Martin D18 1953 VIN# 129617

by Meshell Mattox
(Riverbank, CA)

Martin D18 1953

I have a Martin D-18, Vin # 129617, 1953 guitar. It's a 6 string, flat front with added pick up. It has been signed by Chester Smith and has an initial emblem of "BJG" on the front of the guitar. How much do you think it's worth?

ANSWER

Hi, Meshell--

Here is the general info:

D-18
- dreadnought body style, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with three-stripe purfling/rosette, five-ply top binding, one-ply back binding with rosewood (1932-36), tortoise (1936-1966), or black (1966-present) outer layer, 12/19-fret (1932-34) or 14/20-fret (1934-present), ebony fingerboard (1932-1947) or rosewood fingerboard (1947-present) with pearl dot inlays, three-per-side chrome tuners, ebony bridge (1932-1947) or rosewood bridge (1947-present) with black white dot pins, tortoise (1936-1966) or black (1966-present) pickguard, available in Natural or Sunburst (optional) finish, 25.4 in. scale, mfg. 1932-present.

The pricing info:

1953-1959

Excellent $4,800 - 6,000
Average $3,000 - 3,500

The addition of the will diminish the value somewhat if there was any drilling done, as it looks like there was.

Lynne