C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 101516, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
There are certain guitars that are the standard by which all others are judged; the vintage Martin D-18 is certainly one of them. This is a played-in just post-war example made in mid-1947, soon after Martin's serial numbers rolled over into 6-digit territory. It shows some noticeable playwear but remains in excellent playing condition with the expected splendid sound. A great D-18 combines the power and depth of a Dreadnought with the sweetness, sparkle, and singing character of the best mahogany Martins in a magical mix, making for an exceptionally versatile flat-top guitar suited to practically any musical situation.
This '47 D-18 shows the classic features of the model, widely imitated by other makers over the decades. The back and sides are Honduras mahogany and the top is nicely even-grained Sitka spruce, bound on the outside with tortoise celluloid. The top has some darker streaking and a bit of uneven figuring in the grain not too often seen on a Martin, but wood supplies were sometimes spotty just after WWII. The pickguard is made of tortoise celluloid in a small "teardrop" shape which often proved too small to fully protect the top from enthusiastic picking, as indeed was the case here. The rosewood belly bridge has a canted bone saddle.
The neck is fairly slim, round backed but with a noticeable dress away to the shoulders that shades towards a soft "V" flavor as it approaches the body. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound with mixed-size pearl dot inlay. The headstock is faced with rosewood and adorned with the gold Martin logo decal. It is fitted with open backed individual wartime Kluson tuners with riveted gears and metal buttons that soon disappeared in this early postwar era.
While not as highly venerated today as pre-WWII examples this D-18 is now nearly 80 years old and has much to recommend it. Only 775 of these were sold in 1947 at a list price of $95.00; the next spring this would jump to over $100. This was the to-date highest production total for the model but by modern standards still a small number. This well-worn D-18 remains a fantastic performing or recording guitar, a powerful sounding early postwar example ready for many more decades of picking.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 5/8 in. (39.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This D-18 shows general wear and tear but for well over seven decades on the planet has structurally survived quite well. The all-original lacquer finish has ambered noticeably showing fine checking mostly to the top with nicks, dings and scratches over the entire instrument. The top has fairly heavy pick wear into the wood both forward of and behind the pickguard along with the soundhole rim, with lighter pick marks all above the strings and below the guard. There is also a spot of belt buckle rash around the middle of the back with some heavier scratching off the upper waist. The back of the neck is worn down to bare wood along most of its length but has only small dings and dents, with no heavy capo wear spots. The only spot of finish touch-up is to the treble side of the heel from a removed strap button.
There is a very small sealed grain split in the most common spot along the top edge of the pickguard, neatly sealed with a triangle cleat below. The back has a sealed grain split off the beck edge of the lower bout on the bass side, also neatly cleated. There are the only crack repairs.
The neck had been reset with a little visibly glue line along the fingerboard extension. The fingerboard had been leveled and refretted with period correct wire, there is still some residual; divoting visible up to around the fifth fret. The original bridge had been previously reglued and slightly lowered with a new bone saddle. Internally, the original braces and small maple bridgeplate remain intact and unaltered. The original tuners are still intact and functional as well.
For an early post-war Martin, this well aged D-18 has all of the charm of a well-played guitar from the smoky rooms of the 1940s and '50s, with a big smooth sound richer than many mahogany dreadnoughts while not losing clarity. It is a delightful guitar to play and resides in an original period green-lined hardshell case, solid but worn with only two latches working. Very Good + Condition.
