1939 C.F. Martin & Co. D-18
A 1939 pre-war D-18 — peak golden-era production. Scalloped bracing and Adirondack spruce in the mahogany body. The archetypal country and bluegrass guitar at its finest.
Current Market Value
Excellent
$35,000–$70,000
Very Good
$22,000–$35,000
Good
$13,000–$22,000
Fair
$6,500–$13,000
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
Specifications
| Body Wood | Spruce (top), Mahogany (back and sides — scalloped bracing) |
| Neck Wood | Mahogany |
| Fingerboard | Ebony |
| Scale Length | 25.400" |
| Frets | 20 |
| Pickup Config | None (acoustic) |
| Bridge | Ebony belly bridge |
| Tuners | Grover Sta-Tite |
| Finish Options | Natural |
| Est. Production | 320 |
Pickups & Electronics
Pure acoustic flat-top.
What Changed in 1939
Peak pre-war D-18 production. Scalloped bracing, Adirondack spruce, mahogany. The dreadnought was becoming the dominant acoustic guitar body style. These guitars would define the sound of American country and folk music.
Collector's Notes
Late 1930s D-18s are the most available pre-war examples. Still scalloped bracing and fully pre-war specs. Excellent value compared to same-era D-28s — typically 40-50% less.