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Description

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-12-20 was made from 1964 to 1991 (when its last MSRP was $2,480—twenty-six years ago!). This guitar’s serial number (242436) indicates it was one of the first ones made in 1969, after Martin changed the original tortoise pick guard to the classic black Martin teardrop design.

If you read the almost reverent reviews of D-12-20s on Harmony Central or the many other websites (just Google “Martin D-12-20”), 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 dreadnought 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 12-string’s solid spruce top and beautiful solid mahogany sides, neck, and back. The D-12-20 has a multi-stripe rosette, a fully bound body, and a 12/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay. The mahogany slotted headstock is accented by the vintage-style open chrome tuners, while the rosewood bridge and black white-dot bridge pins reflecting the pure black teardrop pick guard and binding outer layer are all Martin trademarks. While the D-12-20 does not feature a lot of fancy inlays and such, check out the pictures: this is one beautiful guitar!

It is also in extremely good condition, considering its forty-eight years of playing hard-driving music. There is a very careful 1 x ½” mahogany patch in the treble side lower bout (visible in picture 6), a repaired 1 ½” crack at the edge of the bass side lower bout, and a few miscellaneous dings and bruises associated with regular use. There is of course some finish checking or crazing, but there are no other cracks or structural concerns that I can see. Unlike some vintage Martin 12-strings, the action is relatively low, fast, and comfortable at a bit over 3/32” at the 12th fret low E (perhaps because a bit looks to have been shaved off the bridge).

And of course the sound is phenomenal! Forty-eight years of seasoning does great things for tonewoods—especially when you start with the quality woods Martin used to create this guitar! Add to that resonance the capabilities of the passive electronics accessed through the end pin jack and you’re good for gigs at Yankee Stadium—or at least for domination of your local jam!

The black hard shell thermoplastic case is in excellent condition. While it is not original to this guitar, it does have the familiar green plush padding perfectly shaped to ensure the safety of the instrument—and so people will take you seriously before you even get this tone monster out. You might consider getting a bicycle cable with a 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 ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.

Thank you for your interest in this great Martin guitar.

ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS

ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS

1969
Martin
Very Good
Hard
9 Years
ALUMPSTER'S GUITARS
ARTHUR H LUMPKIN
803-731-0515
Online Only
8:22 PM
24/7 by e-mail: akmgj@bellsouth.net. I'm old; I don't sleep much.

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.