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Full front view of a natural finish acoustic guitar with a black pickguard, standing in its open, dark blue lined hard shell case.
01 / 27Full front view of a natural finish acoustic guitar with a black pickguard, standing in its open, dark blue lined hard shell case.
Full front view of a natural finish acoustic guitar with a black pickguard, showing wear and checking on the body.
02 / 27Full front view of a natural finish acoustic guitar with a black pickguard, showing wear and checking on the body.
The guitar's back, neck, and headstock are visible, showing a dark brown finish with numerous scratches and six gold tuners.
03 / 27The guitar's back, neck, and headstock are visible, showing a dark brown finish with numerous scratches and six gold tuners.
The guitar's dark brown back is shown from above, with many light scratches and scuffs visible across its glossy finish.
04 / 27The guitar's dark brown back is shown from above, with many light scratches and scuffs visible across its glossy finish.
Close-up of the dark brown headstock with six tarnished gold tuning pegs, showing finish wear and fine checking.
05 / 27Close-up of the dark brown headstock with six tarnished gold tuning pegs, showing finish wear and fine checking.
Rear view of the dark brown headstock and upper neck, showing six tarnished open-gear tuners with rectangular buttons.
06 / 27Rear view of the dark brown headstock and upper neck, showing six tarnished open-gear tuners with rectangular buttons.
Angled view of a natural finish acoustic guitar, showing the upper bout, soundhole, black pickguard, and part of the fretboard.
07 / 27Angled view of a natural finish acoustic guitar, showing the upper bout, soundhole, black pickguard, and part of the fretboard.
The natural finish dreadnought acoustic guitar is angled from the lower bout, showing its worn spruce top, dark pickguard, and rosewood bridge.
08 / 27The natural finish dreadnought acoustic guitar is angled from the lower bout, showing its worn spruce top, dark pickguard, and rosewood bridge.
The natural finish dreadnought acoustic guitar is angled, showing the body with a black pickguard and heavy finish checking on the lower bout.
09 / 27The natural finish dreadnought acoustic guitar is angled, showing the body with a black pickguard and heavy finish checking on the lower bout.
The natural finish dreadnought acoustic guitar is angled from the upper bout, showing the body, soundhole, black pickguard, and fretboard.
10 / 27The natural finish dreadnought acoustic guitar is angled from the upper bout, showing the body, soundhole, black pickguard, and fretboard.
The back and side of the dark brown acoustic guitar body are visible, with a strap button on the heel and light wear on the finish.
11 / 27The back and side of the dark brown acoustic guitar body are visible, with a strap button on the heel and light wear on the finish.
The guitar's dark brown back and sides are visible from the lower bout, showing heavy scratching and a black endpin.
12 / 27The guitar's dark brown back and sides are visible from the lower bout, showing heavy scratching and a black endpin.
The guitar's dark brown back and sides are visible from a low angle, showing extensive finish wear, scratches, and a strap button.
13 / 27The guitar's dark brown back and sides are visible from a low angle, showing extensive finish wear, scratches, and a strap button.
The guitar's dark brown back and sides are angled, showing light wear and a strap button on the heel of the neck.
14 / 27The guitar's dark brown back and sides are angled, showing light wear and a strap button on the heel of the neck.
A close-up of the guitar's light-colored interior wood, showing a faded black stamp with "C.F. MARTIN & CO." and "NAZARETH, PA."
15 / 27A close-up of the guitar's light-colored interior wood, showing a faded black stamp with "C.F. MARTIN & CO." and "NAZARETH, PA."
A close-up of the guitar's interior neck block, showing stamped model and serial numbers on the dark brown wood.
16 / 27A close-up of the guitar's interior neck block, showing stamped model and serial numbers on the dark brown wood.
Close-up of the natural-finish body and fretboard, showing pickguard wear, light scratches, and a circular stain on the lower bout.
17 / 27Close-up of the natural-finish body and fretboard, showing pickguard wear, light scratches, and a circular stain on the lower bout.
Close-up of the natural finish body, showing the soundhole, black pickguard, and bridge with light wear and dust.
18 / 27Close-up of the natural finish body, showing the soundhole, black pickguard, and bridge with light wear and dust.
Close-up of the dark brown bridge with six black bridge pins and a white saddle, showing light wear on the natural wood body.
19 / 27Close-up of the dark brown bridge with six black bridge pins and a white saddle, showing light wear on the natural wood body.
Close-up of the guitar's dark brown body and neck heel, showing a chrome strap button and heavy finish wear, scratches, and dings.
20 / 27Close-up of the guitar's dark brown body and neck heel, showing a chrome strap button and heavy finish wear, scratches, and dings.
Close-up of the guitar's neck heel and upper bout, showing a chrome strap button and heavy finish wear and scratches.
21 / 27Close-up of the guitar's neck heel and upper bout, showing a chrome strap button and heavy finish wear and scratches.
Close-up of the guitar's dark brown neck and headstock, showing two tuning pegs and significant finish wear and wood damage near the headstock.
22 / 27Close-up of the guitar's dark brown neck and headstock, showing two tuning pegs and significant finish wear and wood damage near the headstock.
The back of the guitar's headstock, showing six open-gear tuners with metal buttons and visible brass gears on a dark brown wood.
23 / 27The back of the guitar's headstock, showing six open-gear tuners with metal buttons and visible brass gears on a dark brown wood.
A digital caliper measures the string height at the 12th fret on the dark fretboard, showing 1.67mm.
24 / 27A digital caliper measures the string height at the 12th fret on the dark fretboard, showing 1.67mm.
A digital caliper measures the dark brown neck of the guitar, displaying "0.86" on its screen.
25 / 27A digital caliper measures the dark brown neck of the guitar, displaying "0.86" on its screen.
A digital caliper measures the guitar's neck relief, displaying "1.03" on its screen, with the natural finish body visible behind.
26 / 27A digital caliper measures the guitar's neck relief, displaying "1.03" on its screen, with the natural finish body visible behind.
A close-up of a digital scale display showing "4:1.96" in blue, indicating the guitar's weight in pounds and ounces.
27 / 27A close-up of a digital scale display showing "4:1.96" in blue, indicating the guitar's weight in pounds and ounces.

