Can't beat an old D-18, and the early '60s Martins give you the workmanship and features of the '50s with a price break. This D-18 is in good condition with a repaired (but still slightly separated) pickguard crack, a repaired back crack and two hairline cracks that show no movement. The tuners have been replaced and the neck has been reset. A back brace has been reglued, and because the endpin hole seems to have been reamed larger than normal and the bridgeplate shows burn marks, I'm assuming a pickup was in the guitar at one time. The frets have been filed and the fingerboard has light pitting. The neck angle is great and playability above average for a vintage guitar. As for tone...it's what you're after. The requisite Martin bass with the dry, woody tone you'd expect from a vintage D-18. Characteristically rounder, fuller, and fuzzier trebles than an adi-topped forward-shifted guitar. This original finish, collectible instrument is ready to go and bound to bring a smile to some lucky player's face day after day for another 40 or 50 years. |
