1948 C.F. Martin & Co. D-18
A late 1940s D-18 — the post-war country music boom era. The punchy mahogany tone became the sound of honky-tonk and early Nashville recording sessions.
Current Market Value
* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology
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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 | 820 |
Pickups & Electronics
Pure acoustic flat-top.
What Changed in 1948
Post-war D-18 production growing. Non-scalloped bracing standard. Simplified binding. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. The post-war country music boom was driving demand for affordable Martin dreadnoughts.
Collector's Notes
Late 1940s D-18s are excellent player instruments. Ebony fingerboard and bridge still standard. The country music association makes these culturally significant.
How to Authenticate a 1948 C.F. Martin & Co. D-18
Martin serial numbers are the most reliable in the industry — verify the number stamped on the neck block (visible through the soundhole) against Martin's published tables. For 1948, the number should fall within the documented range. Mahogany back and sides with spruce top. Non-scalloped X-bracing pattern for this era — verify through the soundhole. Mahogany (not rosewood) back and sides — verify correct wood species. Simpler appointments than D-28 (no herringbone). Check for neck resets, top cracks (especially near soundhole and bridge), and bridge plate condition. Tuners should be Grover Sta-Tite. Finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer with age-appropriate wear. Original case adds value.