DESCRIPTION:
Here we're looking at a 1959 Martin D-18 in its original natural finish, used as intended and in good playing condition. Introduced in 1931 and carrying a 12-fret neck to 1934, the Martin D-18 features a Dreadnought style body with Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany for the back and sides, body blocks, linings and neck, with Rosewood for the headplate, bridge and unbound fingerboard.
This Martin D-18 was built in Nazareth PA in the fall of 1959. Structurally, it is in good, largely original condition. As with virtually every steel string acoustic guitar, over time a neck reset is required and this has been done. A crack on the bass-side waist was recently repaired and cleated at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop. The top and back have no cracks. At some point the neck was professionally re-fretted, and fret wear is light to moderate. The Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard shows natural wear from playing. The Brazilian rosewood for the bridge does not match the fingerboard or head plate and may not be the original bridge, but is a very well made piece. The smaller Maple bridge plate is original and in good condition. The single-line Kluson Deluxe tuners are original.
This guitar plays well and has a very good sound, with all of the high-end sparkle, midrange and low-end presence common to D-18's.
A Collings branded arched top hard shell case, manufactured by TKL, is included.
From its 1931 introduction until 1969, the Rosewood used was sourced from Brazil, and was replaced with Indian Rosewood. Martin, like other builders, used up their stocks of Brazilian, with a few guitars carrying Brazilian fingerboards, head plates or, in the case of the D-35, center sections of the three-piece back. This ended around 1972.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: D-18
- Instrument Manufacturer: Martin
- Instrument year: 1959
- Instrument Finish: Natural
- Instrument Class: Vintage
- Instrument serial number: 170239, built in Fall 1959 at Nazareth PA
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Good
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Playing Condition: Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: Yes
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: No
- Case Type: Hard
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 3.916 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.78 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.4 in
- Scale Length Metric: 645.16 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.695 in
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Nut Width Metric: 43.05 mm
- Items in Case: N/A
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190251
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |