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.
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Brand Name
Martin Guitars
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Model
Custom Shop 000-18
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Type
000-14 Fret Body
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Body Finish
Gloss
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Top Finish
Gloss w/Aging Toner
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Top Wood
Solid Adirondack Spruce
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Back and Sides Finish
Gloss
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Bracing
Golden Era, Scalloped, 1/4" Adirondack Spruce X-Bracing
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Binding
Black
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Back & Sides Wood
Mahogany
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Neck Dimensions
.820 1st - .900 9th
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Neck Wood
Mahogany
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Neck Joint
Dovetail with Mahogany Blocks
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Neck Shape
Modified Low Oval w/Standard Taper
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Neck Finish
Satin
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Fingerboard Wood
Black Ebony
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Fingerboard Radius
16"
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Fingerboard Inlays
Select Abalone Old Style 18
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Frets
20
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Scale Length
24.9"
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Nut Material
Bone
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Width at Nut
1 3/4"
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Saddle String Spacing
2 1/4"
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Saddle
16" Radius/Compensated/Bone
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Rosette
Old Style 18 Boltaron
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Tuners
Vintage-Style Grover Nickel V97-18NA StaTite with 18:1 Ratio and Vintage-Style Buttons
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bridge
Ebony Modern Belly w/Drop-In Saddle
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Pickguard
Faux Tortoise
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Case
3-Ply Hardshell with Domed Top
An instrument from Wildwood isn't just an ordinary guitar. It's your guitar. Each and every instrument we sell includes a full,
point by point setup, an exhaustive evaluation, and expert shipping procedures, with first class, industry leading standards from start to finish. Why? Because you deserve it.
303-665-7733
