Acoustic Guitars - Does the Wood Make a Difference?

Man, Ben is an amazing player

Some of you might be wondering why Pete isn’t doing this video… can you imagine Pete going on about the problems of getting wood as he gets older, the quality of his 'wood' etc etc the limitless 'wood' innuendo would mean this video would never be finished.

That is some absolutely fantastic playing. Everytime I watch Ben play I remember why I bought a thumb pick. I then go and try to play with my thumb pick and am instantly reminded why I never do it.

Ben should be a regular guest on Andertons 2 with all sorts of Martin Guitars ❤

D28 has straight bracing with dove joint, D18 has scalloped bracing and dove tail. The D15M has scalloped bracing but a simple dove tail with a bolt. There is a bit more than wood species to differentiate them.

1:55 “I’m going to see once I don’t have any sight” That’s deep, man.

Since these are acoustic instruments, very probably yes. But I recall reading that the CEO himself of Martin guitars said that construction is more important than the wood selection. Anways, curious to watch the video:)

How thick and strong your wood is is something you have zero control over.

"I can flatpick a bit" he says.

I’ve gained the opinion — it’s all the world in acoustic guitars. It’s an instrument that solely relies on what it’s made of to make its own sound. Here’s where people will get butthurt. Acoustic guitars are more like the realm of classical instruments. Violinists will spend easily 5 grand on a violin so some view acoustic guitars as a deal for 2-3 grand. It’s hard, not impossible, to get a good sounding and playing acoustic under a grand, but you gotta step it up to 1500+ if you want a good wood and craftsmanship. That’s just how it be with these instruments. Don’t feel the same about electrics entirely. Diatribe over.

D15 sounds sooo muddy, I feel the D18 you can hear the strings the clearest and focused, while the D28 the bass is more prominent and sounds larger

To be a strictly accurate test, you need guitars of exactly the same shape, size, and construction/bracing---differing only in woods. The D-18, D-28, and D-15 differ in more ways than just their types of wood. These differences may not matter much or as much as wood. But they are variables.

Your wood makes all the difference

The D18 sound fantastic! Great player !

there are so many factors to take into account when your talking tone woods for acoustics. because the bracing inside will dictate how the wood reverberates, you cant always claim oh it has a spruce top it will sound like this. on electrics.. its only really the neck wood that influences tone. but acoustics. its the wood and how its constructed..

The D18 wins for me. Mahogany just sounds right. I love the D28 as well, but rosewood backed guitars always sound like they’re missing something. It’s the midrange I like, I suppose.

Missing cedar top, guys. Played by folk like John Williams and James Taylor. Cedar warmer than spruce but more articulate than mahogany. Had one myself for 20 years!

Too much time between playing each guitar so it's hard to hear the difference.

What a video guys! This is the kind of videos that I want to see (I love all of yours), but this particular video nailed it… 3 same brand guitars, same model, same PLAYER, same MIC, just different woods.

That D-18 sounds incredible! 😍