1965 Martin D-18

Superb example of the classic Martin workhorse dreadnought, the venerable D-18 from 1965. Featuring a lovely honeyed Sitka spruce top with solid Mahogany back and sides, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge with tortoiseshell pickguard and binding.

The mid-sixties is a 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. Inside the guitar has an all important Maple bridge plate and the Rosewood bridge is the newly designed drop in saddle style. 

The guitar is in fantastic original cosmetic condition, there is a wonderfully honeyed Sitka Spruce top with tight, uniformly grained Mahogany back and sides. The guitar is crack free with the exception of a single tiny back crack by the binding and the only work to have been carved out is a re-glued bridge. Internally the guitar looks tidy with no damage to the bracing or bridge plate. The neck has not been re-et and the guitar has good geometry with 2mm saddle height and an action at the 12th fret of 2.25mm. The neck has a very approachable soft V pattern with a depth at the first fret of 21.79mm and a nut width of 43.31mm.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 guitar comes with a period, likely original case