2011 Blazer & Henkes Phoenix D-18 Natural

SN 508. Newly in on consignment is this powerful Blazer & Henkes “Phoenix” “hog” version, B&H’s dead-on interpretation of a mid-30s Martin D-18. It’s made with the finest materials available; select moon harvested Alpine spruce top, mahogany back and sides and African ebony. Scalloped X-bracing, neck profile, ebony bridge and fretboard, dot position markers, faux-tortoise pickguard, and binding material, and neck profile are all consistent with a 1936 Martin D-18. It is a tremendous Flatpicking lead or rhythm guitar that can be leaned on boldly or strummed intimately. The only deviation from the vintage design is the handsome (and now well known) Blazer & Henkes engraved pearl logo on the rosewood headstock veneer. The neck has, of course, the 1 ¾” nut, the wide string spacing at the bridge, and the dreadnought scale length. It’s beautifully set up and inspiring to play.

For those unfamiliar with B&H, Rudi Blazer and Willi Henkes hand-build fine guitars in small batches in the German city of Tubingen. They use only the highest quality materials and traditional glues, finishes, and methods. The design and workmanship are based on their extensive vintage repair work and forensics with vintage. The quality is stellar and the process takes time. Their waitlist was two years the last time I checked. The result of this patient and painstaking work is an authentic reproduction and a light guitar that produces much of the same volume and dynamics you’d expect from, in this case, a 30’s Martin D-18.
Included is the original high-quality hardshell case. I have included a link to the B&H web site and an interview with builder Rudi Blazer that appeared in Fretboard Journal a few years ago.