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Martin

collapse expand iconDescription

The Martin Special 18 Style Adirondack VTS top dreadnought acoustic guitar was designed to target the highly collectible vintage sound of Martin’s 1930s Golden Era. This period in Martin’s history is considered to have given birth to the finest acoustic guitars in the world. These world-renowned instruments are cherished for their unparalleled tone and considered by many collectors and professional musicians to be the "Stradivarius" of the acoustic guitar.

Thanks to Martin's revolutionary Vintage Tone System (VTS), they've created a process to capture the look and sound of one of their older instruments and replicate in a new instrument, like this Martin Special 18 Style VTS dreadnought acoustic.

Martin VTS
What is Martin’s Vintage Tone System? It’s a proprietary temperature aging process that allows Martin to target the sound of their vintage acoustic guitars within a decade. It’s like a time machine taking your new guitar and aging it to sound vintage. Martin has honed this process by benchmarking some of the finest examples of their 185-year history, found in their Nazareth, PA museum. Once they reference a vintage top, the new top is aged to the correct moisture content and look of that period. This proprietary VTS process is unique to Martin and can only be found on custom, special and Authentic Martin models.

In the spirit of combining a modern feel with a vintage tone, the Special 18 Series VTS dreadnought incorporates a premium grade of Adirondack spruce for the top that is temperature aged to sound like a guitar from the 1930s. The guitar is then braced with the standard 5/16" X-bracing pattern to add just the right of color to the tone. Martin then combined this Adirondack VTS top with mahogany back and sides, and a low profile, standard taper neck to create a dreadnought guitar that has an extraordinary sound and feel. To recreate a vintage look, the vintage black, binding and black pickguard. The Special 18 Style VTS dreadnought has a clear, defined treble and midrange tone, with a very balanced and controlled bottom end.
Martin Special 18 Style VTS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
Martin Special 18 Style VTS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural
Martin Special 18 Style VTS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natural

collapse expand iconFeatures

  • Mahogany back and sides, spruce top
  • 25.4" low-profile standard taper neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, rosewood headstock overlay
  • Bone nut and saddle, chrome hardware
  • Gloss-finished body, satin-finished neck

collapse expand iconSpecs

Body
  • Body type: Dreadnought, non-cutaway
  • Top wood: Spruce
  • Back & sides: Mahogany
  • Bracing pattern: X
  • Body finish: Gloss
Neck
  • Neck shape: Low-profile standard taper
  • Nut width: 1.68"
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood
  • Scale length: 25.4"
  • Number of frets: 20
  • Neck finish: Satin
  • Bridge: Rosewood
  • Saddle & nut: Bone
Other
  • Orientation: Right handed
  • Number of strings: 6
  • Country of origin: United States

collapse expand iconWarranty

One year warranty on Martin Backpackers, Little Martins and Ukuleles. Limited lifetime on other Martin guitars.

Featured Articles

collapse expand iconReviews

4.5

8 Reviews

88%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend

Filters
Best Uses
  1. Practicing6
  2. Jamming5
  3. Small Venues5
  4. Recording4
  5. School Bands1
Cons
  1. Flat Sound1
  2. Not Consistent1
  3. Super super minor imperfections in binding1
  4. Does not come with a pickup1
Describe Yourself
  1. Experienced6
  2. Novice2
Pros
  1. Fun To Play6
  2. Good Audio6
  3. Good Feel6
  4. Consistent5
  5. Stays In Tune5

Reviewed by 8 customers

  • No regrets

    5

    submitted23 days ago

    byPhil

    fromPittsburgh

    I got this for under $2k on clearance, and I thought I might regret spending that much on a "special" Martin. After about a month, I still get excited every time I hear it when I play. It's possible build quality and resale are slightly less than reg D18, but I won't ever sell anyway

  • It's exactly what I hoped it would be

    5

    submitteda year ago

    byConner

    fromPaint Lick, KY

    I bought this guitar back in November of 2023. It's one of the best guitars I've ever owned! My father has a d18 GE and my special 18 style vts can sure give it a run for it's money. If you're looking for a great guitar, then I highly recommend checking this one out!

  • Truly Outstanding

    5

    Verified BuyerVerified Buyer

    submitted3 years ago

    byJames

    fromUpstate new york

    Group and play alone. Can't express enough the sound ,quality and unbelievable set up. Have 3 Martin's, huss and dalton, bourgeois om and furch blue. There is absolutely nothing that can compare ease of playing out of the box. I mean nothing! It's like a strat with 10 s on it

  • These are sitting in Guitar Center's warehouse indefinitely

    1

    submitted4 years ago

    byDoug O

    fromLos Angeles, CA

    I got a great deal on this (first red flag) and ordered it instead of the D18 standard. Upon receipt at my local Guitar Center it had the worst frest spout i've ever seen on a a decent guitar. The guitar sounded flat and dead (excuse me?), and the top spruce looked like a VERY low grade. I sent it back for another one, this one was a bit better, but it had sharp frets again, and most concerning, a slight bulge in the top near the bridge that the store's tech noted with me. I sent this back as well, and happily am the owner of a D18 standard now. I was told by one of the employees that there are close to 190 of these sitting in the GC warehouse, 190 OF THEM. These are not selling, and are sitting in an non humidified warehouse. The worst part? Both guitars I sent back are sitting on the wall of my local Guitar Center...

  • Excellent!

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byAdam H.

    fromFranklin, TN

    No compromise with this guitar.

  • Beautiful rich Guild sound

    5

    submitted4 years ago

    byG Grigas

    fromEllijay, Georgia

    I use my Martin mostly for practice and family gatherings. The sound from this guitar is very rich on both the low and high ends. Sustain is amazing. The neck fits my hand perfectly and has a satin finish, which helps in maintaining a steady grip. The workmanship and quality of this guitar is second to none. This will not be my last Martin purchase. I look forward to many years of enjoyment from this instrument.

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collapse expand iconQ&A

Have a question about this product? Our expert Gear Advisers have the answers.

  • submitteda year ago

    asked byMe

    fromundisclosed

    Special 18 Style VTS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Does this guitar have solid back and sides or laminate wood?

    Special 18 Style VTS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Does this guitar have solid back and sides or laminate wood?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    The Special has laminate back and sides.

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byRosewood

    fromAnnapolis Maryland

    Is a hardshell case included with the Martin Special 18 Style VTS? Also, is the top Adirondack spruce? The specs just indicate spruce. Thank you.

    Is a hardshell case included with the Martin Special 18 Style VTS? Also, is the top Adirondack spruce? The specs just indicate spruce. Thank you.

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    It is not Adirondack spruce. Please see "Martin Special 28 Style Adirondack VTS Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Natura".

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byTommy

    fromNC

    Is the special 18 a solid mahogany back and sides or layered dood?

    Is the special 18 a solid mahogany back and sides or layered dood?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    It's a layered wood

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byTom

    fromPittsford, NY

    Does it come with a case?

    Does it come with a case?

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    This guitar does come with a case.

  • submitted4 years ago

    asked byTom

    fromPittsford, NY 14534

    Hi. Do you have any actual photos? Thank you! Tom

    Hi. Do you have any actual photos? Thank you! Tom

    Open Reply - Gear-Support
    Unfortunately, we only have stock photos at this time.