C. F. Martin D-18 1937 Authentic Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2006), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 1130062, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This 2006 Martin D-18 Authentic takes the company's venerable and much loved mahogany Dreadnought back to its Depression-era roots, with features that experienced players had been asking the company return to for decades. These include hand scalloped, "forward" X bracing to the original 1937 pattern on the torrefied red spruce top, hot hide glue and cloth strip construction and the wider 1 3/4" nut used in the mid-'30s.

This guitar has the expected mahogany back, sides and neck with the prewar-spec ebony fingerboard and bridge. The top has minimal "aging toner" applied so has a "whiter" more natural look to the spruce than some of their past reissues that sometimes got an "Orangey" hue. This is a lovely instrument to play with a still-maturing powerful sound, a nice example of Martin re-imagining their own roots as they began to navigate the 21st century.

Overall length is 41 in. (104.1 cm.), 15 7/8 in. (40.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 5 7/8 in. (14.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).

This just 20 year old guitar looks to have been gigged a little bit and shows some general light handling marks but no serious wear or repair. There is one notable dink into the finish on the upper rim of the soundhole. It retains the original hardware and appointments, with no sign of damage or repairs overall the only alteration being the common one of a strap button added to the heel. There is little to no wear on frets or fingerboard. This is a super example of one of Martin's best 21st century ideas, aging in nicely in the original hardshell case. Overall Excellent Condition.