Martin D-18 Vintage for $150 some damage...???
 

I have been looking for a 2nd guitar (a beater that I can travel with with no worries). Today I stopped in a pawn shop near work and they have a 1999 Martin D-18 Vintage (Mahogany Top) for $150.00. There is some damage to the headstock and the Martin Logo has been totally torn off, but the lable inside appears to be legit. Other than the beat-up headstock the guitar seems to be in good condition...could this be for real or is most likely a fake? and if it is a fake how can tell?

It is one of only three guitars in the entire shop and none of the employees seem to know anything about guitars. For that price I may just buy it and swing by the local Martin Dealer and give them a look at it...for $150 even it is fake it may still be a good beater that I can have some fun with. What do you all think?

Thanks :)

run down there with a camera, post the pics here and we'll be ablew to tell ya for sure. If not, I'd be careful. But if ya got an extra 150 laying around then go for it.

Try it out. It may be a great find or you may have $150 beater. Since you can "only" lose $150, you have to make that judgment.

I say go for it.


LAter . . .
D'OH!

What was I thinking?!?!? Of course it's a fake! Sorry for the brain freeze.

It's fake. Quite a few of these have been showing up in pawn shops. The inside sticker on the back on the guitar is going to say 1999 D-18 Vintage. Martin did not mark any guitars in this manner. It's not even a good fake, and given it's price, the pawn shop knows it's fake also.

It is a fake.

I've seen these frauds on ebay.

The D-18V does not have a paper label, nor a mahogany top.

It's obvious the pawn shop knows it is a fake, or they would be selling it for $1500 or more. A successful pawn shop must be able to accurately appraise the items it sells, and guitars are a common pawn shop item.


Great minds think alike - I didn't see Squint's post when I posted this.

Danger Will Robinson, Danger............oops, showing my age.

[QUOTE=Phantoj]It is a fake.

I've seen these frauds on ebay.

The D-18V does not have a paper label, nor a mahogany top.

It's obvious the pawn shop knows it is a fake, or they would be selling it for $1500 or more. A successful pawn shop must be able to accurately appraise the items it sells, and guitars are a common pawn shop item.
QUOTE]


I second that.

Thanks for all of the info, after reading all of your posts and the link to the UMGF post I am pretty sure it is fake and I will be staying away....

A new D-15 is probably the wiser way to go.

Thanks again for the info.

As the proud owner of a Martin D-18V, I can tell you that guitar is not a Martin D-18V...

Steve