1972 Martin D-18 Dreadnought Guitar

Tone: It's punchy, up-front, and in classic bluegrass territory. This one has more low-end than the average '70s D-18 as well.

Feel: If you've handled a Martin from the '60s or '70s, this is the same. It has a medium-heft neck with a slight soft V to its profile and a flatter fretboard radius than, say, Gibsons from the same time.

Interesting features: It's a pretty typical D-18, though the replacement (red tortoise) pickguard gives it more of a '60s look than a '70s one. The big Grover tuners work nicely.

Repairs included: Between Jose and myself it got a neck reset, fret level/dress, new compensated bone saddle, replacement pins, a new pickguard, and setup work.

• Maker: Martin (Nazareth, PA)
• Model: D-18
• Body style: dreadnought
• Weight: 4 lbs 6 oz
• Scale length: 25 3/8"
• Nut width: 1 11/16"
• Neck shape: medium C/soft V
• Board radius: 14"
• Body width: 15 5/8"
• Body depth: 4 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 54w-12 lights
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: It's got replacement pins and a replacement pickguard and saddle. The pickguard is slightly undercut from the old '70s wide one and a little "ghosting" from the old pickguard can be seen at the bottom edge of the new pickguard. There are two repaired hairline cracks on the top to either side of the pickguard. The finish looks good overall but, especially on the back, it is "weather-checked" in longish lines. There is a high-glare photo of this effect in the listing so you can see what I mean -- it's not obvious until you have glare on it.

It comes with: It has a hard case (not pictured).

Consignor tag: DCH