Martin

1948 Martin D-18 Dreadnought Natural w/HSC

$13,995.00

Unavailable

Make an offer Sell one like this

Description

1948 Martin D-18 Natural w/HSC

This Item Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks

The Guitar Is In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)

Solid Spruce Top Shows Normal Playwear Throughout Including Cosmetic Marks, Dings And Scratches (As Shown)

Previously Installed Larger Pickguard Has Been Replaced With 70's Style Martin Guard (See Photos)

Evidence Of Older Overspray On Back

Bridge Has Been Professional Reset And Reshaped For Optimal Playability 

Saddle Replacement

Mahogany Back And Sides Show Some Playwear Including Dings, Marks And Scratches (Please See Photos) 

Mahogany Neck Shows Heavy Playwear On Back Between 1st And 4th Fret (As Shown) 

Brazilian Rosewood Fingerboard Shows Some Dents Between 1st And 5th Fret (See Photos) But Is In Very Good Playable Condition 

Guitar Appears To Have Been Refretted With A Recent Fret Level For Best Playability 

Tuners Have Been Changed At Some Point, Currently Equipped w/ Later c.1950's Grover Open Back Tuners

Weight: 4lbs 2oz

Nut Width: 1.67"

Neck Depth At 1st Fret: .86"

Neck Depth At 12th Fret: 1.03"

Comes With c.1980's Martin Molded Hard Shell Case (As Shown)

 

Style 18 is one of Martin’s oldest and most iconic series of instrument appointments, celebrated for its rich tone and enduring craftsmanship. Today, these guitars are best known for their signature combination of solid spruce tops with mahogany back and sides—a pairing that delivers a warm, balanced sound. But when the first Style 18 instruments were introduced in 1857, they looked and sounded quite different from the models we recognize today.

Between 1850 and 1900, C.F. Martin & Co. was in a period of remarkable innovation, experimenting with new body shapes, sizes, and construction techniques that would eventually define the modern acoustic guitar. At that time, the guitar was still establishing its role in the music world, and Martin was laying the groundwork for what would become standard in the industry.

The earliest Style 18 models, such as the Size 1-18 and 2-18, featured spruce tops paired with rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboards with no inlays, and 12-fret necks. By 1898, Martin introduced the 0-18 and 00-18, continuing with the spruce and rosewood combination and adding features like unbound ebony fingerboards and rectangular bridges. In the years that followed—particularly around the time of the world wars—Martin introduced many of its most defining innovations, including the dreadnought body, the 14-fret neck, and the now-classic 18 Style appointments that have helped shape the sound of acoustic music for generations.

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