Martin D-18 Authentic 1939 Acoustic Guitar (with Case)

The Martin D18 Authentic 1939 Acoustic Guitar w/Case is here to remind you why you fell in love with Martin in the first place, the Authentics are constructed the old way -- with hide glue, throughout, and historically-accurate detailing confirmed by using a CAT scan machine located at the Smithsonian Institute. Based on a 1939 D-18 in the museum, this guitar features mahogany back and sides, an Adirondack spruce top, using an authentic circa 1939 bracing pattern. Period-correct "18" Authentic-style appointments, with an Authentic neck barrel and heel, complete this piece.

Style 18 guitars have long been synonymous with mahogany body construction, although from 1857 to 1917 they were actually rosewood guitars. In 1931, the first mahogany D-18 was built, a 12-fret model, based on Martin's early Ditson models and later refined and renamed the D-1. In 1935, standard D-18 features included solid mahogany body, Adirondack spruce top, 14-fret neck, and ebony fingerboard and bridge. These 1930s and early '40s D-18s are light in weight and have a wonderful dry, treble voice and strong, well-balanced bass, making them ideal for stage and recording play. Plainer and less costly than their D-28 counterpart, they provide an excellent quality alternative Martin for many performers that have included Elvis Presley, who played a 1942 D-18 for much of his early career (including playing rhythm on all his legendary Sun records). Hank Williams also played a D-18 as many historical photos attest.… read more From blues singer Brownie McGhee to legendary Rock-n-Roller Eddie Cochran to beloved actor Andy Griffith, the Martin D-18 was the guitar-of-choice.

The D-18 Authentic 1939 has all the pre-war features -- hide glue construction, solid mahogany sides and back, Adirondack spruce top, forward shifted scalloped X-bracing, T-Bar neck reinforcement, black ebony fingerboard and ebony belly bridge with long saddle and Waverly tuners with butterbean knobs. But above all, it has the powerfully breathy and glassine voice of the seventy-five year old vintage Martin D-18 that's locked and loaded, waiting to be played. read less