1957 Martin D-18 Guitar with Original Red Spruce top

Description

This guitar is rare, as post-war Martin dreadnoughts go, because according to Martin factory records it was shipped out in 1957 as part of a batch that was built with “East (Adirondack)” spruce tops”. So this is a nice bonus to this instrument– the red spruce top (rather than the normal Sitka spruce top that was standard on almost all post-war Martins).

The guitar shows wear, not out of the ordinary, and nicks and dings. But the sound of this guitar is phenomenal.

Condition:

100% original finish, everywhere
“East (Adirondack)” spruce top, verified by Martin factory records
Top, and back, crack-free (not even a pickguard crack)
Inside is super-clean
Neck has never been set, as far as we can tell; if it ever was it was a superclean job and the freeboard at the neckjoint is straight as an arrow
Original tuners
Original pick guard
Frets are probably not original, but they have plenty of life left; does not need new frets
Some fretboard wear mainly on first few frets
Original bridge plate, in good condition, has never had any work done to it
Original bridge, has never been off as far as we can see; and it has never been shaved
Original bridge pins
Original saddle
Original nut
No cracks at all on top, or back (not even a pickguard crack)
Bass side: one small impact crack, that has been repaired, and cleated inside, recently
Treble side: one small impact crack, that also was pushed out, and repaired; inside it does not show through
Some finish crazing on top, common to those years
Action: 4.5/32 inch, Low E at 12th fret; 2.5/32 inch High E at 12th fret.
Martin hard shell case, with the yellow-orangish interior (if not a 50’s then a 60’s Martin hard shell case)