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Pricing and availability
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Average Price: $69,999
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$1001+
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Description
The D-18E was produced for only two years, one in 1958 and 301 in 1959,and the total number produced was only 302, making it an extremely rare model.
The D-18E was an unpopular model that did not sell at all in 1959, and production was discontinued early, but it became famous after Kurt Cobain used it in an unplugged performance, and the 1959 D-18E he owned was sold for hundreds of millions of yen, making it the most expensive guitar in the world.
This guitar was so unique that it was not popular at the time and ended up being short-lived, but due to the small number of units produced, it is now an instrument that is traded at high prices, mainly among vintage guitar collectors.
Product specs
| Brand | Martin |
| Model | D-18E |
| Year | 1958 - 1959 |
| Made In | United States |
| Categories | Acoustic-Electric Guitars, Dreadnought Acoustic Guitars |
| Active Preamp | No |
| Back Material | Mahogany |
| Body Shape | Dreadnought |
| Color Family | Natural |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Model Family | Martin D-18 |
| Model Sub-Family | Martin D-18E |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Number of Frets | 20 |
| Number of Strings | 6-String |
| Pickup | Surface Mounted Pickup |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Series | Martin Post-War Era |
| Sides Material | Mahogany |
| String Type | Steel |
| Top Material | Spruce |
FAQs
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What type of wood is used in the Martin D-18E 1958-1959, and how does it affect the sound?
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The Martin D-18E 1958-1959 features mahogany back and sides with a spruce top. This combination provides a warm, balanced tone with clear highs and a strong midrange, ideal for various playing styles.
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Does the Martin D-18E 1958-1959 have an active preamp?
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No, the Martin D-18E 1958-1959 does not have an active preamp. It uses a surface-mounted pickup for amplification, preserving the guitar's natural acoustic tone.
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How many frets does the Martin D-18E 1958-1959 have?
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The Martin D-18E 1958-1959 has 20 frets, providing ample range for both rhythm and lead playing.
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Is the Martin D-18E 1958-1959 suitable for left-handed players?
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The Martin D-18E 1958-1959 is designed for right-handed players. Left-handed musicians would need to seek a conversion or a specific left-handed model.
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What body shape does the Martin D-18E 1958-1959 have, and what are its benefits?
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The Martin D-18E 1958-1959 features a dreadnought body shape, known for its large size and powerful sound projection, making it suitable for both strumming and fingerpicking.
Videos
NirvanaGuitars
History of Kurt Cobain's Unplugged Guitar & How I Replicated It | Nirvana Guitar History Episode 3
History of Kurt Cobain's Unplugged Guitar & How I Replicated It | Nirvana Guitar History Episode 3
NirvanaGuitars
Incredibly RARE 1959 Martin D-18E
Chicago Music Exchange
Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York Guitar Tone | Amp & Pedal Settings
NirvanaGuitars
Martin D-18E Retro Acoustic-electric Guitar Demo - Sweetwater Sound
Sweetwater
Kurt Cobain Martin D18e Nirvana Tone | MTV Unplugged in New York
khristore
Kurt Cobain's Unplugged Guitar
jq
Maury demos the Martin Guitar D-18E 2020
Maury's Music
Vintage Guitar Legacies - Episode #3 - 1959 Martin D-18E "Kurt Cobain Model"
Sarah James Music
The Martin D-18E at MaurysMusic.com
Maury's Music
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Martin D-18E.
Features and functionality
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The D-18E's top is ladder braced, unlike the more common X-bracing found in many acoustic guitars.
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Original controls include a mixing switch for pickups, two tone knobs, and one volume knob.
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A pickup selector switch near the neck functions similarly to those on Epiphone or Les Paul guitars.
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The D-18E from 1959 could be retrofitted to match the D-18E specifications with added pickups and knobs by the Martin custom shop.
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The DeArmond sound hole pickup was commonly used in the '60s-'70s, providing a stable signal preferred by many players over piezo systems.
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A user noted the ease of installing a jack below the strap button for a permanent magnetic pickup connection, enhancing convenience during performances.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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To mimic Cobain's setup, consider using a Bartolini 3AV Soundhole pickup instead of the original DeArmond single coils.
Source
Value and pricing
Build quality
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It's noted that fewer than 400 Martin D-18E guitars were made, making them extremely rare and sought after by collectors.
Source
Comparisons
5.0 out of 5
Based on 1 Review and 24 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Cobain used a C.F. Martin & Company D-18E Acoustic Guitar on Nirvana's career defining preformance on MTV Unplugged Live, as see in this photo of Cobain performing. This information is originally sourced from the official Martin website's "Famous Martin Owners" section.
This Guitar was later put up for auction on June 20, 2020 and sold for a record $6 Million U.S. Dollars, making it the most expensive guitar of all time.
In the GQ video "10 Things Shawn Mendes Can't Live Without," Shawn Mendes discusses his frequent use of the Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar, which he often plays on stage.
Steven performing a song from his new album using a new Martin acoustic
Chris has been seen using a D-18 as his preferred acoustic during live performances while touring and promoting the Live From A Room Volume 1 & 2 records.
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At 35:48 in the video "Jeff Tweedy Rig Rundown" by Premier Guitar on YouTube, Jeff Tweedy is seen playing a 1950s Martin D-18E acoustic guitar.
Courtney played with Kurt's Martin acoustic guitar at Doll Parts performance.
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In this post on his instagram, you can see Kevin's collection of Martin Guitars which he often uses in acoustic preformances
In this Getty Images archive photo dated July 01, 1988 and credited to David Montgomery, Tracy can be seen with her vintage D-18E. The two distinctive pickups and the placement of switches and knobs place it as an 18E, rather than the 28E, which was similar but had 4 knobs.
Additionally, you can see the artist perform with the D-18E in this YouTube clip from her famous, career-catapulting Wembley Stadium performance from June 11, 1988.
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In this post Frank is at the martin hq in nashville. He was there to pick up a new martin acoustic. he says that these are his go to acoustics for tour. Frank states that these are workhorse guitars
At 50 seconds into the video, Jimmy Buffett's guitar tech describes how Jimmy acquired the 1955 Martin in France.
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Casper Starreveld uses the Martin D-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar during acoustic sessions, as shown in his Instagram post.
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Album Usage
The Martin D-18E has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Martin D-18E, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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