Martin specialists please chime in!

[Haslar]

Hi all,

This ad just popped up near my home.
https://www.leboncoin.fr/instruments...2385361750.htm

The seller says she inherited this guitar from her father, and that there is no serial number to be seen.
Do you have any idea what it is?
Many thanks!

[b1j]

I’m no specialist, but serial numbers are stamped in pretty deeply in the neck block. I can’t see how someone could remove one. Maybe you could explain to her where to look for it?

[Haslar]

Originally Posted by b1j

I’m no specialist, but serial numbers are stamped in pretty deeply in the neck block. I can’t see how someone could remove one. Maybe you could explain to her where to look for it?

I did, and am waiting for her reply. Thanks!

[b1j]

Could be a D-18 with that rosette and binding, with replacement pins. She needs to show you photos of the back and sides. I wouldn’t mind seeing the tuners, also.

Edit: I’m changing my vote. Doesn’t the D-18 have a band of white binding? I’m out of ideas.

[Teherie]

I opened the link and that appeared to be an unusual selection of photos to post.

Usually you see a picture of the full front and back of the guitar but the seller zeroed in on the sound hole wear with 5 photos. If they went to the trouble to look inside the sound hole to include a photo of the Martin stamp on the bracing, the serial number should have been visible too.

The headstock decal also appears to be from a newer model, not an older one. I’d steer clear without more information, but that’s just me.

[sinistral]

No specialist either, but the rosette rings look to be Style 28, so my guess is that the guitar is a D-28, since it doesn't have herringbone trim. The gold-foil decal and tuner knobs suggest a pre-reimagined guitar. It has an adjustable truss rod, so it's post-1985. I would be suspicious if there is no serial number—perhaps the owner just doesn't know where to look, but any shop even half familiar with Martin should. I think €1,000 is also on the low side, even for a late '80s/1990s D-28, which is another red flag.

[kizz]

My guess would be a D1.

[zoopeda]

Originally Posted by kizz

My guess would be a D1.

Agreed. D1. Don't know action measurements, but treble end of the saddle is already too low. My bet is it needs a neck reset. A lot of good honest wear on it too. Maybe 2 cracks plus a seam separation. Cool guitar, but overpriced by at least 100%.

[ras1500]

It looks a lot like my 1994 vintage D1-R. The serial number is on a wood plate on the neck block. The plate fell off of my guitar, so I had to glue it back on.

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by kizz

My guess would be a D1.

That makes more sense, especially for the price.

[Bridgepin]

It looks to be a Mahogany back and sides, Sitka top with a crack behind the bridge ( high E string ) as far as the model. Well, Martin offers guitars today that I'm not up on, I'm an old fart so to me a Mahogany Martin Dread was a D-18 but the binding and the head stock doesn't look right to be a D-18.

So Martin employees used to be able to make their own guitar and one of the restrictions was you couldn't put a serial number in it, maybe this could be one of these.

You can ask over in the UMGF forum and you will definitely get someone there who will be able to provide you with more information.

[Haslar]

Many thanks to all!
This really helps.
It does look like a D-1 or similar, indeed.

[b1j]

On closer examination, the rosette is definitely not from a D-18 (or an HD-28). It's a D-28 rosette.

I've never thought about it, but I just looked it up and saw that the D-1 uses the D-28 rosette. But the black binding says D-1 to me.

[warfrat73]

For reasons that must have made sense to someone at Martin at the time, they did put serial numbers on little wooden plates that were held to the neck block with double sided tape on certain models to cover up the screws that were used as part of the neck attachment process.

As you can imagine, those sometimes fell off. D1 was one of the models they did this on (I think the DM and the DR and some 15 series too).

Google "Martin D1 serial number" and look at the image results, you'll see bunches of those taped on serial number plates.

[SFCRetired]

I'm leaning to a D1 myself. If it is a D1 they are great guitars. Solid tops with solid back and laminate sides. The DM went to laminate back and had a label inside the sound hole. The DM also had a herringborn rosette, so again, I'm leaning to D1.