Martin Guitar 000-18

Timeless Auditorium Style for Intimate, Balanced Tone

The Martin 000-18 is a classic auditorium-style acoustic guitar, handcrafted in Nazareth, Pennsylvania since the 1930s, celebrated for its warm, balanced tone and comfortable playability. A favorite of folk, blues, and fingerstyle players like Joan Baez and Jason Isbell across Australia, it features a solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides, delivering clear articulation and focused resonance. Its smaller body size makes it ideal for intimate performances and studio recording, offering a refined alternative to the larger dreadnought.

Exceptional Sound Quality

The 000-18’s non-scalloped X-bracing and premium tonewoods create a versatile, articulate voice:

• Body: Auditorium (000-14 fret) shape with a solid Sitka spruce top (aging toner) for bright, clear projection and dynamic response, paired with solid mahogany back and sides for warm, focused mids and crisp lows. The smaller body offers a more controlled, articulate tone compared to dreadnoughts, excelling in fingerpicking and light strumming.
• Tone: Warm, clear, and balanced with excellent note definition, ideal for fingerstyle, folk, and blues. The mahogany back and sides provide a drier, woodier sound than rosewood models, emphasizing clarity over bass-heavy resonance.
• Neck: Select hardwood with a modified low oval profile and high-performance taper for comfortable playability. The East Indian rosewood fingerboard has a 25.4″ scale, 20 frets, and Style 18 dot inlays for smooth fretting.
• Bridge: East Indian rosewood with a drop-in bone saddle for precise intonation and enhanced sustain.
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear with butterbean buttons for reliable tuning and vintage aesthetics.
• Strings: Light-gauge phosphor bronze (e.g., Martin Authentic Acoustic SP, 12–53) for balanced tone and ease of play.

A 2025 Premier Guitar review praises the 000-18 as “a fingerstyle gem,” noting its “crisp, articulate tone with just enough warmth for solo performance.” Users on The Acoustic Guitar Forum describe it as “the perfect couch guitar,” with one stating, “The 2025 000-18 has a focused, woody tone that’s ideal for fingerpicking and small venues.”

Durable and Timeless Design

• Finish: Hand-rubbed gloss nitrocellulose with aging toner on the top for a vintage patina.
• Aesthetics: Style 18 appointments include a black pickguard, multi-stripe rosette, and simple dot inlays for understated elegance.
• Build Quality: Solid woods with a dovetail neck joint for optimal vibration transfer, bone nut/saddle, and premium craftsmanship for lifelong durability. Weighing approximately 4–4.5 lbs, it’s lightweight and comfortable for extended play.

Backed by a limited lifetime warranty, the 000-18 is built to last generations. Prices range from $2,499–$2,799 USD (AUD 3,750–4,200) as of September 2025, available at AudioShop Australia with fast delivery.

Key Performance Features

• Body: Auditorium (000-14 fret), solid Sitka spruce top (aging toner), solid mahogany back/sides
• Neck: Select hardwood, modified low oval profile, high-performance taper
• Fingerboard: East Indian rosewood, 25.4″ scale, 20 frets, Style 18 dot inlays
• Bridge: East Indian rosewood, drop-in bone saddle
• Tuners: Nickel open-gear with butterbean buttons
• Bracing: Standard X, non-scalloped
• Nut/Saddle: Bone
• Warranty: Limited lifetime

Notes

• No Electronics: Pure acoustic; for amplified use, consider the 000-18E variant with Fishman electronics.
• Setup Recommendation: Professional setup advised to optimize action and intonation for fingerstyle precision. Use light-gauge strings (e.g., 11–52) for balanced projection. Pair with Rode PodMic and RØDECaster Pro II for recording demos.
• Care Instructions: Store in a hardshell case (~$200–$300 AUD) to protect the nitro finish; maintain humidity (45–55% RH) to prevent cracking.
• Warranty: Register at martinguitar.com for support; verify purchase from authorized retailers like AudioShop Australia.
• Community Feedback: The Acoustic Guitar Forum users praise its “crisp, woody clarity” and “perfect size for fingerstyle,” with one noting, “The 000-18 is less boomy than a dreadnought, with a focused tone that’s great for recording.”

Why Choose AudioShop Australia

• 100% genuine Martin products with manufacturer warranty
• Fast, reliable delivery across AudioShop Australia with secure checkout
• Free shipping on orders over $100 (under 20kg) at AudioShop Australia
• Expert advice from our team of music professionals
• Trusted by guitarists and performers at AudioShop Australia