1946 C. F. Martin D-18 Natural

97392 – Workhorse D-18 in exceptional condition from the transitional “tapered brace” era which lasted just for a few years post-WWII. The gentle tapering provides a voice with balance, focus and volume making it an incredible rhythm guitar with well-defined hammers, pulls and grace notes. The balance also lends itself to lovely chordal blooming for accompanying singing. The guitar is so clean I can’t imagine it had much playing time. At one point, likely when it needed a neck reset, or to solve an intonation issue, an ingenious luthier chose to replace the fretboard with one thicker than standard. Whoever did it went to the trouble of reinstalling the correct large dot fretboard markers. The bridge was ramped as well. We’ve corrected all that. The fingerboard was planed to the correct height, refretted, the fret markers were reinstalled. Mark Tossman properly reset the neck and installed a perfect repro bridge. It’s completely dial back into the original specs and the work is very clean. There are two unusual things about this guitar. The neck reinforcement is ebony rather than steel – a holdover from the wartime era. The pickguard material is from an earlier era as well. The tuners, Grover G-98s, likely replacements, are from a later era. The guitar is so clean I have, of course, wondered if it had been refinished. Mark Tossman and I both went through it thoroughly with black light and jeweler’s eyepiece inside and out. There is no evidence anything but an original finish. Comes with a newer Martin Geib style case in excellent condition.
• Sitka Spruce top
• Honduran Mahogany back & sides
• Ebony Bridge & Fretboard
• Ebony neck reinforcement
• 1 11/16" nut width
• 25.4" Scale length
• 2 1/4" string spacing
• Grover Tuners
• Recent neck reset, new frets, Pro setup
• Newer Martin Geib-style Case