1948 Martin D-18. SN:106550. Guitar Database.

Martin | D-18 | 1948 | SN:106550

space

All pictures – Click to enlarge!- Highly recommended
Please email with any corrections/ additional info
We aim to keep each entry as complete as possible & your help is appreciated!

space

s

• Model: D-18
• Year: 1948
• Top:  Sitka Spruce
• Serial Number: 106550
• Back and sides: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Nut Width: 1 11/16″
• String Spacing: 2 1/8″
• Scale: 25.4″
• Body Length: 19 7/8″
• Lower Bout: 15 5/8″
• Upper Bout: 11 3/8″
• Body Depth: 3 3/4″, 4 3/4″
• Bridge: Ebony
• Rosette: Ring
• Backstrip: None
• Purfling: Line

spa

sapce

This is a 1948 D18 which conforms to the usual specs with the Spruce/Mahogany tonewood combination, mahogany neck. These instruments can be exceptionally powerful and articulate!

The prior owner had this to say:”This is a Magnificent Guitar, a Vintage 1948 D-18, and yes it is played a lot! It originates from the Professional players-side of my family and despite her “played” looks the guitar is in terrific condition. The Guitar is Adirondack topped [editor's note: the top should be listed as Sitka], and has two (repaired) superficial surface/finish cracks one of them is more likely a deep scratch. both very old.

The finish is all the way original. This guitar sounds incredible and is by far the best D-18 i ever layed my hands on. It’s an icon of the family and it took me ten years to get hold of it. Her Loud, deep and resonant tones filled with sparkling high end chime and dynamics are sensations you will only have with very old guitars. It simply runs through your bones, it is that old time magic everybody’s talking about.

This is the way some 60 yr old look, its 100% rockandroll looks!( a lot like me in 10 years from now i guess) It’s played, used, battered but solid as a rock and ready to complete her first century! The guitar is equipped with Waverly tuners and has newer frets. Still has the original tortoise pickguard, Darkest brazilian fingerboard i ever seen, it actually looks like ebony!

The finish wear and buckle/button scars to the back and lower side are pretty clearly documented in the photos. No need for a reset of the neckreset yet. Still it is 61 yr old and soon she needs one in the near future. The neck however is straight and the string height is just right for flatpickers. SN#106550 Equipped with a highlander and comes with a 60s bluecase.”

Resources: See more 40’s Dreadnoughts:
- 1943 D-28 Adirondack Spruce | Brazilian rosewood [SN:85772]
- 1944 D-18 Adirondack Spruce | Mahogany [SN:87213]
- 1947 D-28 Adirondack Spruce | Brazilian rosewood [SN:99978]
- 1947 D-28 Adirondack Spruce | Brazilian rosewood [SN:100943]
- 1949 D-28 Sitka Spruce | Brazilian rosewood [SN:112858]

References: Martin Guitars, a History by Mike Longworth.

Pictures kind courtesy of Fine Folks at The Fellowship of Acoustics.
©2009

Errors are unintentional although we try very hard not to make them- corrections or feedback are always welcome! Guitars are property of individual owners.
Any infringement of copyright is entirely unintentional. Any copyright issues should be address to: writers@guitarbench.com. We will attempt to resolve these issues quickly. Guitars remain property of respective owners.
This guitar is not offered for sale through guitarbench.com or our affiliates. We accept no responsibility for any transactions that occur as a result of this article. Neither the author nor guitarbench.com seek or gain monetary or other benefits from the sale, it is posted up for viewing purposes only.