C. F. Martin D-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965)

C. F. Martin  D-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar  (1965)
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Item # 10773
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C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 207015, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This is a fine-sounding D-18 just as 1965 was rolling into 1966; the serial number is one of the last 15 recorder that year. At the time Martin's Dreadnought flat tops were steadily increasing in popularity, to the point of eclipsing the company's other offerings. This trend that would peak in the early 70's, with the singer-songwriter boom when D-18's and D-28's were sold in the thousands each year. 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 appointments typical of 1965-6, just before Martin made a number of changes to the instrument thought to diminish its vintage character. The pickguard and binding are tortoise celluloid, soon to be changed to black plastic. The rosewood bridge has the short saddle recently introduced but rests over the traditional small maple bridgeplate, replaced a couple of years later with a much larger rosewood piece. The original tuners are "Patent Pending" Grover Rotomatics, a brand new 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. The upper part of the top has some nice bearclaw figure to the spruce.

Martin records indicate 1,126 D-18s were sold in 1965; This one probably actually shipped out the next year when that total nearly doubled to 2176. At $270 (plus case) at the time 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 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 57 year old D-18 shows some light wear and tear overall and remains in structurally fine shape with one notable minor repair. The finish remains original with some very minor touch up, the top shows light checking and visible pickwear; some through the finish around the soundhole and between the soundhole and the bridge under the strings. There are a couple of small case bites on the treble side of the top, and a deep scrape on the edge of the upper treble bout. The back and sides are relatively clean showing some dings, dents and scrapes. The back of the neck has some small feelable dinks but no heavy wear.

The one repair is to two short stress checks running from just below the nut less than an inch just under the fingerboard. These have been cleanly sealed and are completely solid but still visible on close inspection. The neck has been very neatly reset, there is plenty of saddle. The rosewood bridge is original as is the small maple bridgeplate, the saddle has been replaced. The bridge was slightly shaved down long ago, more on the treble side, though it retains enough height to be within Martin factory specifications. There was never any strap button added.

The original frets show some typical wear but playability is not impaired. This is a truly excellent playing and sounding D-18, with a comfortable action and powerful woody sound. Apart from a minor headstock mishap long ago this is a very well cared for guitar, and it remains in an original green-lined HSC, a lovely package of 1960's Martin goodness just worn in enough to play without worry. Overall Excellent - Condition.