The Martin Special 18 Style Adirondack VTS dreadnought acoustic guitar brings you back to the 1930s, when Martin crafted some of the finest guitars the world has ever known. Thanks to Martin's revolutionary Vintage Tone System, this guitar captures the look and sound of an 80-year-old instrument. The premium Adirondack spruce top is temperature aged to reproduce the tone of a guitar from Martin's golden era. Combined with mahogany back and sides and Martin's standard X bracing, this guitar produces a clear, balanced tone with articulate highs and controlled lows. While the tone harkens back to vintage Martins, the neck offers a modern, comfortable feel.
Vintage Tone System Ages the Guitar Decades in Days
Martin's proprietary Vintage Tone System allows them to target the sound of vintage guitars from a specific decade. For this model, Martin aged the Adirondack spruce top to capture the tone of a guitar from the 1930s. This process recreates not just the timbre but the maturity and complexity that can only come with decades of aging. In a matter of days, Martin can transport this new guitar back nearly a century.
Premium Adirondack Spruce Top and Mahogany Body
At the heart of this guitar's vintage tone is an Adirondack spruce top, a wood prized for its musicality and responsiveness. When aged using the Vintage Tone System, this top reproduces the tone of the finest 1930s Martins. Mahogany back and sides provide a balanced tone and comfortable feel. Together, these premium tonewoods create an instrument with articulate highs, controlled lows and a voice that blossoms with playing.
Modern Feel Meets Vintage Soul
While this guitar captures the elusive tone of an 80-year-old Martin, its neck offers a profile suited to contemporary playing styles. The low-profile neck and 1-3⁄4" nut width have a familiar, comfortable feel for most guitarists. This fusion of vintage tone and modern playability gives you an instrument with soul that also caters to today's needs.
Built to Martin's Legendary Standards
Like all Martins, this guitar is crafted with the utmost care and the highest quality materials. The dovetail neck joint, scalloped X bracing and ebony fretboard are hallmarks of Martin's build quality. Each component is selected and finished by expert luthiers dedicated to upholding Martin's legacy of excellence. This guitar not only reproduces the tone of a vintage classic but is destined to become an heirloom itself.
