C. F. Martin D-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1967)
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Item # 10747
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C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1967), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 218007, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a fine-sounding D-18 built in very early 1967, as a time when Martin's Dreadnought flat tops were steadily increasing in popularity. This trend that would peak in the early 70's, with the singer-songwriter boom. Earlier in the 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its pricier rosewood sister the D-28 were practically the emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. As the decade went on the Martin Dreadnought became- and remained ever since- the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion.
This D-18 has transitional appointments specific to 1966-7; The pickguard is still tortoise celluloid, but the outer body binding is already changed to black plastic. The rosewood bridge has the short saddle recently introduced but rests over the traditional small maple bridgeplate, replaced year or so later with a much larger rosewood piece. The original tuners are "Patent Pending" Grover Rotomatics, a recent fitting on this model at the time. The headstock's "rounded" corners are characteristic of this period, the result of Martin's shaping templates having become worn from extensive use.
Martin records indicate 2602 D-18s were shipped in 1967; the best year for the model to date. At $295 (plus case) in early 1967 this guitar represented a serious professional level investment, but it was the ambition of a vast number of aspiring flat-top players to own one. 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 and in the '60's this sonic palette only expanded. This D-18 is an excellent player and sings with a powerful, bright and clear sound, and is an excellent instrument for just about any flat-top application.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 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.).
Overall this 55 year old D-18 shows only minor wear for its 55 years on earth and remains in structurally fine shape with just one fairly minor repair. The finish is all original with no overspray at all, the top shows some light checking but less than many of the all-to-common pickwear; this one has some marks into the lacquer but hardly anything through. The back and sides are also relatively clean showing some scuffing on the back small dings and scrapes. The back of the neck is very clean with hardly any wear, free of the common capo marks.
The one visible repair is a cleanly sealed pickguard crack between the pickguard and the treble side binding. There is a little bit of glue residue inside the guitar where the work was completed.
The neck has been very neatly reset and this is an excellent playing and sounding D-18. The rosewood bridge is original as is the small maple bridgeplate, only the saddle has been replaced. The fingerboard and original frets are very well preserved showing very little wear. This is a played-in but very well cared for guitar, and it remains in its original green-lined black Tolex HSC, a lovely package of 1960's Martin goodness. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a fine-sounding D-18 built in very early 1967, as a time when Martin's Dreadnought flat tops were steadily increasing in popularity. This trend that would peak in the early 70's, with the singer-songwriter boom. Earlier in the 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its pricier rosewood sister the D-28 were practically the emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. As the decade went on the Martin Dreadnought became- and remained ever since- the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion.
This D-18 has transitional appointments specific to 1966-7; The pickguard is still tortoise celluloid, but the outer body binding is already changed to black plastic. The rosewood bridge has the short saddle recently introduced but rests over the traditional small maple bridgeplate, replaced year or so later with a much larger rosewood piece. The original tuners are "Patent Pending" Grover Rotomatics, a recent fitting on this model at the time. The headstock's "rounded" corners are characteristic of this period, the result of Martin's shaping templates having become worn from extensive use.
Martin records indicate 2602 D-18s were shipped in 1967; the best year for the model to date. At $295 (plus case) in early 1967 this guitar represented a serious professional level investment, but it was the ambition of a vast number of aspiring flat-top players to own one. 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 and in the '60's this sonic palette only expanded. This D-18 is an excellent player and sings with a powerful, bright and clear sound, and is an excellent instrument for just about any flat-top application.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 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.).
Overall this 55 year old D-18 shows only minor wear for its 55 years on earth and remains in structurally fine shape with just one fairly minor repair. The finish is all original with no overspray at all, the top shows some light checking but less than many of the all-to-common pickwear; this one has some marks into the lacquer but hardly anything through. The back and sides are also relatively clean showing some scuffing on the back small dings and scrapes. The back of the neck is very clean with hardly any wear, free of the common capo marks.
The one visible repair is a cleanly sealed pickguard crack between the pickguard and the treble side binding. There is a little bit of glue residue inside the guitar where the work was completed.
The neck has been very neatly reset and this is an excellent playing and sounding D-18. The rosewood bridge is original as is the small maple bridgeplate, only the saddle has been replaced. The fingerboard and original frets are very well preserved showing very little wear. This is a played-in but very well cared for guitar, and it remains in its original green-lined black Tolex HSC, a lovely package of 1960's Martin goodness. Overall Excellent Condition.