ARCHIVED • SOLD
1944 Martin D-18
This late 1944 D-18 received its serial number on November 22, 1944 and cleared final inspection on Feb 23rd, 1945 (thanks to Greig Hutton for the dating information). It features an ebony rod, as well as the gromet-less plastic-button Kluson tuning machines that Martin used during the metal ration period. The guitar feels light and tips the scales at a scant 3.7lbs. It has a robust, thick, and fairly dark voice with a strong fundamental and a subtle-but-supportive overtone development. It’s a capable flatpicker when set up with medium strings, and opens up to a warm and rich fingerstyle dreadnought when strung with lights.
Clearly a winter-built guitar, this 1944 D-18 remains crack free and has never seen brace or bridgeplate repairs. The guitar is 100% perfect under the hood. The original shaved-down bridge has been replaced with a very nicely made replica with an identical footprint, presumably at the same time that the neck was perfectly reset and refretted. The workmanship is of the highest quality. The guitar’s tuners and nut are original; the bridge pins are replacements. The only cosmetic flaw you’d find on this guitar is some touched up lacquer on the back of the neck behind the nut. We suspect the finish was damaged from a guitar hanger that wasn’t lacquer-safe, as there is no damage or repair to the wood beneath. The overspray extends down the back of the neck to about the 9th fret but is only noticeable in the area behind the nut. There is no finish repair to be found anywhere else on this guitar, including the headstock face and the majority of the back of the headstock. A strap button has been installed in the heel of the neck.
The guitar’s neck has a comfortable softened V carve and a nut width of 1-11/16”. The neck depth at the 1st fret is .85” and tapers to a depth of 1.04” at the 9th. The guitar is currently set up with 13-56 and an action of 5-7 64ths at the 12th fret with a full height saddle.
With modern deluxe hardshell case.
