C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1961), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 178531, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a very well used, much repaired but still fine sounding D-18 from the heyday of the "Folk Era" of the early 1960s, when the Kingston Trio ruled and suddenly everybody -- not just country players -- wanted a Martin Dreadnought. From its introduction in the early 1930s on, the D-18 has been a workhorse for country, gospel, folk and players in most forms of American vernacular music. Back in the 1960s, it was practically the emblem of the Folk Revival and, today, it still is the acoustic guitar of choice for pickers of every persuasion.
This D-18 was made in the middle of 1961 and has appointments typical of the period. The pickguard and binding are tortoise celluloid, the rosewood bridge has a long through saddle and the tuners are individual Kluson Deluxe machines with metal buttons. The neck is slimmer than some with a soft but noticeable "V" profile. The headstock's "rounded" corners are characteristic of this period, the result of Martin's shaping templates becoming worn from extensive use. This guitar comes from the original owner's family and has seen decades of use and repair but still sings with a big, bright and clear sound, an excellent gigging or recording instrument for just about any flat-top application.
Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 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.).
The now 60+ year old Martin has seen quite a bit of heavy use and repair work, but still plays great and rings with a sound for the ages. The top was noticeably oversprayed in lacquer long ago, over a number of old repaired cracks and general wear. Two long spruce grain splits on the top run parallel off both ends of the bridge, extending down to the edge binding. These occurred after the overspray and have been properly glued and cleated showing no signs of further movement. There are a number of other old grain splits to the top under the finish, three above the fingerboard and one below, and a typical pickguard-edge crack. There is another short crack just above the center seam, which itself appears to have been resealed in a couple of spots.
The back and neck also appear to be overfinished possibly at different times, on the back this neatly covers up a few old grain splits that are very inconspicuous. There is a significant amount of later belt buckle wear on the back, on the treble side around the waist, that has worn through to the grain. The back of the neck is clean with just very minor dings and dents, the overspray here appears more recent work filling a few deep nicks on the headstock. The treble side has a deep scrape well into the wood along the upper bout.
This guitar has a well-done neck set in it's past, with a shim added underneath the fingerboard extension. It has also been refretted with wire comparable to period Martin spec. The original bridge still remains in good shape, it had been reglued at least once and lowered slightly. The original bridgeplate has been replaced with a slightly larger but still thin replica, which has also had some holes plugged under the bridge pins. All of the original braces are undisturbed and well intact. A strap button has been added to the treble side of the heel. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners are still present and working.
While this catalog of wear and repair may sound daunting, this is still a very solid and playable guitar. Amazingly enough this veteran D-18 is still housed in it's original hardshell case, battered but functional. There is some old paraphernalia from the original owner still in the case amazingly including the original hang tag still, a bit battered but still with the guitar after a lifetime of use. This D-18 definitely "took a lickin' and kept on tickin" as the Timex ad used to say, a battered but proud survivor of the folk era, many Bluegrass festivals and more since it was first bought at the dawn of America's Camelot. Very Good + Condition.
