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Key Features
- Actual guitar photographed
- Adirondack spruce top delivers powerful projection with superb dynamic range
- Centuries-old sinker mahogany produces warm, mature vintage-inspired tone
- Golden Era forward-shifted bracing enhances resonance and sustain
- Martin Custom Shop craftsmanship paired with modern comfortable playability
Martin Custom Shop D-18 #M2617812 Overview
The Martin Custom Shop D-18 is part of the exclusive North Street Edition collection, inspired by the legendary pre-war “Golden Era” Martin guitars crafted in Nazareth during the 1930s. Built by the Martin Custom Shop using premium hand-selected tonewoods and traditional construction techniques, this dreadnought blends vintage-inspired character with modern reliability and comfort. Its Adirondack spruce top and forward-shifted Golden Era X-bracing capture the open, powerful voice associated with classic pre-war Martins, while the striking sinker mahogany back and sides add remarkable depth, warmth, and maturity to the sound.
Sinker mahogany is sourced from centuries-old logs recovered from riverbeds in Belize, giving the guitar a darker, denser tonal response that many players associate with old-growth mahogany from Martin’s most sought-after vintage instruments. Combined with the modified low oval neck profile and ebony fingerboard, the D-18 offers an effortlessly comfortable playing experience suited to both traditional and contemporary players. Finished with elegant vintage-style appointments including an old-style gold headstock logo, light ageing toner, and faux tortoise detailing, this Custom Shop model captures the spirit of a true Golden Era dreadnought while delivering the consistency and dependability expected from a modern Martin.
Product Ref: 376062
Full Description
View Full DescriptionInspired by Martin’s Golden Era
The North Street Edition series pays tribute to the iconic Martin guitars built during the company’s pre-war Golden Era in the 1930s. Rather than creating direct replicas, Martin’s Custom Shop combines traditional construction methods and vintage-inspired specifications with more modern features for improved reliability and comfort. This D-18 embodies this philosophy beautifully, pairing historically inspired appointments with contemporary playability. Details such as the old-style gold headstock decal, light ageing toner, and understated Style-18 aesthetics all contribute to the authentic vintage character of the instrument while preserving the practical feel expected from a modern professional acoustic guitar.
Exceptional sinker mahogany tone
One of the defining features of this guitar is its sinker mahogany back and sides. This rare tonewood comes from mahogany logs that rested underwater in Belizean riverbeds for hundreds of years before being recovered and carefully prepared for instrument building. This unique ageing process creates a darker, denser tonal character with enhanced warmth, resonance, and maturity. Many players consider sinker mahogany the closest modern equivalent to the old-growth mahogany used in vintage Martin guitars from the 1930s. Paired with the Adirondack spruce top, the result is a remarkably responsive dreadnought voice with impressive projection, rich low end, and crisp dynamic detail.
Golden Era bracing and Adirondack power
The Adirondack spruce top gives the D-18 exceptional headroom and dynamic response, allowing the guitar to remain clear and articulate even under aggressive playing. Compared to Sitka spruce, Adirondack offers stronger projection, faster attack, and greater responsiveness across a wider dynamic range. Supporting this top is Martin’s hand-scalloped Golden Era forward-shifted X-bracing, designed to maximise resonance and sustain while capturing the lively, open sound associated with prized pre-war Martins. Together, these features give the guitar a huge acoustic voice capable of handling everything from delicate fingerstyle arrangements to powerful flatpicked rhythm playing with ease.
Premium Custom Shop craftsmanship
Every detail of the D-18 reflects the quality and attention expected from Martin’s Custom Shop division. The modified low oval neck profile and high-performance taper create a smooth and effortless playing feel suited to long sessions and demanding performances. Ebony is used for both the fingerboard and bridge, adding durability, clarity, and smooth response beneath the fingers. The guitar also includes premium appointments such as a Geib 5-ply hardshell case and exclusive UK Custom Shop case candy package, enhancing both protection and collectability. Built with meticulous craftsmanship throughout, this North Street Edition model delivers the tone, feel, and visual character expected from a truly exceptional Martin acoustic.
Specifications
- Product Name: Martin Custom Shop D-18 #M2617812
- Product Code: CFM-GTR-D-18-SINKER-NS #M2617812
Body
- Body Size: Dreadnought
- Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint
- Top Material: Adirondack Spruce
- Top Finish: Gloss with Aging Toner
- Back & Sides: Sinker Mahogany
- Back & Side Finish: Gloss
- Bracing: 5/16" Scalloped Adirondack
- Brace Pattern: Golden Era Forward Shifted X-Brace
- Binding: Brown Faux Tortoise
- Rosette: Old Style 18 Boltaron
Neck & Fretboard
- Neck Material: Solid Mahogany
- Neck Shape: Modified Low Oval
- Neck Taper: High Performance Taper
- Scale Length: 25.4"
- Fingerboard Material: Ebony
- Fingerboard Inlay: Old Style 18 – Select Abalone
- Fingerboard Radius: 16"
- Number of Frets: 20
- Nut Material: Bone
- Nut Width: 1 3/4"
Hardware
- Bridge Material: Ebony
- Bridge Style: Modern Belly – Drop In Saddle
- Saddle: Compensated Bone
- Bridge Pins: Black
- Tuners: Grover Nickel Open Gear with Vintage Buttons
- Headplate Logo: Old Style Gold
- Strings: Martin Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0
- Case: Geib 5-Ply Hardshell Case
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