Description

Selling a magnificent 2020 D-18 (Reimagined) which has an Adirondack spruce top, this configuration is usually reserved for Custom Shop guitars but occasionally Martin uses Adirondack instead of Sitka spruce on standard models.

The classic D-18 sound is enhanced greatly on this guitar and it sounds amazing, plenty of warmth and sustain, it really has to be played to be appreciated. Apart from a few minor dings and scratches it's in great condition with very little fretwear. There's no pickup installed. Comes with a Martin hard case.

The Custom Shop D-18s are over €4.5k new online, so here's a chance to get hold of a standard model with an Adirondack top at a lower cost. I'M NOT LOOKING FOR TRADES OR SWAPS OF ANY DESCRIPTION, CASH (OR REVOLUT) SALE ONLY.

Reasonable offers will be accepted, but please, no lowball offers on this.

Shipping: Collection

Payment: Cash

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Comments & Offers

davyc1 5 hours ago

Hi. So this is a custom shop D18 is it? On the neck block it says custom adirondack or similar?

lysaghtm 5 hours ago

@davyc1 as stated in the ad, it's NOT a Custom Shop model. But it has the Adirondack spruce top which is standard on Custom Shop D-18s.

davyc1 4 hours ago

Ah OK. Understood. Thanks.

Guitarguitar 3 hours ago

Adirondack is not standard on "Custom Shop D18's" as a Custom Shop guitar can be made from any type of wood the customer wants hence the word custom as in you can customise it to your own specs. Special runs of Custom Shop D18's were made with the "North Street" name on them and then there is the Martin D18 Custom Shop Authentics which are a totally different beast altogether as they are made just like the guitars were made in 1937 with tucked braces etc. Those runs all have Adirondack. You cannot even order a custom shop D18 as the "D18" wouldn't be stamped on the neck block as it wouldn't be a standard D18 so they wouldn't stamp it so. It would be a D14 on the spec sheet as in D for Dreadnaught and 14 for 14 fret and then the style would be "18 style" appointments so comparing this guitar to a Custom Shop guitar is simply false advertising as your guitar is a standard guitar made on the factory floor assembly line as all standard Martin models are and Custom Shop models are handmade in the Custom Shop hence the name Custom shop. This guitar is NOT a premium model either as you're saying it is, it's a standard factory model so again you're advertising it as something it's not.

lysaghtm 3 hours ago

@Guitarguitar hi - I'm advertising the guitar as a standard model with an Adirondack spruce top {see the title of the ad!).. I'll take some of your feedback on board and re-word it a bit as I don't want to mislead anyone. Many of the Custom D-18s have Adirondack tops. To my ears this guitar sounds a lot better than the standard D-18s with Sitka Spruce tops

lysaghtm 3 hours ago

@Guitarguitar RE-WORDED based on your comment.

davyc1 3 hours ago

Could you post a picture of the neck block please.

lysaghtm 3 hours ago

@davyc1 sure, it'll be there in about 10 minutes

davyc1 2 hours ago

Thanks for that. There's no way to prove that it's adirondack is there?

lysaghtm 2 hours ago

@davyc1 if you look at the grain pattern in photo 3 it's obviously Adirondack, Sitka typically has a much tighter grain.

davyc1 2 hours ago

And you think Martin used a normally much higher value tonewood for the top wood by accident or because they ran out of sitka? Without proof from Martin on this I wouldn't be interested despite the grain looking like adi. Thanks for your replies.

lysaghtm 2 hours ago

@davyc1 that's fine, I know an Adirondack spruce top when I see one.

davyc1 1 hour ago

Maybe you do but you can't expect anyone to pay extra for it based solely on your opinion on the subject. The only way to know for sure is to send Martin an email with the serial number to investigate further and get the necessary clarification to support asking for that much extra. If they confirm your suspicion then it is indeed a different animal.

lysaghtm 1 hour ago

@davyc1 Martin don't confirm specific guitars (I've asked) but have told me that individual D-18s are occasionally produced with alternative tops (I have an email from them stating this). I am very confident that this guitar has an Adirondack spruce top and am prepared to stand over that. You simply don't get Sitka with such a wide grain.

lysaghtm 1 hour ago

I'm going to show the guitar to a local luthier to get an expert opinion on the top wood, will post further on this tomorrow.