1964 Martin D-18

By Martin
£4,650.00

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Lovely example of the workhorse dreadnought, the Martin D-18 from 1964. Featuring a lovely honeyed Sitka spruce top with solid Mahogany back and sides, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge with tortoiseshell pickguard and binding. This great, played-in example has seen a few running repairs and has the odd war wound but is sounding fine and in great overall condition.

The mid-sixties was a great period of production for Martin that would start to see them implement a few changes to its guitars both aesthetically as well as with regards to construction and materials. This Martin D-18 dating to late 1964 sits as one of the first Dreadnoughts to feature the new style bridge. By later 1965 Martin transitioned towards using Black plastic for the pickguard and binding and Kluson Deluxe tuners gave way as Martin started fitting Grover Rotomatics.

This guitar is in good overall condition, the neck angle is good and the guitar plays well thanks to a previously completed, tidy neck reset. The top has two small pickguard cracks and there is some light strum wear to the soundhole. There is a repaired crack on the back and the upper bout that has been locally oversprayed, it is a tidy repair that is barely noticeable without black light. The bridge looks to have been replaced with a later drop in style bridge. Martin changed its bridge design to the short saddle bridge around serial 200601 in 1965 with this guitar only just predating it. Internally the guitar looks tidy with no damage to the bracing or bridge plate. The top finish has honeyed nicely and displays the odd knock and bruise. The back has a localised area of buckle wear but otherwise the original finish is nice and clean. There is a strap button added to the neck heel.

The guitar sounds great with a balanced voice, with good string separation, crisp highs and tight bass. The guitar has good volume responding well with a pick or fingers. The neck has a soft V profile with a comfortable played in feel. Nut width is 43.11mm and the neck measures 21.24mm and 25.13mm at the 1st and 9th fret respectively. The action at the 12th fret on the bass side is 3mm and on the treble sits at a hair over 2mm. The saddle has height should adjustment be required.

All in a great sounding, well maintained and easy playing vintage Martin Dreadnought. The guitar comes with a good condition modern Hiscox Dreadnought case.