No guitar demonstrates the sweet, classic "Martin Sound" quite like a good D-18. Since 1934, the 14-fret D-18 has been Martin's flagship mahogany dreadnought. Its voice is powerful and well-balanced with the dreadnought low-end thump we all love so much.
In the post-war era, the Martin D-18 carried forward the legacy of its prewar predecessors, while developing a distinct voice of its own. After wartime material restrictions eased, Martin refined its construction techniques, introducing rear-shifted bracing, and a slightly fuller neck profile. More rugged than earlier examples—and often packing more headroom for a heavy right hand—postwar D-18s retain the rich, balanced character that makes mahogany dreadnoughts so beloved.
This 1955 Martin D-18 (serial #145398) produces a big sound that is woody and warm, yet articulate and responsive. It delivers crisp note definition with a dry, punchy midrange that cuts through a mix. The top-end sparkle and fundamental clarity make it a great choice for flatpickers and singer-songwriters alike. It features a 1-11/16" nut width, and the '50s Martin neck profile has a soft V that feels approachable and right at home.
This 1955 D-18 is very clean cosmetically, and the finish is nice and glossy. This may indicate some overspray (especially on the back), but if so, any touch-ups/alteration was done properly. The finish looks even all around, and it shows some checking and wear, but most importantly it fluoresces evenly under a blacklight. From there, this D-18 has suffered the typical pickguard crack on both sides of the pickguard, which is all neatly repaired and solid. The neck has been reset, and there is a small repaired crack on the treble side of the fingerboard. Under the hood, it looks like some of the brace ends have been reglued, and the original bridge plate looks like it was partially reglued on the front end. The bass side has a few long lines that look like cracks from the outside, but there's no evidence of repair or any interruption at all on the inside.
This 1955 Martin D-18 plays nicely with light gauge strings. The action is in a very manageable spot—.090" on the bass E and .065" on the treble E—and there is still some room for future adjustment at the saddle. The original Kluson tuning machines still hold tune nicely, and the fingerboard has been refretted so that every note rings clear and true. The bridge appears to be original, and it is properly seated to the top with no lifting and no top distortion worth noting. It is setup with Ebony bridge pins that have Abalone dots—a nice flash of elegance for an otherwise understated guitar.
This 1955 Martin D-18 includes a Calton hardshell case with blue exterior and blue interior. It is one of the more-modern Calton cases made in Austin, Texas.