Martin Guitars - 1944 D-18 - Vintage
$42,500.00
In Stock
Payment via Wire Transfer preferred. Buyers pays shipping
This vintage 1944 D-18 delivers that classic, lightweight, wartime Martin tone with improved playability after a trip through our Mass Street repair shop.
Here with an Adirondack Red spruce top, paired with mahogany back and sides, this is a warm, punchy example of the classic dread build. Thanks in part to the ebony neck support, a return to the original Martin neck support design due to steel shortages during WWII, this D-18 is particularly expressive, and dynamic with an airy quality to the attack. The rear-shifted bracing and lightweight constructions makes for one of those rare dreandoughts that really sings with a light touch, but has the headroom on tap to lean in and drive it with a flatpick.
Beautiful checking throughout to the original nitrocelluse finish, along with the more opaque look to the finish over the pickguard - all telltale look of a '44 Martin. There are a few discoloration spots to the top and back finish, most likely from a naugahyde strap sometime in the guitar's past - which is not uncommon. There is a repaired, stable pickguard crack (see photos). There is evidence of a previous ball-end repair to the original bridge plate. The bridge, saddle and tuners have been replaced.
Thanks to a bit of fret work here in our shop and a Mass Street setup this classic, wartime Martin D-18 plays fantastic up and down the neck. Includes a quality replacement hardshell case.
- 14-Fret Dreadnought body
- Rear-Shifted X-Bracing
- Adirondack Red Spruce Top
- Mahogany Back and sides
- Mahogany Neck with Ebony rod neck support
- Replacement Waverly tuners with (era-appropriate) plastic buttons
- Ebony fingerboard
- Replacement Ebony bridge
- Original pickguard
- 1 11/16" nut width
- Replacement Hardshell case
- Serial # 89502
