1976 Martin D-12-18 Very Good, Hard, $1,395.00
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—twenty-one years ago!). 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. According to the serial number (384021) this D-12-18 was made in 1976, so the quality tonewoods have 41 years of tone and resonance. It 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 12 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, with a flat top, tight bridge, straight neck, and light fret wear. There is some finish checking or crazing, and a number of small finish dings and bruises, especially on the back. There is also a ding on the bottom edge of the back, and a professionally repaired 8” crack in the back lower bout; there are no other cracks or structural concerns. Unlike many vintage Martin 12-strings, the action is low, fast, and comfortable at a hair over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. And of course the sound is phenomenal, even with the light silk-and-steel strings currently on it. When you plug in the under-saddle pickup through the end pin jack, you can play Yankee Stadium!
The SKB thermoplastic hard shell case is an upgrade and is in excellent condition, with Martin-like green 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; cashier’s 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 it.
Thank you for your interest in this fine Martin 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.