Details
We've had reproductions of pre-WWII Martin D-18 models before, in fact one could argue that most mahogany Dreadnoughts with style 18 trim sold in the last couple of decades are more or less copies of the iconic late-'30s/early-'40s D-18. But the Pre-War Guitar Co. in North Carolina takes the concept much further and as a result this model looks, sounds, and feels a lot like a D-18 made 80 years ago.
The materials list is essentially the same as an 80-year-old D-18, with Adirondack top, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, etc. but with two critical differences: one is this guitar has a modern adjustable truss rod in the neck, and the other is that the Adirondack spruce top and bracing has been torrefied, a critical part of achieving that "old guitar" sound. The finish is very thin nitrocellulose lacquer, and the builders use hot animal hide glue throughout. This example has what Pre-War Guitar Co. describes as their "Level One" distressing to the finish, so the lacquer has light checking and a hand-rubbed, low-gloss sheen throughout.
Pre-War Guitar Co. is two guys, Wes Lambe and Ben Maschal. and a big part of what impressed us is that both of them have spent a lot of years repairing and setting up guitars. The overall feel of this Model D is a testament to their having spent a lot of time with old guitars.
Specs
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Back sides
Mahogany
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Binding
Tortoiseshell Celluloid
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Bracing
Forward Shifted X/Scalloped
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Bridge
Ebony
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Fingerboard
Ebony
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Finish
Nitrocellulose Lacquer
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Frets to body
14
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Neck material
Mahogany
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Nut width
1 3/4"
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Saddle spacing
1 5/16"
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Scale length
25.4"
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Top material
Adirondack Spruce
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Total frets
20
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Tuners
Waverly
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Case bag color
Black
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Case type
Hardshell
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Serial number
67257
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SKU
PREDMAHLEV1-67257
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UPC
172070
