1974 Martin D-12-18 Very Good, Original Hard, $1,195.00
If you’ve ever wanted to add the power of a 12-string to your gig list or repertoire, here may be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. The Martin D-12-18 was made in Martin’s Custom Shop from 1973 to 1996 (when its last MSRP was $2,350—nineteen years ago!). According to the serial number (348493) and the Martin website, this one was made in 1974, so it’s one of the earliest ones—and one of the best I’ve played.
If you read the almost reverent reviews of D-12-18s on Harmony Central or the many other websites (just Google “Martin D-12-18”), you’ll see why this model has attained almost legendary status. As one reviewer said, “It’s like holding an orchestra in my hands!” This guitar is an excellent example of the classic Martin D-18 design, and you can play it hard for its booming bass, or you can play it softly for the delicacy of a harpsichord.
There is abundant evidence of Martin’s high quality in this dreadnought style 12-string’s solid spruce top and beautiful solid mahogany sides, neck, and back. The D-12-18 has a multi-stripe rosette, a fully bound body, and a 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay. The mahogany headstock accented by the chrome tuners, the rosewood bridge and black pegs reflecting the pure black teardrop pick guard—these are all Martin trademarks. And of course the logo on the headstock in the familiar Martin script is the ultimate guarantee. While the D-12-18 does not feature a lot of fancy inlays and such, check out the pictures: this is one beautiful guitar!
It is also in very good condition, considering its forty-one years of hard-driving music. There are a few dings and a little finish checking or crazing, some shrinkage around the pickguard, three professionally repaired and almost invisible cracks, but no structural concerns. The action is kinda high for my arthritis at a bit over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, but that’s actually below specs for many 12-strings. I assume that the truss rod can be adjusted, and there’s plenty of bridge and saddle to work with. And of course the sound is phenomenal! Over 40 years of playing and seasoning does great things for tonewoods—especially when you start with the quality woods Martin used to create this guitar!
The included blue hard shell original 1970s case is in good condition, with the royal blue plush padding perfectly shaped to ensure the safety of the instrument. All the hardware works perfectly, but I regret that I don’t have the key for the lock—everybody will want to play this 12-string, and you will not want anybody to touch this guitar without asking!
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this vintage guitar and its case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.
Thank you for your interest in this great guitar!
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.