With it's original Kluson Deluxe tuners, original faux tortoiseshell pickguard, and an incredible amber glow to the spruce top, this D-18 from 1961 checks all the appearance boxes for a mid-century vintage Martin. Thanks to a recent neck reset and refret here at Gryphon, it plays as good as it looks and the tone is classic D-18, with Dreadnought oomph in the bass and lots of mid-range crunch and treble clarity.
Yes, this is a '60s D-18, not '50s, but it was made in the same North Street Nazareth factory that had been Martin's home base for over a century (they moved to the new factory in 1964). Despite the high level of originality, this D-18's original bridge was cut-down years ago to allow lower string action. Gryphon fortunately still has a stash of Brazilian rosewood bridge blanks, and you can compare our reproduction to the original in the case. Although the finish is original throughout, this D-18 didn't escape some surface wear which you can see in the photos. Three short cracks to the sides were repaired. For a guitar that saw a fair amount of use during its first 64 years, it's held up remarkably well and is ready for the next assignment.
