Details
This D-18 is celebrating its 80th birthday this year, and the surface wear to the original finish tells us it didn't spend a lot of those years being pampered. But while those years of hard work, and multiple bumps, took a toll on its appearance they sure didn't have an adverse effect on how it sounds, and as a result this is one of those guitars that stays with you after even just a few minutes of playing it. The neck shape has the deep D profile that gives many vintage Martin and Gibson flatpickers the shivers, and yes, the ebony fingerboard with larger dots than you're used to seeing is original (a late 1945 & '46 exclusive!) . Despite the fact that the war was over, steel shortages still persisted for significant periods and this D-18 does not have a T-bar in the neck.
Original pickguard and finish, replaced bridge but original is in the case. Has had proper neck reset and refret many years ago, hasn't been played a lot in recent years. Waverly tuners. All bracing is original, including the bridge plate.
Yep, there are lots of cracks, especially to the sides, but all have been repaired and cleated (no sign of any cracks to the neck). Not only is all the bracing original, there's no indication any braces needed to be glued which suggests that while this D-18 saw some pretty rough handling, it didn't get cooked. Our guess is that if guitars could choose between being scratched up and spending hours in a hot car trunk, especially while under full string tension, scratches would be the choice every time.
This is a great sounding, and playing, mid-1940s D-18.Comes with an excellent TKL hardshell, the kind used for Vintage Series Martins years ago.
Specs
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Back sides
Mahogany
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Binding
faux tortoiseshell celluloid
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Bracing
X-Braced, Tapered
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Bridge
Ebony
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Fingerboard
Ebony
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Finish
lacquer
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Frets to body
14
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Inlay
dots
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Neck material
Mahogany
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Neck shape
D
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Nut width
1 11/16"
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Rosette
Style 18
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Scale length
25.4"
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Top material
Spruce
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Total frets
20
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Tuners
Waverlay
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Year
1946
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Case type
Hardshell
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Serial number
96526
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SKU
MARD18-96526
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UPC
121149
