Price: CDN $4995
US Price: US $3977.86
*US dollar exchange varies daily
*US dollar exchange varies daily
Class: Used
Consignment
SOLD
S/N: 1716396, built during 2013 at the C F Martin plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
The Martin D-18 is one of the classic, benchmark instruments and if you've heard much guitar music, you've likely heard a D-18. Though the various dreadnought versions - the D-18, D-21, D-28, and D-45 use the same basic design, the D-18's use of mahogany for the body adds a clear crisp definition to the tone. This helps make it a favourite for styles as diverse as bluegrass and fingerstyle - for example, the first Bruce Cockburn album used a D-18.
C. F. Martin introduced the Authentic series to capture the qualities of historic, irreplaceable instruments (and we won't talk about how Martin no longer loans guitars to film shoots). Selected instruments are examined via a CAT scan system at the Smithsonian Institute, exposing details about construction, bracing and dimensions. Materials closely matching the original stocks are used, and period-correct appointments are added.
For the D-18 Authentic 1939, Martin uses an Adirondack Spruce top, Mahogany for the sides, back and neck, Ebony for the fingerboard and bridge, and a rosewood headplate. The tuners are open-back Waverly models with butterbean buttons. The truss rod is a fixed stiffener.
There is a concession to modernity - the pickguard is not glued to the top, as was the case in 1939. Instead, it's glued to the finish, which means that natural expansion and contraction of the top and pickguard will not cause the 'traditional' top crack.
This Martin D-18 Authentic 1939 was built during 2013 and is a pre-VTS (vintage tone system) model. It is in excellent condition with no appreciable wear, just a few light marks on the pickguard. The original Martin case is included.
Visit the C. F. Martin website to learn more about the Martin D-18 Authentic 1939 model!