Details
A great sounding and playing D-18 from the old North Street Factory, one that has survived with all its original finish and parts, and even its original hardshell case. While not a closet classic that's never been played, it's rare to find a 70-years old Martin Dreadnought that's had the work needed to be playable by contemporary standards, but almost nothing else has been done. In this case the pickguard was released and reglued (to prevent shrinkage cracks to the top), and a small crack to the back was repaired, but the only other work has been the neck reset and refret (all by Gryphon's Repair Dept) . If you want a reminder of why Martin's 1950s tapered-not-scalloped (top bracing) D-18s are revered by flatpickers, even a few simple strums on this example will give you an "oh, now I get it" moment. Clarity, balance, head-room, it's all there.
Specs
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Back sides
Mahogany
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Binding
Tortoise Style
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Bracing
X-Brace, Non-Scalloped
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Bridge
Rosewood
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Fingerboard
Rosewood
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Finish
Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
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Frets to body
14
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Neck material
Mahogany
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Neck shape
Soft V
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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
Sitka Spruce
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Total frets
20
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Tuners
Orginal Kluson
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Year
1955
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Case type
Original Hardshell
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Serial number
143991
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SKU
MARD18-143991
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UPC
121043
