Martin Serial Number breakdown-update

Subject: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Feb 25 - 10:40 AM

Hi guys!

I know my D-18 is 2024 (serial 2863508) but is there a way to find out the day and month?


Thanks
Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: gillymor
Date: 15 Feb 25 - 11:12 AM

You might try emailing Martin customer service. They've been pretty good about answering my inquiries in the past.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 15 Feb 25 - 11:25 AM

Thanks gillymor, I'll give it a go :)


Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 15 Feb 25 - 04:09 PM

That’s probably the only way. The commonly available lists, started by the late Mike Longworth, are on the basis of the last instrument produced in any particular year.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 06:06 AM

Thanks Ray,.
I've emailed, just awaiting response.
I know it may seem silly, but I'd like to know when my guitar's birthday is - a set of strings, maybe some polish, you know? Well it was just an idea :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: gillymor
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 06:33 AM

I beginning to get the impression that you're kind of fond of your new D-18, Fred. :')
I played mine steadily for about 35 years until the action got way too high and I stuck it in the closet for a couple of decades. I'm glad I got it set right and back out into the world.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 06:56 AM

No idea when the birthday of my D18 is - I bought it over 50 years ago; £190 new!

The only “birthday” I’ve ever found relevant is my own. A luthier friend once advised me that you should change your pre-amp batteries on your birthday so you always knew how old they were.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 07:23 AM

I am fond of it, gillymor.
I've had good guitars before but this is a great one.
It's never had anything done - never needed it.

You know what it's like when you find your dream guitar. Everything else goes on the back burner and it's just you and it. That's how it is for me ànd WILL be for for awhile yet.

Cheers guys

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 10:37 AM

Keep an eye on the body bindings, Fred. My 2012 D-18 is in the shop for its second occurrence of binding separation from the body at the waist. Although binding separation can occur with any guitar from any era, there’s been something of an epidemic since CFM changed the glue used on bindings back in 2012. Binding can shrink, and the new glue has proved not to be man-enough to resist separation.

If you’re a Yank and the original owner, you’re covered by CFM’s Limited Lifetime Warranty for any repairs that may be necessary but, if you’re an ‘alien’ (how I hate the way that horrible term is used to mean ‘anyone who isn’t American), there’s no warranty and you’re on your own.

CFM have steadfastly refused to acknowledge there’s been a problem with bindings falling off their guitars since 2012 which, along with the lack of a warranty for us second-class ‘alien’ customers, is the main reason I will never buy another new Martin (I’ve bought five in the past twenty years).

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 10:58 AM

Thanks Backwoodsman.
No, I'm Lincolnshire born and bred, darkest Colsterworth, a village near Grantham.

If I need repairs, I'd use Dave King, the only UK authorised Martin service centre, though if anyone has recommendations please share.

Kind regards
Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 12:37 PM

Ha! I’m a Yeller-belly too, Fred! Northern Lincs in my case!

Dave King did a fantastic re-finish on the back and sides of my D-18 following heat-damage caused by a different luthier/tech. Dave’s work is top-class! For set-ups etc. I use John LeVoi in Alford, but he doesn’t do nitro finish work.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 01:08 PM

Cheers Backwoodsman.
Never used Dave King but I have used levoit in Alford. He did some work on a Gibson J-200 I had years ago.

Btw, I wonder if you know where "Lincolnshire Yellow belly" came from? It goes all the way back to the Wars of the Roses. Lincolnshire rebels would wear yellow tunics to recognise each other in battle.

All the best

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 02:16 PM

Yep, that’s one of the frequently-given explanations, but there are quite a few others! ;-)

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 05:45 PM

Here's a few other techs I've used with good results:

Steve Curtis (independent workshop inside PMT Manchester)


Jon Haire (Peterborough)

CCGX (London). These guys used to be very good but the last repair they did for me was disappointing.

KGB of Birkenhead I've heard great things about but never used.

But there are some 'techs' out there that are best avoided so beware.

Cheers guys

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 16 Feb 25 - 10:22 PM

A dear friend's grandmother played in a band.

Perhaps 30 years ago I sent photos to "The Mandolin Brothers" in New York, NY for appraisal. They identified it as Gibson 1925-6.

I believe it is time for her to sell ... she does not play ... the on-line prices are ten fold what the were back then.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

small> WTF do you care about the month of date?

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 06:29 AM

Yes, Backwoodsman, there ARE other explanations, some not very nice. But it's who you are that matters.

I hope shortly to be a Mudcat member. As such, I will share what I've learned about acoustic guitars, gigging and respond in a friendly manner to others, ignoring any nastyness.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 05:37 PM

No response to email so I've re-sent.
If I have to, make up a day and month lol.


Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 05:42 PM

Not like the good old days! I once wrote a letter to them enquiring how I could get hold of their “new” book “Martin Guitars a History”. A reply came from Mike Longworth himself.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 17 Feb 25 - 05:56 PM

Wow, bet you were chuffed, Ray.

Martin has replied before and no doubt will this time. I'll update when they do.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 02:26 AM

Did you use the form on the CFM ‘Contact Us’ page on their website, Fred?

https://www.martinguitar.com/contact-us

There’s also a Chatbox on that page. Or you could give them a call (although I’m struggling to find a phone no. for them).

