Martin’s first Dreadnought-shaped instruments were built in 1916 for the Ditson company. These early Dreadnaughts were ukuleles and smaller-bodied guitars built with the now familiar ‘D’ shape. The Ditson company pushed Martin for bigger and bigger flat-top guitars, which precipitated the design of the model 111. With a width of 15-5/8” across widest part of the top, an extra ½” of depth in the body, a wide waist, and a 12-frets-to-the-body configuration, the Model 111 was a significantly larger guitar than anything C.F. Martin & Co. had yet built. The first of these were constructed with fan-braced tops (as Martin used on all of their earliest steel string models), but these were prone to failure and the company soon switch to their tried and tested X bracing. With that, the first viable Dreadnought was born. After the Ditson company folded in 1930, Martin built Dreadnoughts that bore their own name and marketed them first as the D-1 and D-2 Dreadnaughts, and then shortly thereafter as the D-18 and D-28.

The Martin Ditson Dreadnaught 111 is a recreation of the mid/late 1920’s X-braced Ditson 111. It features T-frets and a truss-rod in the neck, but is otherwise designed to emulate this original example, complete with its unique pickguard.

Mahogany back and sides and Adirondack spruce top, scalloped X bracing, 12 fret neck with slotted headstock and gloss nitro lacquer finish. Ebony pyramid bridge with modern saddle compensation and 2-3/8” string spread. 1-7/8 nut width, soft V neck carve, 25.4” scale. Fossil ivory nut, replacement bone saddle, black pins, and Waverly strip tuners.

The guitar is in excellent condition but for a few noticeable impressions near the bass-side of the bridge. It has been set-up in shop and plays easily with 5-7 64ths action.

With original hardshell case