Vintage Martin D-18 - USA 1974

Over the past 100 plus years, the Martin dreadnought has helped define what an acoustic guitar can and should be, and subsequently, it has become one of the most popular acoustic guitar designs in the world.  

And the D-18 is a certified classic – one of the great Martin models, popularised and used by a long list of big-name artists in very genre of music. 

This one shows a fair amount of player wear, including indentations, scratches and marks consistent with a 49-year-old instrument which has been well used. But our theory is that a well-used guitar has been well used simply because it actually is a good guitar that makes you want to play it. And that is the case with this one. 

Whilst the body displays some scratches, they are mixed in with the beautiful checking, there are no cracks to speak of, meaning the guitar is structurally sound. The natural lacquer crazing is not uncommon on a guitar of this age. The gentle ‘V’ profile neck is clean and a joy to play. The guitar has had a pro refret in 2004, the year it was bought by its current owner. 

The action is 0.75mm @ 1st fret and 3mm @ 12th fret, and there is very little room in the saddle for lowering action height, so anyone looking for a low action may need to look at a neck reset. 

This Martin dreadnought has that big spacious D-18 sound - well balanced with warm low end, punchy midrange and articulate treble. 

Features: 

Body Shape: Dreadnought  

Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce  

Back and Sides Wood: Solid Mahogany  

Neck Wood: Mahogany  

Fingerboard Wood: Rosewood  

Scale Length: 25.4 inches  

Number of Frets: 20  

Nut Width: 1.6875 inches  

Bridge Material: Rosewood  

Bridge Style: Belly  

Pickguard: Black  

Binding: Black  

Tuners: Grovers  

Finish: Natural Gloss (Nitrocellulose Lacquer) 

Case: OHSC