1980 Martin Sigma D-10 Anniversary Rare Grade 10 Solid Spruce/Lam. Mahogany (DM-18) Acoustic Guitar

Great vintage Martin sound at a fraction of the cost of a D-18.  The D-10 Anniversary is one of the most sought after Martin Sigmas ever produced.  Solid premium spruce top with matched mahogany back and sides, rosewood fretboard and bridge, dovetail neck joint (not a bolt-on neck like most recent Sigmas), made in Japan, inspected in the USA.  This is one of the very rare "Grade 10" D-10's (described below).

Includes a vintage bone saddle by Bob Colosi and ebony bridgepins with abalone inlays (original pins also included).  Sound is on par with a Martin D-18.  Action is FANTASTIC all the way up the neck... very tough to find a vintage Martin with this kind of playability:

12th Fret - Low E String: .08" (5/64")
12th Fret - High E String: .07" (9/128")

**If you'd like to change the tuning machines on this guitar, I have new sets of Martin sealed ($30) and open gear ($60) tuners available.  Prices include installation.  Just shoot me a message and we can make arrangements.**

Guitar is in good physical condition considering the age, but still comes with plenty of vintage mojo... assorted dings, nicks, scratches, with very little finish checking, no cracks/repairs.  Fretboard has been cleaned and conditioned, frets have been polished.  Mild fretwear on the first few frets, but plenty of life left.  Strung with Martin Clapton's Choice Lights (12-54).  Includes brand new MBT Deluxe Black 20mm padded softshell case ($50 value).

Background
In 1980 Sigma produced the D-10 Anniversary model to commemorate 10 years of Sigma production in Japan. Essentially a gussied up DM-18, the D-10 has a solid spruce top with "matched" (re: laminated) mahogany sides and back, rosewood fingerboard with diamond and square position markers, mother of pearl band inlay stating "Anniversary" between the 19th and 20th fret, tortoiseshell type pickguard and binding, and close-ratio tuning machines. This limited production run lasted one year and this model remained on Sigma Dealers quarterly price lists from October 1980 until July 1981.

Grading the D-10
A recently uncovered C.F. Martin memo dated August 7, 1980 further discusses 'economically uncorrectable' cosmetic flaws in the D-10 and how they were to be indicated by the inspectors: "The flawed instruments were graded into 2 categories depending on the nature of the blemishes and were stamped on the back center strip accordingly.

- The D-10 '9' had cross grain sanding marks, finish runs and/or a rough finish, rough or chipped inlay and/or bindings, poor repairs, small indentations and/or discolorations.
- The D-10 '8' had finish checks, shrunken end pieces, filler discolorations, dents and/or a very thin finish.

Instead of 'seconding' these by labeling them as 'Picador' guitars, and/or voiding the warranty completely, Martin decided to invoke a warranty exception and lower the price by a few points. The affixed warranty card was amended to read..."Your D-10 '9' (or D-10 '8') is not warranted against cosmetic defects."

HOWEVER, the guitar for sale in this listing is one of the very rare "Grade 10" guitars that passed all inspections and was not labeled a factory second like most of the D-10's that occasionally come up for sale.