C. F. Martin D-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1948)
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C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1948), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 106615, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
There are certain guitars that are simply the standard by which all others are judged; the vintage Martin D-18 is certainly one of them. This is a lightly played-in post-war example made in mid/late 1948, not too long after Martin's serial numbers rolled over into 6-digit territory. It shows some minor playwear but remains in excellent playing condition with a truly spectacular sound. The power and depth of a Dreadnought combines with the sweetness, sparkle, and singing character of the best mahogany Martins in a magical mix, making for an exceptionally versatile flat-top guitar suited to practically any musical situation.
This D-18 shows the classic features of the model, widely imitated over the decades. The back and sides are Honduras mahogany and the top is tight-grained Sitka spruce, bound on the outside with tortoise celluloid. The top has a nicely even tight grain pattern. The bracing is no longer scalloped but of lighter construction than it would be a few years later, with gracefully tapered ends. The Rosewood bridge has a canted bone saddle. The pickguard is made of tortoise celluloid in a small "teardrop" shape.
The neck is fairly slim but has a chunkier feel than typical wartime examples, round backed but with a noticeable dress away to the shoulders that shades towards a soft "V" flavor. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound with mixed-size pearl dot inlay. The headstock is faced with rosewood and adorned with the gold Martin logo decal. It is fitted with postwar open backed individual Kluson tuners that were phased out soon after this when their familiar enclosed "Deluxe" machine appeared.
While not as highly venerated as pre-WWII examples the just post war Martins like this D-18 are now 75+ years old and have much to recommend them. Only 752 of these were sold in 1948; this was the second highest total so far for the model (1947 was slightly higher at 775) but by modern standards still a fairly small number. The list price in mid-1948 had gone up to $105, plus case. This instrument remains in better condition than many from this period, a fantastic performing or recording guitar. This great early postwar example has been well-cared for and is ready for many more decades of picking.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 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 D-18 has shows only fairly light general wear and tear and for well over seven decades on the planet has survived in very nicely original condition. The all-original lacquer finish shows no overspray or touchup, only small nicks, dings and scratches mostly over the body. There are noticeable areas of pick marks into the lacquer on either side of the fingerboard and some heavier scratching on the back, but very little of this wear is down to the wood. The back of the neck is quite clean with none of the usual capo dings, just some shallow scattered dinks and tiny scratches. There are some finish chips along the fingerboard edge.
There are two small grain pull splits to the top coming off the top edge of the pickguard in the typical spot. There are shallow and do not appear to extend to the inside of the guitar. These have been sealed but not finished over; there are no other visible crack repairs. The neck has been neatly reset with a small rosewood shim added under the fingerboard extension. The frets have some light wear but still play well; the fingerboard has some light devoting not, as common, in the first position but in the 5-7th fret area. The nut appears later. The original rosewood bridge had been previously reglued with some marks around the edge and appears slightly lowered in front of the pins long ago with a new bone saddle.
Internally, the original braces and small maple bridge plate remain fully intact; the plate bas some minor pin wear but no alteration. For an early post-war guitar, this D-18 retains all of the charm one might expect from a Martin made just a few years prior, with a big smooth sound richer than many while not losing clarity. It is a delightful guitar to play and resides in a period (likely original) green-lined Martin hardshell case. Overall Excellent - Condition.
There are certain guitars that are simply the standard by which all others are judged; the vintage Martin D-18 is certainly one of them. This is a lightly played-in post-war example made in mid/late 1948, not too long after Martin's serial numbers rolled over into 6-digit territory. It shows some minor playwear but remains in excellent playing condition with a truly spectacular sound. The power and depth of a Dreadnought combines with the sweetness, sparkle, and singing character of the best mahogany Martins in a magical mix, making for an exceptionally versatile flat-top guitar suited to practically any musical situation.
This D-18 shows the classic features of the model, widely imitated over the decades. The back and sides are Honduras mahogany and the top is tight-grained Sitka spruce, bound on the outside with tortoise celluloid. The top has a nicely even tight grain pattern. The bracing is no longer scalloped but of lighter construction than it would be a few years later, with gracefully tapered ends. The Rosewood bridge has a canted bone saddle. The pickguard is made of tortoise celluloid in a small "teardrop" shape.
The neck is fairly slim but has a chunkier feel than typical wartime examples, round backed but with a noticeable dress away to the shoulders that shades towards a soft "V" flavor. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound with mixed-size pearl dot inlay. The headstock is faced with rosewood and adorned with the gold Martin logo decal. It is fitted with postwar open backed individual Kluson tuners that were phased out soon after this when their familiar enclosed "Deluxe" machine appeared.
While not as highly venerated as pre-WWII examples the just post war Martins like this D-18 are now 75+ years old and have much to recommend them. Only 752 of these were sold in 1948; this was the second highest total so far for the model (1947 was slightly higher at 775) but by modern standards still a fairly small number. The list price in mid-1948 had gone up to $105, plus case. This instrument remains in better condition than many from this period, a fantastic performing or recording guitar. This great early postwar example has been well-cared for and is ready for many more decades of picking.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 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 D-18 has shows only fairly light general wear and tear and for well over seven decades on the planet has survived in very nicely original condition. The all-original lacquer finish shows no overspray or touchup, only small nicks, dings and scratches mostly over the body. There are noticeable areas of pick marks into the lacquer on either side of the fingerboard and some heavier scratching on the back, but very little of this wear is down to the wood. The back of the neck is quite clean with none of the usual capo dings, just some shallow scattered dinks and tiny scratches. There are some finish chips along the fingerboard edge.
There are two small grain pull splits to the top coming off the top edge of the pickguard in the typical spot. There are shallow and do not appear to extend to the inside of the guitar. These have been sealed but not finished over; there are no other visible crack repairs. The neck has been neatly reset with a small rosewood shim added under the fingerboard extension. The frets have some light wear but still play well; the fingerboard has some light devoting not, as common, in the first position but in the 5-7th fret area. The nut appears later. The original rosewood bridge had been previously reglued with some marks around the edge and appears slightly lowered in front of the pins long ago with a new bone saddle.
Internally, the original braces and small maple bridge plate remain fully intact; the plate bas some minor pin wear but no alteration. For an early post-war guitar, this D-18 retains all of the charm one might expect from a Martin made just a few years prior, with a big smooth sound richer than many while not losing clarity. It is a delightful guitar to play and resides in a period (likely original) green-lined Martin hardshell case. Overall Excellent - Condition.