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.
Along with the D-28, the prewar D-18 is one of the Golden Era instruments that sets the standard for acoustic guitars. The power and depth of the Dreadnought body combine with the sweetness, sparkle, and singing character of mahogany, making the D-18 a versatile axe well suited to any musical situation. Martin Dreadnoughts produced between 1934 and 1941 are perhaps the most sought-after Golden Era acoustic guitars. And for good reason, too—the acoustic guitar would not be what it is today with their influence.
This 1941 D-18 (#79911) embodies everything we love about prewar dreadnoughts, and it's an early example of the rear-shifted bracing that would become standard in the postwar era. Its tone is powerful, but steeped in nuance. It comes alive with even the lightest touch, and its syrupy midrange jumps across the room. The original scalloped braces allow for wide dynamic response. Like a good mahogany dread, its tone is woody and unassuming.
This 1941 D-18 has been played—and it shows—but it finds us in excellent structural condition with a fantastic setup. In November 2018, a well-known Austin-based luthier dressed the frets, reglued one edge of the bridge, fit a bone saddle for the bridge, and replaced the nut with a slightly oversized bone nut. At present, the action is super low with light gauge strings. Even with the lower string tension, the sound is incredible, and the box explodes with sound when you dig in. The playability is everything you could ask for, and the tone will keep you coming back for years to come.
At some point along the way, the neck was reset, and thanks to an added Ebony wedge underneath the fingerboard extension, the neck angle is exactly where it needs to be. There is a filled hole at the 15th fret, which may have been used to steam open the dovetail during the neck reset. The bridge has been replaced, and there is evidence that an oversized bridge was used at one time. Underneath the hood, the bridge plate has been replaced with an oversized Maple plate that has stabilized the top without sacrificing tone. The frets are not original, but the original tuners still get the job done. There is one repaired crack on the treble side of the back (lower bout), and it is reinforced with cleats on the inside.
This 1941 D-18 has character and vibe that is purely its own. We love how the finish has worn and mellowed to a beautiful caramel color. The good ones get played, and this one has been played hard. But still—even 83 years later—it has so much left in the tank. Prewar Martin dreadnoughts are prized for so many reasons, and this awe-inspiring D-18 will show you why. It includes a high-quality Harptone case.