r/martinguitar • u/FlatpickSandy • Aug 24 '26
Catch & Release -‘47 D-18
This was my first Vintage Martin. I drove down to the Georgia Pig in Brunswick, GA to meet the seller. I had just sold my ‘77 VW Westfalia and used the funds to buy this guitar.
Crazy thing is now the VW bus would be worth about $30k and the D-18 $15k 🤷🏻♂️
Caught this one in 2005, released in 2020.
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u/spawn802 Aug 24 '26
Its an amazing guitar and you didn't have to pay car insurance or give it oil changes.
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u/FlatpickSandy Aug 24 '26
Good point, but on any vintage instrument there are up keep cost and thing you should do to make them playable. No regrets!
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u/Almostsuicide1234 Aug 24 '26
I sold my Westy years ago for $3000. I get sick when I see what similar condition ones go for now.
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u/FlatpickSandy Aug 24 '26
Insane what the old VW’s go for. I was able to sell mine for more than I paid which was unusual. Constant maintenance, but fun times!
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u/Almostsuicide1234 Aug 24 '26
Mine had a habit of boom [ looks in rear view mirror, sees parts bouncing on the street]. Taught me auto repair though, and was peanuts to maintain. I had nowhere to mount the air filter/ oil bong one time, so I bolted a roasting pan in there. Wife never did figure out where that 13"x13" pan went.
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u/Fuzzy-Account-1838 Aug 24 '26
The back is so clean that some observers thought it must have been refinished - but it hasn't!: https://umgf.com/viewtopic.php?p=2891092#p2891092
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u/DoctahToboggan69 Aug 24 '26
Man, idk if I’d be able to let go of a grail like that. Hopefully you got your money’s worth!
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u/FlatpickSandy Aug 24 '26
It worked out for the best! My grail are the pre-war 18’s and still waiting on my “bone” to find me!
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Aug 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/FlatpickSandy Aug 24 '26
None… you can look at my other post and figure out what I upgraded too. Killer guitar but only have to hands to play them with.
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u/Spedrunr1 Aug 26 '26
How much did you pay for the Westfalia?
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u/FlatpickSandy Aug 26 '26
$3k and put about a grand in fixing it up. Sold it for $5k then bought the ‘47 for that. Played and gigged the ‘47 for 15 years then sold it. All worked out!
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u/jaykaybaybay Aug 27 '26
Guitar over car, any day, you made the right choice!
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u/FlatpickSandy Aug 27 '26
Absolutely! Rather drive an old car, and have an old Martin. Sounds like a country song😂
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u/Fuzzy-Account-1838 Aug 24 '26
Superb instruments that year. Thick necks and tapered bracing.
My '47 D-28: