’ of an acoustic instrument) than a daily Martin dread’. It does this by being round an inch wider than one (16.375 inches as a substitute of 15.625 inches) and having a deeper physique in addition.

The nut width, curiously, can be slightly bit wider than on a standard acoustic too – it’s round 1.75 inches in comparison with the 1.68 inches you’d often discover on a Martin dreadnought. Otherwise, it’s each inch the basic Nazareth-made Martin guitar – spruce prime, mahogany again, sides and neck, and an ebony bridge and fingerboard.

The thought that you just’d ever must plug this beast in appears quite fanciful, and so maybe it’s unsurprising that Martin would spec this with none onboard electronics – simply dig in and let this factor shout!

Martin Super D-18 – construct high quality and playability

You count on a sure stage of match and end with Martin’s Standard sequence, and upon eradicating this guitar from its outsized arduous case, it appears each bit the basic Nazareth 14-fret dread, only a bit larger.

In fact, the additional physique width serves to make the guitar look extra balanced within the flesh. When you hear the specs, you half marvel in case you’re going to finish up taking part in one thing that’s extra like a Mexican guitarrón than a standard flat-top, however from a distance on a stand, it’s solely the neck and headstock that trace that this can be a larger guitar than you is perhaps used to.

Up shut, there is a component of the minivan to it – this can be a massive guitar even by dreadnought requirements, and that actually gained’t be to everybody’s style. Happily, while you play it you don’t discover the distinction an excessive amount of – it’s there after all, however not a lot that you just really feel like slightly child taking part in his dad’s guitar.

Combined with that wider nut-width, the neck is slightly larger than I’m used to feeling with fashionable Martins – it feels extra just like the pre-Sixties necks the corporate used to make, and doubtless confirms my suspicions that it intends this primarily as an enormous, booming strummer firstly.

Despite the additional measurement, it’s snug taking part in for lengthy intervals each seated and standing, and I didn’t discover something digging into me greater than regular after an extended taking part in session.

Martin Super D-18 – sounds

I’ve performed an terrible lot of acoustic guitars in my time – and plenty of Martin dreadnoughts with it – besides, strumming the Super D-18 for the primary time was an expertise. Such is the facility and projection on faucet, it nearly overwhelms you with how a lot bass response is accessible – and this isn’t boomy or baritone-like, it has all the identical low-end frequencies you’d count on from a daily dreadnought, however a lot louder and fuller than I’m used to.

It additionally provides chords higher definition than I used to be anticipating – and I actually observed that the excessive B and E strings lower by way of a lot louder. There is a little bit of a trade-off to this, as while you’re actually strumming and digging within the D and G strings can get slightly misplaced, however in case you again off a contact it’s all way more balanced, however with that very same definition.

I realised that whereas the temptation is to play this factor as loud as you may, a part of the rationale for this further energy is to allow you to play slightly softer and extra evenly, and nonetheless get all the quantity, punch and energy you’d count on.

It’s additionally a guitar that responds very properly to fingerstyle selecting, and plucking the bass notes along with your thumb actually makes this guitar sing. I can actually say that I’ve by no means heard or performed one other acoustic guitar that appears like this, providing such drive and energy with out dominating each frequency.

That being mentioned, good gracious it’s loud – it’d appear to be one thing a soccer mother would use to ferry the children round, however inside roars the motor of an enormous block Corvette. If you’re taking the Super D-18 to a celebration, jam session or open-mic evening, be sure you convey a soundhole plug otherwise you is perhaps requested to go away – that’s how strident and domineering this factor could be in case you’re not cautious.

Martin Super D-18 – ought to I purchase one?

There are loads of individuals who will take one have a look at the Super D-18 and marvel why Martin even bothered – in any case, the Martin dreadnought is about as near sonic perfection because it will get for an acoustic guitar.

And you’re not flawed, however what’s the hurt in including one other enjoyable membership into the bag? If you’re a participant who gravitates towards larger, fuller, distinctive and various stringed devices, like me, then this can be a splendidly attention-grabbing and pleasant expertise.

Purists won’t admire this mannequin as it’s taking a confirmed historic form guitar and altering the dimensions, bracing and neck measurement, but when we’re going to maintain shifting the acoustic guitar ahead, we’ve got to attempt these items!

It’s arduous to totally clarify how a lot enjoyable this guitar is, the bodily expertise of it rattling your ribs and bouncing off the partitions is one thing that you just actually need to be within the room to actually admire. And upon getting, you may by no means need to return to that teeny ol’ dreadnought once more.

Martin Super D-18 – alternate options

Martin’s D-18 Standard ($2,999 / £3,149) is loads of energy and projection for most individuals. If you need another massive physique that isn’t fairly as massive, the Gibson SJ-200 Standard ($5,699 / £5,499) is an entire lot of spruce and maple, whereas Taylor’s Gold Label 517e ($2,799 / £2,549) is an even bigger than common flat-top from the model’s extra retro-focused vary.