A handsome piece of history that’s opened up sweetly, and has been restored to peak playability from the folks at Martin! From the first pluck, we were stunned by the volume, clarity, and sustain of this 1963 Martin D-18. Not only is the setup delightfully easy on the hands, but there’s plenty of meat left on the saddle too. That makes for a better transfer of string energy into the Sitka Spruce top, which in turn cranks up the volume for an edge over your bandmates.

This beauty is a flatpicking machine, with that dry Mahogany crunch and clarity. This ‘63 D-18 has an extra helping of mellow midrange, which sets it apart from a new D-18’s shrillness. Single owner for over 55 years, it’s now finally ready for owner #2. Please note, this guitar comes with the original nut, saddle, bridge, and Grover tuners in the case.

Other keywords: dreadnaught, dread, d18, d 18, 18-style

1956 Martin 000-28: gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood, fresh setup, voice wide open like the summer sky. We love getting vintage Martin pieces in like this 000, since it affords us the opportunity to compare newer guitars against their vintage predecessors. The breathy, opened up character waiting under the strings of this 000-28 is something to experience firsthand; the graceful string-to-string balance dovetails with a sweet spot setup for both flatpicks and fingertips.

The Sitka Spruce top has patinaed to a handsome amber, and the V neck carve feels familiar as an old friend’s embrace. Our repair team has just gone over this guitar from tailblock to tuners and given it a clean bill of health! This is a lovely opportunity to snag a piece of true vintage for yourself, our 1956 Martin 000-28. If you dig in a bit, this beauty sings out loud and clear; this ain’t the preacher’s daughter.

Common misspellings: 00028, ooo-28, ooo28, sita, brazilain, marton

1969 was the last year Martin would use Brazilian Rosewood on their standard models, and this D-28 lucked out with a gorgeous set that would be the apple of any luthier’s eye today. Sitka Spruce on top, 28-style appointments, black pickguard, and a 1 11/16 inch nut all make for a good-looking Dread from the sixties with a slick setup. There are only so many Martins from this era that have remained with their original owners, and this is one of the few!

The voice has more balance and note separation than we’d expect from a Dreadnought, and the bass response is also more focused. Combined with extra clarity in the upper mids and trebles, that extra articulation makes for a great guitar for flatpicked solos and lead work. The slim neck also lends itself to fast playing, so if you like to tear it up like Bryan Sutton or Tony Rice this 1969 D-28 is an excellent candidate for the job. Our repair team have gone over every inch and have given it a clean and stable bill of health; plenty of life left to the saddle and the frets are freshly leveled, crowned, and polished.

A great Martin Dread with a vintage, opened up voice that’s less muddy and more articulate.