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
Excellent
$7,000–$14,000
Very Good
$4,500–$7,000
Good
$2,700–$4,500
Fair
$1,350–$2,700
* 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 | 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.