Post by Ragtop on Sept 30, 2020 6:48:08 GMT -5
This one is a rare thing, left Nazareth in 2009. Only 165 of them built.
It has all the features of a D-18V, but is short scale. I really like the Vintage Series Martins, and like having a D-18 around. Didn't know what to expect of the short scale, but I can tell you this- it is one of the easiest playing guitars I've ever owned. It has the Mod V neck with a 1 11/16" nut instead of the 1 3/4" nut I'm used to, and I love it.
Tone? It sounds exactly like a good 18 Series is supposed to sound, woody and sweet. A great flatpicker, and fingerpicks quite nicely too.
Two issues that I'm dealing with: this guitar came from coastal NC, and both it and the case smell musty. I've got the case cleaned up and smelling better. Am waiting for some new ebony bridge pins to arrive, and I'll pull the strings off and polish the heck out of the guitar and get it cleaned up. For now, I'm leaving it out as much as I can, and this dry mountain air is helping.
As for the case, it is the molded plastic Martin case, which I'm not crazy about. I'm driving down to Woodland Park here in a few hours to look at a Collings TKL case that some guy is selling for a reasonable price. This guitar deserves a top-notch case.
I love the absolutely simple appointments, no bling whatsoever. It even has the "antique" Waverly tuners. Just a gorgeous shimmery spruce top, nice mahogany, and ebony. Perfect.
