Martin Guitars Custom Shop 000-18

An All-World Acoustic ATV

Wildwoodians, we believe that there are few things in life better than sitting down with a great 000-18 and getting lost (maybe winning the Super Bowl or a Nobel Prize in physics are better, but we're not sure). So, we jumped at the chance to spec out a run of 000-18s from the Martin Custom Shop, and we think the resulting guitars are all-world acoustic all-terrain vehicles. These 000-18s are versatile beasts capable of inspiring you in a variety of musical styles and contexts, and they work equally well for strumming, fingerstyle, and lead picking (which is no small feat). They exemplify the sky-high standard of craftsmanship set by the skilled artisans at the Martin Custom Shop, and they make heartstrings resonate the way only a hand-built guitar can. Let's dive deeper and see what makes these many-trick ponies so special!

Adirondack Spruce and Mahogany: A Love Story

At Wildwood, we love Adirondack spruce the way Al Green loves the object of his affection in "Let's Stay Together," and these 000-18s are a powerful reminder of why we get so excited about different varieties of spruce. Coupled with the 000 body shape and the genuine mahogany back and sides, the Adirondack top is the key ingredient in an intoxicating sonic cocktail. It makes these Custom Shop beauties sound full-bodied yet balanced, with just the right blend of brightness and warmth. Most importantly, it gives them TONS of headroom.

"Headroom" is a semi-esoteric subject, so let's break it down in a simple way. Just like electric guitar amplifiers, all acoustic guitars have a limit to how loud they can get. Once you go past that point, the guitar "overdrives" and gets more compressed-sounding with more overtones as you play harder. With Adirondack spruce-topped guitars, that "point of no return" is sky-high.

This means a few things: first, these 000-18s can simply get louder than other acoustic guitars; second, they maintain outstanding clarity at higher volumes, so you can dig in without the sound breaking up; third, because they have more volume on tap, they have a greater dynamic range. Adirondack spruce also produces a powerful fundamental--which gives these guitars a warm, woody tonality--and they impart an articulate, percussive quality to the attack. The dynamic range makes them wonderful for nuanced fingerpicking, while the headroom allows them to do a convincing impersonation of a dreadnought when you dig in.

Mahogany is the jelly to Adirondack spruce's peanut butter. It adds warmth, midrange punch, and balance, all of which enhance the well-rounded nature of these guitars. It's truly a match made in heaven, and the alchemy between the two woods allows these monster Martins to sing out with a powerful yet clear voice with perfectly proportioned amounts of punch, sparkle, and low-end that works beautifully for all genres and situations.

Triple Ohhhh Yeah!

What cements these 000-18s status as acoustic ATVs is the 000 body, a shape that was purpose-built to handle everything. The smaller body gives a boost to responsiveness, clarity, and articulation. It also allows you to get the top vibrating and moving at lower volumes, which makes fingerstyle play easier. As previously mentioned, these 000-18s sound like wooden cannons when strummed, but the smaller body gives them a more sculpted sound than a dreadnought, especially at high volumes. It's guaranteed to make you shout "OHHHHH YEAH" like the Kool-Aid man when you strum the first chord when you sit down (note: Wildwood Guitars is not responsible if you run through a wall afterward).

Go Your Own Way

All in all, these 000-18s are vehicles that allow you to go anywhere in the musical world your imagination leads you. Whether you're a fingerstylist, a flatpicker, a chicken pickin' specialist, or any combination of the above, you will be inspired to embark on all sorts of fretboard adventures.