C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1965), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 206139, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is fine-sounding D-18 was built just as 1965 was about to roll into 1966. At the time Martin's Dreadnought flat tops were steadily increasing in popularity, to the point of eclipsing the company's other offerings. This trend that would peak in the early 70's, with the singer-songwriter boom when D-18's and D-28's were sold in the thousands each year. Earlier in the 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its pricier rosewood sister the D-28 were practically the emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. As the decade went on the Martin Dreadnought became- and remained ever since- the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion.
This D-18 has appointments typical of 1965-6, just before Martin made a number of changes to the instrument thought to diminish its vintage character. The pickguard and binding are tortoise celluloid, soon to be changed to black plastic. The rosewood bridge has the short saddle recently introduced but rests over the traditional small maple bridgeplate, replaced a couple of years later with a much larger rosewood piece. The original tuners are "Patent Pending" Grover Rotomatics, a brand new stock fitting on this model at the time. The headstock's "rounded" corners are characteristic of this period, the result of Martin's shaping templates having become worn from extensive use. The upper part of the top has some nice cross grain figure to the spruce.
Martin records indicate 1,126 D-18s were sold in 1965; This one probably actually shipped out the next year when that total nearly doubled to 2176. At $270 (plus case) at the time this guitar represented a serious professional level investment, but it was the ambition of a vast number of aspiring flat-top players to own one. From its introduction in the early 1930s on, the D-18 has been a workhorse for country, gospel, folk, and other forms of American vernacular music and in the '60's this sonic palette only expanded. This D-18 sings with a powerful, bright and clear sound, and is an excellent instrument for just about any flat-top application.
Overall length is 40 3/4 in. (103.5 cm.), 15 3/4 in. (40 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 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Overall this 57 year old D-18 shows some general wear and tear with a few minor repairs; it remains in structurally fine playing condition. The finish remains original; the top shows some typical checking and some visible pickwear through the finish around the lower soundhole ring, with some random pick strokes above. There are also several small case bites on the top. The back and sides are relatively clean showing some noticeable scratches but only minor buckle wear. The back of the neck has a few very small dinks but no real wear.
The side and back have some minor crack repairs in several areas. The back shows two short stress checks each with a small explanatory impact mark in the center. These have been cleanly sealed, completely solid but still visible without any touch up added. The upper side has a grain split below the turn of the bout above the heel and a closed up impact spot of multiple small cracks just over the waist, again sealed with no overfinish. The lower side has some scrapes but is crack free; the top has a very cleanly sealed grain split off the upper edge of the pickguard, practically invisible and cleated with a spruce patch below.
The pickguard has been replaced with a tortoise replica. The neck has been very neatly reset, there is plenty of saddle. The rosewood bridge is original, it was visibly reglued and slightly shaved down long ago, more so on the treble side. It retains enough height to be within Martin factory spec. The saddle and nut are newer. The small maple bridgeplate and bracing remain original and unaltered. There was never any strap button added to the heel.
The frets appear original and show very little wear. This is an excellent playing and sounding D-18, with a comfortable action and powerful woody sound. Apart from a few minor impact mishaps long ago this is a well cared for guitar, just worn in enough to play without worry. Overall Excellent - Condition.
