Martin Retro Series D-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Dreadnought, Mahogany 10D18ERETRO
- Martin Retro Series D-18E Acoustic Electric Guitar
- D-14 Body Shape
- Aged Toner/Polished Gloss Top
- Polished Gloss Back and Sides
- Solid Sitka Spruce Top
- Genuine Mahogany Back and Sides
- Style 18 Rosette
- Tortoise Color Binding
- Standard "X" Scalloped, Forward Shifted Bracing
- Solid Sitka Spruce Braces
- Select Hardwood Neck
- Dovetail Neck Joint
- 25.4" Scale Length
- 16" Fretboard Radius
- Satin Neck Finish
- Ebony Fingerboard
- Modified Low Oval Profile w/ High Performance Taper Neck Shape
- 20 Frets
- Bone Nut
- 1 3/4" Nut Width
- Fishman F1 Analog Pickup System - Includes Different Mic Voices and Tuner
- Compensated White Tusq Saddle
- Delmar Tortoise Color Pickguard
- Ebony Bridge - 1930's Style w/ Drop-In Saddle
- Nickel Open Gear Tuners w/ Butterbean Knobs
- Martin Hardshell Case
- Instrument Weight: 4.6 lbs
Player's Perspective
Martin’s Retro series is all about re-creating vintage, folkloric Martins and updating them with a few practical modern appointments. These instruments are not your typical reissues of old designs. They’re the result of exhaustive, micrometer-precise research on the finest vintage Martins in the world. This iconic D-18 has that classic Martin dreadnought sound. You don’t hear it very often, but you know it when you hear it: the powerful but smooth low end and the clear, bell-like quality that turns chord progressions into stories. The neck joint and bracing pattern, two of the most important acoustic tonal elements, are the same on this guitar as they are on the fabled old-school D-18's. The neck has been updated just a touch – it’s a little easier to get around on than the necks on some old guitars. A phenomenal pickup system has been added as well, so you can take this guitar to every gig on your calendar without worrying about being heard. In short, this is the perfect blend of old and new. This guitar is a lifer.
Special Features
This D-18E is based on the best old-school D-18’s in the world. It sports the classic spruce top/mahogany back and sides combination for projection and warmth. The dovetail neck joint is the same as the vintage D-18’s. It lends a huge advantage both structurally and tonally. Martin’s old dreadnoughts have forward shifted scalloped X-bracing, and that’s exactly what’s under the top of this guitar. This bracing technique allows the top to vibrate more freely than other styles, enriching the low-end and enhancing the guitar’s overall clarity and volume. The neck on this guitar is a departure from the vintage accuracy of the rest of the design, but I guarantee your hand will thank you. It’s Martin’s low oval profile with a Performing Artist taper, a cozy design that you can play for hours without tiring. There’s also a great pickup system in this guitar – the Fishman F1 Aura Plus. Specially designed by Larry Fishman for these vintage-vibed Martins, this system replicates the sound of putting a good mic in front your guitar. You can run full piezo or a blend of piezo and mic imaging, and there are specific mic options to choose from. This guitar is for today's player who wants true Martin sound on a gig-ready guitar.
Overall Condition
Our in house guitar tech has inspected, tested, set up, and cleaned all of our instruments on site prior to shipping. All of our instruments are guaranteed to be fully functional upon arrival.