1967 CF Martin D-12-20 Natural
Description
C.F. Martin D12-20 Twelve String 1967 | $1950 | (v2524) C.F. Martin, in Nazareth, Pa, produced a small number of custom order 12-strings pre-WWII. It wasn't until 1964 that Martin began factory production of a 12-string, spurred on by the folk boom of the late '50s through the 60s. But they were already late to the party, since Gibson had twelve strings in its catalogs a few years earlier, and Harmony was making a 12 at least in the early 50s and perhaps earlier. The earliest production 12-strings are likely the Grunewald 12-strings produced in the late 19th century, and the earliest documented 12-string is a Holzapfel 12 dated 1901. Notable features of the D12 20 model are a slotted head stock and 12 frets to the body. That arrangement allowed for moving the bridge a bit closer to the sound hole which some believe gives the guitar more power to move the top producing a better sound. Perhaps Martin didn't think so because these features disappeared in the early 70s in favor of a 14-fret neck and solid headstock which resulted in the bridge location moving to the traditional Dreadnaught position.
The D12 20 is essentially a D-18 with a few ornamental doo-dads on the back. The top is spruce, X-braced and bound in b/w/b purfling and black celluloid binding. Back and sides are mahogany with the back sporting decorative center strip purfling. The neck is mahogany and carved in the typical 'C'-shape of a 60s era Martin. The head stock features a Brazilian rosewood overlay with the C.F. Martin gold foil decal. The fingerboard is Brazilian rosewood with pearl position dot and side markers. The bridge is Brazilian rosewood.
The Drednaught body measures 15 5/8" across at the lower bout, with scale length measuring 25 1/4". The neck measures 1 7/8" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle. Action is set a a very low and comfortable 4 & 5/64".
Recent repairs include: neck reset; bridge reglue; frets leveled and polished; pickguard reattached. There is the usual evidence of play wear, with typical nicks and dings overall but the finish is solid. There are no top or back cracks, and only the hint of an impact ding on the bass side bout. It appears that there was a strap button mounted into the tip of the heel, now filled.
With low action the guitar plays easily. The sound is really pleasing, full and bright with pleanty of depth when played hard .. not as jangly as a Gibson B45 from the same era. A great folk guitar for old time or country picking.
Comes with its likely original hard case in good condition.
Check out the sound clip!
The D12 20 is essentially a D-18 with a few ornamental doo-dads on the back. The top is spruce, X-braced and bound in b/w/b purfling and black celluloid binding. Back and sides are mahogany with the back sporting decorative center strip purfling. The neck is mahogany and carved in the typical 'C'-shape of a 60s era Martin. The head stock features a Brazilian rosewood overlay with the C.F. Martin gold foil decal. The fingerboard is Brazilian rosewood with pearl position dot and side markers. The bridge is Brazilian rosewood.
The Drednaught body measures 15 5/8" across at the lower bout, with scale length measuring 25 1/4". The neck measures 1 7/8" across at the nut and string spacing is 2 3/8" at the saddle. Action is set a a very low and comfortable 4 & 5/64".
Recent repairs include: neck reset; bridge reglue; frets leveled and polished; pickguard reattached. There is the usual evidence of play wear, with typical nicks and dings overall but the finish is solid. There are no top or back cracks, and only the hint of an impact ding on the bass side bout. It appears that there was a strap button mounted into the tip of the heel, now filled.
With low action the guitar plays easily. The sound is really pleasing, full and bright with pleanty of depth when played hard .. not as jangly as a Gibson B45 from the same era. A great folk guitar for old time or country picking.
Comes with its likely original hard case in good condition.
Check out the sound clip!