Brand: Martin
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars, SOLD
The Martin D-18 is one of the most successful and iconic American guitar designs, used by tens of thousands of guitarists of all skill levels. In constant production since 1931, the D body provided a fuller bass and more volume, and was based on a Dreadnought design custom made for the Ditson company in 1916.
The C. F. Martin D-18 uses the X braced Dreadnought ‘D’ body design, built using a Spruce top paired with Mahogany for the back and sides, Mahogany neck, and Rosewood for the fingerboard, head plate and bridge. Until the mid 1960’s when embargoes on raw wood limited supplies, the term ‘Rosewood’ often meant ‘Brazilian Rosewood’ and that is the case here.
This Martin D-18 dates to 1965, and based on the serial number ranking, possibly in late May or June. Martin built 7,404 guitars that year, and this was the 3,069th. It is in overall good condition, and has had a number of necessary repairs over the years. It has had its neck reset, as almost any guitar of this age would require, the pickguard has been reglued, and the top has a cleated crack from the bridge to the tailpiece. The back has an old, solid crack repair – there is a patch on the inside, at the edge of the lower treble side. The back’s center seam has a visible line but is solid.
It plays well, and sounds like a vintage D-18, with sparkle and clarity and the fullness of a Dreadnought body.
A non-original hard shell case is included.
- Model: D-18
- Year: 1965
- Finish Gloss
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 203961
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 24/10/2018
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
- Including Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 4.13lbs 1.88kg
- Scale Length: 25.4in 645.16mm
- Nut Width: 1.7in 43mm
