Martin 1945 D-18 Restored Vintage Player's Guitar, Very Good

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

The Martin D-18 is the workhorse of Martin's dreadnought lineup. It has been in continuous production since 1932 and has been the go-to acoustic for folk, country, bluegrass, and rock players for generations.  This one is a real ringer, and it is ready to work for a living!

This example has seen a good deal of work, but it retains the amazing sound for which these early, post-war Martin guitars are coveted.  The whole guitar is alive when played.  It also plays perfectly: action is set at 3/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the 12th fret - it plays really, really well!

Solid Adirondack spruce over mahogany is a formula for success. Adirondack spruce in particular brings a stiffer, faster-responding top than Sitka — more headroom, more dynamic range, and a cleaner separation in the midrange. 

The neck has been reset, which is normal maintenance on any older flattop and, when done correctly, is a net positive for playability - as is the case here. The frets were just replaced and are perfect. The nut and saddle are both bone replacements.  The bridge is a repalcement as well.  The original maple bridge plate remains, with professionally performed fills that allowed re-drilling when the new bridge was applied. The tuners are original and work well. The pickguard was changed at some point.  The neck looks and feels like it has been refinished.  The body looks and feels like it was oversprayed.  The finish is light nitrocellulose that clearly lets the guitar breathe and resonate.

The guitar comes in a modern dreadnought hardshell case, not original to the guitar, in very good condition with one broken latch. No accessories or documentation are included.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Color: natural
• Weight: 3lbs 7.5oz
• Overall length: 40-1/2"
• Nut Width: 1-11/16"
• Scale Length: 25.4"
• Action 1st String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Action 6th String At 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Neck Material: mahogany
• Neck Profile: Soft V
• Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Neck Thickness At 1st Fret: .828"
• Neck Thickness At 10th Fret: .994"
• Neck Condition: excellent
• Neck Repairs: reset at some point
• Tuner Brand And Model: open gear
• Tuners Original?: yes
• Changes To Headstock For Tuners?: none
• Truss Rod Cover: none
• Nut Original: no
• Nut Material: bone
• Nut Repairs: replaced
• Fretboard Material: ebony
• Fretboard Condition: very good
• Fretboard Radius: 16"
• Fretboard Repairs: none
• Fret Condition: brand new
• Fret Repairs: refret, jumbo 630
• Fret Count: 20
• Body length: 20"
• Lower bout: 15-3/4"
• Waist: 10-3/4"
• Upper bout: 11-5/8"
• Body depth/thickness: 4-3/4"
• Top Material: Solid Adirondack Spruce
• Top Condition: Excellent
• Top Cracks: none
• Top Repairs: none
• Top Binding: yes
• Top Binding Condition: very good
• Back & Side Material: Mahogany
• Back & Side Condition: excellent
• Back & Side Binding: yes
• Bracing Material: spruce
• Bracing Condition: excellent
• Bridge Wood: ebony
• Bridge Condition: excellent, replacement
• Bridge Pins: ebony
• Bridge Plate Condition: Good
• Saddle Material: bone, new extra long 4"
• Saddle Original?: no
• Saddle Condition: excellent - brand new
• Pickguard Color: tortoise shell
• Strap Buttons: yes
• Pickup System: none
• Case Brand: modern dreadnaught HSC
• Case Original?: no
• Case Condition: very good, 1 broken latch
• Case Smells?: none
• Accessories Included: none
• String Gauge: 12-53
• Documentation: none
• Smells?: none
  

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By completing your purchase you are agreeing to this shipping policy. Shipments require signature on delivery, no exceptions. Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely. If there is damage, retain all packing materials intact, photograph them immediately, and send the photos to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.

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