The D-18 is Martin's spruce-and-mahogany dreadnought: a spruce top over mahogany back and sides, Golden Era scalloped braces in the Forward-Shifted X Brace pattern, and the Golden Era (GE) Modified Low Oval neck with the High-Performance Taper and a 1 3/4" nut. Ebony board and bridge, Old Style 18 abalone inlays, black binding, an Old Style 18 rosette, a bone nut and compensated bone saddle. Martin describes clear, even tone with strong projection.
There are three gloss tops. Gloss carries the Aging Toner top. Gloss 1933 Ambertone gives the top an amber colour, and Gloss 1935 Sunburst shades it and adds Martin's Custom Ink detail. We would reach for the Gloss 1933 Ambertone, which gives the top an older look and changes nothing else.
The same guitar comes in satin as well, in Satin and Satin 1935 Sunburst. For East Indian rosewood on this body, look at the D-28, and for a mahogany top, the D-17.
SPECIFICATIONS
BODY
Country of Origin: USA (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)
Body Size: D-14 Fret
Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint
Back Material: Mahogany
Side Material: Mahogany
Back and Sides Finish: Gloss
Back and Sides Color: Dark Mahogany
Back Purfling/Strip: Style 18
Bracing Pattern: Forward-Shifted X Brace
Brace Shape: Golden Era Scalloped
Brace Material: Spruce
Brace Size: 5/16"
Endpiece: Black
Top Material: Spruce
Finish Top: Gloss
Top Color: Aging Toner (Gloss) / 1933 Ambertone (Gloss 1933 Ambertone) / 1935 Sunburst (Gloss 1935 Sunburst)
Top Inlay Material: Multi-Stripe
Top Detail: Custom Ink (Gloss 1935 Sunburst)
Binding: Black
Pickguard: Faux Tortoise
Rosette: Old Style 18 Multi-Stripe
NECK
Neck Shape: Golden Era (GE) Modified Low Oval
Neck Taper: High-Performance Taper
Neck Material: Select Hardwood
Neck Color: Dark Mahogany
Finish Neck: Satin
Scale Length: 25.4"
Number of Frets Total: 20
Neck Joins Body At: 14th Fret
Heelcap: Black
Fingerboard Material: Ebony
Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/8''
Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1 3/4''
Fingerboard Inlay Style: Old Style 18
Fingerboard Inlay Material: Abalone
Side Dots: White
Headstock Shape: Solid with Square Taper
Headplate Material: East Indian Rosewood
Headplate Logo Style: Script Old Style Overlay
Pleked: Yes
HARDWARE
Bridge Material: Ebony
Bridge Style: Golden Era Modern Belly - Drop-In Saddle
Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/32"
Bridge Pin Material: Ebony
Saddle: Compensated Bone
Saddle Radius: 16"
Tuning Machines: Nickel Open Gear
Knob: Butterbean
Nut Material: Bone
CASE
Case: Hardshell




