1946 C.F. Martin & Co. D-18
An early post-war D-18 — non-scalloped bracing and simplified binding but the same mahogany tone. Post-war D-18s are excellent player instruments at a fraction of pre-war prices.
Current Market Value
Excellent
$8,000–$16,000
Very Good
$5,000–$8,000
Good
$3,000–$5,000
Fair
$1,500–$3,000
* 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 — post-war, non-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 | 640 |
Pickups & Electronics
Pure acoustic flat-top.
What Changed in 1946
Post-war D-18 production resuming at full capacity. Non-scalloped bracing is now standard. Simplified binding. Still excellent instruments — the mahogany tone is immediate and punchy.
Collector's Notes
Early post-war D-18s still have ebony fingerboards and excellent construction. The price drop from pre-war is dramatic and represents outstanding value for players.