Martin D-18 Authentic 1937 VTS Aged Acoustic Guitar with Hardshell Case - Used

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This used 4 lb 0 oz Martin will ship insured, fully set up, and inspected from Rapid City, SD. This guitar is in excellent condition with some scratching on the pickguard, a few minor scratches on the back of the neck, and some chipped paint on the very top of the headstock.

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The Martin D-18 has long been regarded as one of the most influential acoustic guitars ever built, earning its place as a cornerstone of American music through generations of bluegrass, country, folk, blues, and singer-songwriters. First introduced in the 1930s, the D-18 became famous for its unmistakable combination of dry mahogany warmth, explosive projection, and articulate note separation. The Authentic 1937 VTS Aged series represents Martin's uncompromising effort to recreate what many players consider the pinnacle of pre-war guitar building, faithfully capturing the design, materials, and construction techniques that made original 1937 D-18s among the most coveted acoustic guitars ever produced. Available now at Haggerty's Music, this used example delivers that legendary experience without venturing into the six-figure territory occupied by original pre-war Martins.

What separates the Authentic Series from traditional reissues is Martin's relentless pursuit of historical accuracy. Built using hide glue construction, an Adirondack spruce top treated with Martin's Vintage Tone System, forward-shifted scalloped Adirondack spruce bracing, and period-correct construction methods throughout, this instrument responds with the openness, sensitivity, and dynamic range normally associated with guitars that have been played for generations. The factory Aged treatment goes beyond appearance, giving the instrument the comfortable, broken-in feel of a well-loved vintage original while preserving all the structural integrity and reliability of a modern Custom Shop-level build.

The tonal character is unmistakably pre-war D-18. Mahogany back and sides provide a focused, woody fundamental with exceptional clarity, while the Adirondack top supplies virtually limitless headroom and explosive projection when pushed with a flatpick. Individual notes leap from the soundboard with remarkable definition, making this guitar equally rewarding for bluegrass lead work, rhythm accompaniment, traditional country, Americana, folk, and fingerstyle arrangements. Every chord remains balanced and articulate, while single-note runs possess the power and immediacy that have made the 1937 D-18 the benchmark by which countless dreadnoughts continue to be measured.

More than simply a faithful recreation, the D-18 Authentic 1937 VTS Aged is an instrument built to inspire a lifetime of music. It offers collectors an extraordinarily accurate tribute to Martin's Golden Era while giving working musicians an heirloom-quality guitar capable of handling the demands of the stage, studio, or songwriting session with ease. Combining vintage soul, uncompromising craftsmanship, and one of the most iconic acoustic voices ever created, this remarkable Martin stands as a fitting tribute to one of the finest guitars in the company's storied history.

Features / Specs

Highlights

• Orientation: Right-Handed
• Electronics: None
• Bracing: Authentic 1937 Forward-Shifted Scalloped X-Bracing (Adirondack Spruce with VTS)
• Cutaway: None

Body

• Body Shape: D-14 Fret Dreadnought
• Top Material: Adirondack Spruce with VTS
• Top Finish: Vintage Gloss (Aged)
• Top Color: Vintage Toner
• Back & Sides Material: Genuine Mahogany
• Back Configuration: 2-Piece
• Back & Sides Finish: Vintage Gloss (Aged)
• Bracing: Forward-Shifted Scalloped X-Bracing (5/16", Adirondack Spruce with VTS)
• Binding Material: Brown Tortoise Pattern
• Rosette: Multi-Stripe

Neck

• Neck Profile: Authentic 1937
• Neck Material: Genuine Mahogany
• Neck Taper: Standard Taper
• Neck Depth: 0.837” at 1st Fret, 1.072” at 9th Fret
• Scale Length: 25.4”
• Nut Width: 1.75”
• Fingerboard Material: Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlay: Old Style 18 (Abalone)
• Fingerboard Binding: None
• Fingerboard Radius: 16”
• Fingerboard Spacing: 2.25” at Bridge
• Neck Finish: Vintage Gloss (Aged)
• Neck Joint: Dovetail (Hide Glue Construction)
• Headstock: Solid with 1937 Taper
• Headstock Binding: None
• Headplate Inlay: Authentic Style CFM Script Logo
• Headplate Finish: Aged Gloss

Hardware

• Bridge Style: Authentic Belly with Long Saddle (Glue-In, Aged)
• Bridge Material: Ebony
• Bridge Pins: Black Plastic
• Saddle: Bone
• Nut Material: Bone
• Tuners: Waverly Open-Back (Aged Nickel, Butterbean Buttons)
• Pickguard: Tortoise Pattern

Miscellaneous

• Electronics: None
• Case/Gig Bag: Hardshell Case
• Serial Number: 2761515
• Manufacture Date: 2023