D18GE Consistancy

[teleamp]

To get the best price (lower than MAP), I am contemplating ordering through a Martin Dealer. I have never purchased a guitar sight unseen, once I make the order, its mine, no returns on special orders (non stock items). From all of the research I've done, seems that the D18GE's are pretty consistant.

I have played 2 (I wanted to buy the first one, but it sold minutes after I left the store to go home and do some research and make sure that I wasn't going to do an impulse buy), The second one was a sunburst that had way too many dings and scratches for a new guitar.

I have heard good things about Martins warrantee.

Any reasons why I shouldn't buy the guitar this way? Has anybody here had a bad D18GE?


Thanks

[RadackGuitars]

Acoustic guitars really need a good "break-in" period. Martin's consistency is great, and it'll be a great guitar, just be prepared for it to not really grab you right out of the box. Play the heck out of it for a week, change the strings, adjust the set-up, keep playing it, you'll be amazed how much of a different and better instrument it will be within a few weeks.

[moo cow]

i bought a used one sight unseen and was very happy with it. the adi tops really sound great. i'm a rosewood type of guy so i ended up trading for a bourgeois. i haven't played a bad GE yet. i'd say go for it.

[Ogre]

Martins, like new Gibsons are all over the place. I would never buy one without hearing/playing it first.

[Mondoslug]

To get the best price (lower than MAP), I am contemplating ordering through a Martin Dealer. I have never purchased a guitar sight unseen, once I make the order, its mine, no returns on custom orders. From all of the research I've done, seems that the D18GE's are pretty consistant.

I have played 2 (I wanted to buy the first one, but it sold minutes after I left the store to go home and do some research and make sure that I wasn't going to do an impulse buy), The second one was a sunburst that had way too many dings and scratches for a new guitar.

I have heard good things about Martins warrantee.

Any reasons why I shouldn't buy the guitar this way? Has anybody here had a bad D18GE?


Thanks
Call Elderly...they have about the best prices on Martin & the D18 Golden Era isn't a custom model. You'll probably get 24-48 hours or whatever their policy is to check it out. Nice guitars.

[teleamp]

Call Elderly...they have about the best prices on Martin & the D18 Golden Era isn't a custom model. You'll probably get 24-48 hours or whatever their policy is to check it out. Nice guitars.

Sorry, I meant non stock items when I said custom order.

Luckily, the Dallas Guitar show is only a little over a month away, hopefully, I'll find a good acoustic there. I know Daves and Buffalo Bros will be there along with with many other dealers and as tight as the market is I might get a good deal.

[Dotneck]

Luckily, the Dallas Guitar show is only a little over a month away, hopefully, I'll find a good acoustic there. I know Daves and Buffalo Bros will be there

Call them in avance and tell them what you're interested in...maybe they can each bring a couple so you have a choice.

[guitardr]

I'm sure the design template and specs are consistent across the board with Martin guitars, but...
I'm also sure that you should get your hands on a comparable model (whatever the case is) and play it. You might consider:
-Contacting the company with your concerns.
-Hooking up with Lance @ Guitar25/Austin: he's got ideas & knowledge.
-Maybe waiting till you go to those guitar shows.
Each of the instruments is finished off by hand, and with the individual characteristics of wood & materials, each has it's own voice (subject to change after strings changes and use/aging). Hold off (if I were you).

[avincent52`]

If you do decide to mail order a guitar, you might check with Jon Garon at My Favorite Guitars and Maury at Maury's Music.
Both are favorites on the Martin Guitar Forum, sell lots of high end instruments, and offer very competitive prices. Either would give you an objective assessment of any instrument they've got, and certainly wouldn't let a guitar out of the shop with a defect.
MFG is in Florida, Maury's in PA near the Martin Factory.


allen

[uncletele]

D-18GE's are pretty consisently great guitars; I own a 2003 and I've played several. There are always some for sale used at the UMGF forum since there are so many out there and folks get GAS.

[Sain't]

D-18GE's are pretty consisently great guitars; I own a 2003 and I've played several. There are always some for sale used at the UMGF forum since there are so many out there and folks get GAS.

Yep, one of the most consistent Martins. Not a bad one to mail order. You can always send it back if you don't like it. And if you don't like it in the try out period, send it back. These should sound pretty darn good right out of the box. And will improve steadily....