C. F. Martin D-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965)
This item has been sold.
Item # 9377
Prices subject to change without notice.
C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 203972, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a fine-sounding D-18 from the end of the "Folk Era" of the 1960s, just as the Beatles were helping to bring 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 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its rosewood sister the D-28 were practically the emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. The Martin Dreadnought became- and remained ever since- the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion. Martin records indicate 1,126 D-18s were shipped in 1965; the next year that total nearly doubled. At $250 (plus case) this 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 1965, just before Martin made a number of changes to the instrument that are thought to diminish its vintage character. The pickguard and binding are tortoise celluloid, which would soon be replaced by black plastic; the still-intact original bridge is one of the first new short-saddle pieces. 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, bright and 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 superb sounding and easy playing D-18, a very friendly guitar with a great vibe. The finish shows some typical light wear overall with some small dings, dents and scratches but there is simply not a lot of play wear here. The upper soundhole rim shows a bit of pick (or thumbpick) chew into the finish but that's about it. The back of the neck is very clean with hardly any finish loss.
There is one crack to the top, a spruce grain split just above the lower waist which has been sealed but not finished over. The often-seen pickguard crack has never happened to this guitar. There is one tiny dink into the wood at the curve of the lower treble bout on the upper side, no other crack or disturbances to the wood are evident. The neck has been very neatly reset to the original full-height bridge; the original small maple bridgeplate is untouched.
The original frets show very little wear; it seems this guitar was simply never played very much. Now 1965's loss is 2020's gain, as after 55 years of mellowing this is simply a superb period D-18. It plays effortlessly with a sound brighter than some with lots of ring to the tone but still maintaining an overriding sweetness. The guitar still lives in its original green-lined black HSC which is also quite well preserved. Excellent - Condition.
This is a fine-sounding D-18 from the end of the "Folk Era" of the 1960s, just as the Beatles were helping to bring 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 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its rosewood sister the D-28 were practically the emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. The Martin Dreadnought became- and remained ever since- the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion. Martin records indicate 1,126 D-18s were shipped in 1965; the next year that total nearly doubled. At $250 (plus case) this 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 1965, just before Martin made a number of changes to the instrument that are thought to diminish its vintage character. The pickguard and binding are tortoise celluloid, which would soon be replaced by black plastic; the still-intact original bridge is one of the first new short-saddle pieces. 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, bright and 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 superb sounding and easy playing D-18, a very friendly guitar with a great vibe. The finish shows some typical light wear overall with some small dings, dents and scratches but there is simply not a lot of play wear here. The upper soundhole rim shows a bit of pick (or thumbpick) chew into the finish but that's about it. The back of the neck is very clean with hardly any finish loss.
There is one crack to the top, a spruce grain split just above the lower waist which has been sealed but not finished over. The often-seen pickguard crack has never happened to this guitar. There is one tiny dink into the wood at the curve of the lower treble bout on the upper side, no other crack or disturbances to the wood are evident. The neck has been very neatly reset to the original full-height bridge; the original small maple bridgeplate is untouched.
The original frets show very little wear; it seems this guitar was simply never played very much. Now 1965's loss is 2020's gain, as after 55 years of mellowing this is simply a superb period D-18. It plays effortlessly with a sound brighter than some with lots of ring to the tone but still maintaining an overriding sweetness. The guitar still lives in its original green-lined black HSC which is also quite well preserved. Excellent - Condition.