Excellent example of a wonderfully played in workhorse Martin D-18 dreadnought in great original condition from 1965, featuring a lovely honeyed Sitka Spruce top, Solid Mahogany back and sides, Rosewood Fingerboard and Bridge, Tortoiseshell binding and pickguard.
The mid-sixties is a great period of production that would see Martin implement a few changes to it’s guitars both aesthetically as well as in construction and materials. This Martin D-18 dating to 1965 is one of the last Dreadnoughts to feature a Tortoiseshell pickguard and binding as Martin transitioned towards using Black plastic for the pickguard and binding, the guitar has an all important Maple bridge plate and Kluson tuners deluxe tuners as Martin transitioned to fitting Grover Rotomatic.
An excellent sounding guitar, it has all the attributes desirable in a vintage Mahogany Martin Dreadnought. It has great projection and clarity with a dry, woodenness to the tone, a strong fundamental with a crisp sparkling decay to note. Trebles have good presence and bass notes have a pleasant warmth and depth.
The guitar is in great condition, the neck angle is good and the guitar plays well. The finish is good throughout, thin and fully cured nitrocellulose with assorted bumps and bruises as are to be expected. The only real area of wear to note is at the edge of the pickguard. The top is crack free as is the back. The sides show a couple of small, light-tight hairline cracks that under further examination don’t go fully through. The neck has a soft V profile with a comfortable played in feel. Nut width is a hair over 1 11/16 “. The guitar comes with the pictured hardshell case.