This 2021 Martin, the Authentic Aged D-18 1939 model, is a now-discontinued but longstanding favorite guitar in the Martin community. This Custom Shop led line ticks all the right boxes for anyone chasing that dry, woody thump of a golden-era mahogany dread. With an Adirondack spruce top treated with Martin’s VTS (Martin’s in house term for Torrification), mahogany back and sides, and hide glue all around, it leans hard into prewar specs while not costing 5 figures. The bracing is scalloped and rear-shifted like a true ’39, and the neck, complete with the chunky Authentic 1939 carve, feels nice and full in the hand while still letting the modern player get around. Finished in Martin’s aged “Vintage Gloss,” it’s got the look, the feel, and most importantly, the sound.

This guitar is in good condition, with one or two extra dings (Sidenote: can a relic guitar get beat up? Discuss amongst the class), and a good setup, though there is a little bit of relief in the T bar equipped neck that may need some attention eventually. Great bluegrass action, though.

Comes with the original hard shell case.