C. F. Martin D-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1962)
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Item # 10398
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C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1962), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 185066, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a lovely well-preserved and fine-sounding Martin D-18 from 1962, the height of the "Folk Era" before the Beatles brought electricity roaring back into the guitar mainstream. From its introduction in the early 1930s on, the D-18 has been a workhorse for country, gospel, folk, and other forms of American vernacular music. In the early 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its rosewood sister the D-28 were practically emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. The Martin Dreadnought was the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion.
Still Martin records indicate only 727 D-18s were shipped in 1962; in 1964 the company's new factory would open and the totals would go up dramatically, reaching multiple thousands every year in the 1970s. This guitar is still the product of the old 19th century North Street facility, more akin to its 1950's ancestors than the 1960's guitars post-1964. Martin was not able to keep up with demand in the early 1960s, leading to long waits for dealers and much frustration; whoever got this guitar originally was probably very happy about it! At a list price of $210 (plus case) it represented a serious professional level investment, but it was the ambition of a vast number of aspiring flat-top players to own one.
This D-18 has appointments typical of 1962, before Martin's move to the modern facility led to a number of changes to the instrument through the decade that are thought to diminish its vintage character. The spruce top has a "stripier" appearance than many with a lot of color to the grain. The pickguard and binding are the traditional tortoise celluloid, the original bridge is the old long-saddle design, the bridgeplate still the small maple piece used before 1968. The tuners are Kluson Deluxe with metal buttons. The headstock's "rounded" corners are characteristic of this period, the result of Martin's shaping templates having become worn from extensive use. This guitar sings with a powerful clear sound, an excellent instrument for just about any flat-top application.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a generally clean, superb sounding and easy playing D-18, a very friendly guitar with a great vibe. The finish shows some typical checking and light wear with dings, dents and scratches but not too much heavy play wear. The lower soundhole rim shows typical pick wear into the finish and wood beneath, with smaller spots below the fingerboard extension and around the pickguard. The back and sides are cleaner with some dings, scrapes and edge loss. The back of the neck no major areas worn through but shows a few minor dings, the most noticeable behind the second fret.
There are no cracks on the guitar; the spruce has pulled up just a hair in the often-seen pickguard crack spot but never opened up. The neck has been very neatly reset to the original full-height bridge, winch has a newer bone saddle. The original small maple bridgeplate is untouched. The guitar has been finely refretted with period correct wire.
With 60 years of mellowing in this is simply a superb period D-18. It plays effortlessly with a powerful smooth and even sound with lots of ring to the tone but maintaining an overriding sweetness. The guitar still lives in its original green-lined black HSC which is also quite well preserved. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a lovely well-preserved and fine-sounding Martin D-18 from 1962, the height of the "Folk Era" before the Beatles brought electricity roaring back into the guitar mainstream. From its introduction in the early 1930s on, the D-18 has been a workhorse for country, gospel, folk, and other forms of American vernacular music. In the early 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its rosewood sister the D-28 were practically emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. The Martin Dreadnought was the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion.
Still Martin records indicate only 727 D-18s were shipped in 1962; in 1964 the company's new factory would open and the totals would go up dramatically, reaching multiple thousands every year in the 1970s. This guitar is still the product of the old 19th century North Street facility, more akin to its 1950's ancestors than the 1960's guitars post-1964. Martin was not able to keep up with demand in the early 1960s, leading to long waits for dealers and much frustration; whoever got this guitar originally was probably very happy about it! At a list price of $210 (plus case) it represented a serious professional level investment, but it was the ambition of a vast number of aspiring flat-top players to own one.
This D-18 has appointments typical of 1962, before Martin's move to the modern facility led to a number of changes to the instrument through the decade that are thought to diminish its vintage character. The spruce top has a "stripier" appearance than many with a lot of color to the grain. The pickguard and binding are the traditional tortoise celluloid, the original bridge is the old long-saddle design, the bridgeplate still the small maple piece used before 1968. The tuners are Kluson Deluxe with metal buttons. The headstock's "rounded" corners are characteristic of this period, the result of Martin's shaping templates having become worn from extensive use. This guitar sings with a powerful clear sound, an excellent instrument for just about any flat-top application.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a generally clean, superb sounding and easy playing D-18, a very friendly guitar with a great vibe. The finish shows some typical checking and light wear with dings, dents and scratches but not too much heavy play wear. The lower soundhole rim shows typical pick wear into the finish and wood beneath, with smaller spots below the fingerboard extension and around the pickguard. The back and sides are cleaner with some dings, scrapes and edge loss. The back of the neck no major areas worn through but shows a few minor dings, the most noticeable behind the second fret.
There are no cracks on the guitar; the spruce has pulled up just a hair in the often-seen pickguard crack spot but never opened up. The neck has been very neatly reset to the original full-height bridge, winch has a newer bone saddle. The original small maple bridgeplate is untouched. The guitar has been finely refretted with period correct wire.
With 60 years of mellowing in this is simply a superb period D-18. It plays effortlessly with a powerful smooth and even sound with lots of ring to the tone but maintaining an overriding sweetness. The guitar still lives in its original green-lined black HSC which is also quite well preserved. Overall Excellent - Condition.