C. F. Martin D-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1967), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 228052, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a fine-sounding D-18 built in mid-late 1967, a time when Martin's Dreadnought flat tops were steadily increasing in popularity. This trend would peak in the early 70's, when the singer-songwriter boom made them more than ever the de rigeur flat top. Earlier in the 1960s the mahogany D-18 and its pricier rosewood sister the D-28 were already practically emblems of the Folk revival, thanks in large part to the Kingston Trio. As the decade went on the Martin Dreadnought became -- and pretty much remained ever since -- the acoustic guitar of choice for serious pickers of just about every persuasion.
This D-18 has the standard mahogany back, sides and neck with a spruce top and a set of transitional appointments specific to 1966-7. The pickguard was the new style black acetate as it has been replaced, which most of them have due to a serious shrinkage issue. The outer body binding is also black plastic, a change made the year before. The rosewood bridge has the short saddle recently introduced but rests over the traditional small maple bridgeplate, replaced year or so later with a much larger rosewood piece. The original tuners are "Patent Pending" Grover Rotomatics, a recent 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.
Martin records indicate 2602 D-18s were shipped in 1967, the best sales year for the model to date. At $295 (plus case) 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 55+ year old D-18 shows some wear but remains in structurally fine shape. The original finish has some typical checking mostly on the top with the most notable pickwear being above the strings for once instead of below. There is also a spot down to the wood on the lower lip of the soundhole. The top also shows are some random dings, dents and scrapes but nothing too serious. The back and sides show some dings, scratches and scrapes but no really heavy wear. The back of the neck is fairly clean with light wear.
The only crack on body is underneath pickguard, which has been sealed and cleated. This would have been caused by the shrinking original black acetate pickguard, now replaced with a more inert version. The short-saddle rosewood bridge appears original, looking to have been lowered just a bit in front of the saddle long ago. Internally the small maple bridgeplate is original and nicely intact as well, the braces remain original and unaltered.
The neck has been neatly reset, the fingerboard refretted with minimal subsequent wear. The nut is newer as well. A metal endpin strap button and a strap button in the middle of the heel have been added. In general this is a used but well cared for guitar, and it remains a fine playing and sounding piece of 1960's Martin goodness from the last great year before the guitars began to be noticeably more heavily built. It resides in a later HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
