C. F. Martin D-12-20 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1967)
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Item # 9653
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C. F. Martin D-12-20 Model 12 String Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1967), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 221006, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is an original and fairly early example of Martin's first production 12-string, the D-12-20. This model was launched in 1964 and is basically a 12-fret D-18S with 12 strings, braced rather more heavily for the extra tension as would be expected. It has features typically associated with Martin's Style 18; a spruce top, mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard and bridge with a slightly fancier backstrip presumably meriting the "Style 20" designation.
This is a much more responsive guitar than the typically more common 1970s examples, fitted with the 1960s openback Waverly tuners instead of the heavy cast "box" Grover Slimline pegs Martin used on later 12-strings, with better handling as a result. It also has a maple bridgeplate, considerably larger than the 6-string equivalent but still lighter than the rosewood version introduced the next year. This Martin 12-string has a big ringing sound, with more depth than some more heavily built 12-strings but plenty of clarity on top. This mid-1967 D-12-20 has some general wear overall but plays and sounds great and is relatively well preserved for its 50+ years on the planet.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
This is generally a nice example, showing some play wear but structurally solid and an excellent player. The finish overall shows small dings, dents, and scrapes, but the only large area of wear is pickwear into the top in between the pickguard and the treble foot of the bridge and on the treble side rim of the soundhole. There is a well sealed long crack running in either direction from the treble side of the pickguard and a sealed crack at the top edge of the pickguard under the "B" string. There is a partial crack on the treble side of the heel that does not extend as far as the center line.
The bridge was reglued at some point; this is particularly common on this 12-string model but it retains the original bone saddle. There is a strap button added to the bass side of the neck block. The guitar has had a neck reset, a re-fret with the fingerboard leveled, a new bone nut fabricated and now plays superbly with a very low action for a 12-string. This one is not a closet queen but one of the friendlier playing Martin 12-strings we have had. Very Good + Condition.
This is an original and fairly early example of Martin's first production 12-string, the D-12-20. This model was launched in 1964 and is basically a 12-fret D-18S with 12 strings, braced rather more heavily for the extra tension as would be expected. It has features typically associated with Martin's Style 18; a spruce top, mahogany body and rosewood fingerboard and bridge with a slightly fancier backstrip presumably meriting the "Style 20" designation.
This is a much more responsive guitar than the typically more common 1970s examples, fitted with the 1960s openback Waverly tuners instead of the heavy cast "box" Grover Slimline pegs Martin used on later 12-strings, with better handling as a result. It also has a maple bridgeplate, considerably larger than the 6-string equivalent but still lighter than the rosewood version introduced the next year. This Martin 12-string has a big ringing sound, with more depth than some more heavily built 12-strings but plenty of clarity on top. This mid-1967 D-12-20 has some general wear overall but plays and sounds great and is relatively well preserved for its 50+ years on the planet.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 15/16 in. (12.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
This is generally a nice example, showing some play wear but structurally solid and an excellent player. The finish overall shows small dings, dents, and scrapes, but the only large area of wear is pickwear into the top in between the pickguard and the treble foot of the bridge and on the treble side rim of the soundhole. There is a well sealed long crack running in either direction from the treble side of the pickguard and a sealed crack at the top edge of the pickguard under the "B" string. There is a partial crack on the treble side of the heel that does not extend as far as the center line.
The bridge was reglued at some point; this is particularly common on this 12-string model but it retains the original bone saddle. There is a strap button added to the bass side of the neck block. The guitar has had a neck reset, a re-fret with the fingerboard leveled, a new bone nut fabricated and now plays superbly with a very low action for a 12-string. This one is not a closet queen but one of the friendlier playing Martin 12-strings we have had. Very Good + Condition.