Another method might be to join the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum (UMGF) and ask your question there, where the real Martin experts hang out…

https://umgf.com/

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 05:14 AM

Yep, I used their 'Contact Us' Backwoodsman
I'm sure they'll respond but they just may be busy dealing with others.

I know about the UMGF. I've been a stalker for some years lol.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 08:16 AM

OK Fred, I just thought the on-line form might be more successful than a direct email. Looks like I was wrong (I remember being wrong once before)! ;-) :-)

The UMGF is a great resource, and they’re a very friendly bunch.

Don’t forget to report back here when you hear from CFM.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 08:50 AM

Oh I appreciate the info Backwoodsman, and I'm hopeful Martin will respond. When they do, I'll update this thread.

Its a cracking guitar, and I feel incredibly lucky to own it.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 10:59 AM

Well I've heard back but nothing to do with my request for info, just asking me for ratings feedback. Bit disappointed to be honest.

I'll just make a day and month up. Not ideal but at least it's something.

Cheers guys

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: gillymor
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 11:14 AM

Fred, hutton99 at UMGF give completion dates on Martins but perhaps only the old stuff. Still, it's a cool source for info on old Martins.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 11:43 AM

Gillymor, I've had a follow-up Martin email. They no longer keep such info.
However, they did say my D-18 left the factory in July 2024, and that work would have started several months before that. That's better :)

All the best

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: gillymor
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 11:45 AM

So, a month-long celebration.Win win.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 12:04 PM

I'll go with 15 July, this being about mid month, and plan a big celebration - strings, polish, microfibre cloths, balloons hanging up, the lot lol.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 12:33 PM

Thanks for that link, gillymor, very interesting mate cheers.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 18 Feb 25 - 05:58 PM

Just to be clear, Martin no longer records the stamp date for each individual guitar.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 04:09 AM

Just so you know, the "contact us" on the Martin website does bring a response - two in my case!

My request for info was dealt with by Scott, their Customer Services Representative.

Cheers

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 05:36 AM

Good news! Glad they came back to you!

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 06:03 AM

Thanks mate. They helped as much as they could and it turned out pretty well.

This D-18 is the best acoustic I've ever had, and I've had many others that sit above it price-wise. This one just rocks :)

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 06:51 AM

Not played mine for years.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 07:22 AM

Is that because you have a guitar you like more, Ray?

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 08:26 AM

I love my D-18 (2012-iteration, one of the first ‘Re-imagined’ models). It’s by no means the most expensive of my guitars, but it’s the most versatile, a real ‘do anything, go anywhere’ kind of guitar. My only grouse is that the binding keeps trying to fall off, but Stuart Palmer in Doncaster is a good guy, he glues it back and doesn’t charge the earth.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 09:16 AM

Backwoodsman, you do monitor the RH, don't you? If the D-18 is in a warm room, that too will have an effect. This is all basic stuff but I'm often surprised to learn that some just don't seem to bother.

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 10:22 AM

Yes, my guitars are always kept at 40-60% RH, I use Oasis and/or Music Nomad in-case humidifiers, and I have room-hygrometers (ThermoPro) and Oasis hygrometers in all four cases.

I've owned five Martins, three Lowdens, a Collings, a Brook, and a McNally over the past twenty-five years, and the D-18 is the only one to have had this problem - as I said earlier, it's a known, well documented glue problem with Martins built since 2012.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 10:59 AM

Sounds like you're doing it right.

I had a J-200 years ago (the one Levoi did some work on). Good guitar but it would never behave. The tech visits were costing a small fortune and I let it go

Fred

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 11:59 AM

Several, Fred. I quite like Santa Cruz but I only have three! …. and a dozen or so mandolin type objects.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 12:19 PM

Instrument starvation then, Ray :).

My other instrument is a five-string open-back banjo. Great instrument if you have a bit of tinkering in you.

Fred,

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 12:47 PM

Once had one of those. One of the two instruments I’ve ever sold. Strangely enough, the other one was a second D18.

I accept that I have too many but, if you sell them, it just puts more money in the bank and the question comes as to what to do with it - buy more instruments?

I ran into Paul Brett several years ago. He’d just finished setting up an exhibition with a view to thinning the herd. The subsequent auction, which I couldn’t go to otherwise I may have been tempted, didn’t seem to be much of a success as many of the instruments in the auction went unsold.

Subject: RE: Martin Serial Number breakdown
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 19 Feb 25 - 02:17 PM

There's nothing wrong with owning many instruments, Ray. I just have a D-18 and a banjo. When I've finished playing one, it's a welcome change to pick up the other.

Fred

Subject: Martin Serial Number Breakdown UPDATE
From: Fred
Date: 04 Mar 25 - 05:26 PM

Hi guys,

I now know exactly when my D-18 left the Martin factory: 11 July 2024.

I knew the month and year from earlier emails to Martin but I was short of a day of the month.

Thanks Scott at Martin Customer Services - good sluethjng! :)

Fred