❌SOLD❌ Martin D-18V Sitka Top Dreadnought, 2007

The Martin D-18V Sitka Spruce top dreadnought guitar was part of the Martin Vintage Series, built from 1995 until 2011 and draws from the best classic Martin models. This line has been discontinued and its current replacement is the Authentic series.

This Martin D-18V Sitka top guitar dates to 2007 and was built at the Martin facility in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Construction is very similar to pre-war and wartime models. The top and forward-shifted, scalloped braces are Sitka Spruce, paired with Mahogany for the sides, back and neck. The fingerboard and bridge are Ebony, while the headplate is Indian Rosewood. The bridge is a vintage design, with a cut-through long saddle slot.    The open gear, Martin-branded  open gear ‘butterbean button’ tuners, of the Grover Sta-Tite or Waverly design, are built by Gotoh.  

Unlike the ‘real’ vintage guitars, however, this example (and this series) has its pickguard glued to the finish, not directly to the top, and this prevents the ‘traditional’ top crack that happens when the top shrinks over time, but the pickguard doesn’t. As well, it has an adjustable truss rod, accessed through the sound hole. And an L R Baggs I-Beam pickup has been added, with the pre-amp and battery accessed through the soundhole. There is a single volume control discreetly fixed to the inside section of the bass-side sound hole arc.

This guitar is in very good condition with little wear and has a fantastic sound, with the crisp, sparkling clarity and definition characteristic of the D-18. It doesn’t appear to have been played a lot, and should open up more with use. Its already great tone will get even better!

These guitars were very well regarded, and are priced quite a bit lower than the newer, vintage style models so this is a great deal.

The original black hard shell Geib / Martin case is included.