I went through six D-18's in the summer of '71 at Manny's in NYC before I found one I liked - new out of the plastic bag. It never came into it's own until the bridge pulled up one day and I had another bridge put on. Since then, the tone has improved and it's louder. Oh, and the bridge is in the right spot, as it wasn't from the factory. Sounds like a vintage D-18 should!