AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR, D-18

Because of their rarity 'Pre-War' Martin guitars with shaded (sunburst) finished tops have become highly desirable in the collecting community. Since the late 19th Century, C.F. Martin & Company allowed customers to order instruments with a darker finish on the tops than the standard clear finish. Using different grades of shellac or even staining of the spruce tops, one could request a dark top, an orange top or one of a slightly lighter color described as a yellow finish. By 1926, Martin began spraying the finishes rather than French polishes of brushed on varnish. This began the era of the shaded top, which mirrored what was the standard sunburst finish on most Gibson guitars of the period.

In 1936 C.F. Martin & Company produced approximately 252 Style 18 Dreadnoughts. Of this total, 31 are listed as being finished with shaded finish.