Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Series name:
Variant of:
Dates of manufacture:
1979 to 1981
MARTIN produced the EM-18 electric guitar between 1979 and early 1981 in their Nazareth, PA factory with 1375 made in total. The EM-18 was a more upscale version of the E-18 and was designed by Dick Boak. Pickups were two Dimarzio (or Mighty Mite) humbuckers each with its own volume & tone control, a 3 way selector switch, and mini-switches for phase and coil tapping. The difference between the E-18 and the EM-18 was the pickups and the addition of the 3 position coil-tap switch. The natural finish laminated 9-piece maple, rosewood and walnut body has a look that places it firmly in the late 1970s/early 1980s. The a set Honduran Mahogany neck had a rounded profile. The bridge was a Leo Quan Badass wraparound unit.
Specifications (19)
Controls
Controls material | Brass control |
Pickup selector controls | 3-way selector switch |
Tone controls | 2 tone controls |
Volume controls | 2 volume controls |
Electronics
Pickups brand and model | DiMarzio pickup(s), Mighty Mite pickup(s) |
Pickups configuration | 2 humbucker pickups |
General
Finish colors | natural finish |
Made in | USA |
Number of strings | 6 strings |
Body
Body material | maple and walnut body |
Hardware
Bridge | wraparound bridge |
Hardware color | chrome hardware |
Tuners | Sperzel tuners |
Fretboard
Fingerboard inlay material | pearl fingerboard inlay material |
Fingerboard material | rosewood fingerboard |
Fingerboard position markers | dot fingerboard position markers |
Neck
Number of frets | 22 fret |
Nut | brass nut |
Peghead (headstock) | veneer headstock |
Prices (10)
Date | Price | Condition | Name | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1981 | $500 | new | Denzil | used 1 year |
1981 | $500 | new | Denzil | used 1 year |
1981 | $700 | new | guitar-list | MSRP |
1981 | $700 | new | William | Awesome guitar! Holds a tune for months! |
2000 | $10000 | good | This is a GREAT guitar. The fact that sooo few know about it have kept prices absurdly low....considering a number of factors RARE...how many were ever made...considering Fneders and Gibsons were made by thousands.... Martin IS a wellknown company The Stauffer headpiece...only one guitar has it The workmanship is superb..up to high Martin specs Great feel...as good OR BETTER than my 68 Tele. Just as weighty The pickups really do their thing The tonal possibilities...great, with an additional toggle switch to add even MORE sonic options From hot and crisp to bluesey and soft...warm....there | |
2017 | kr2000 | excellent | ||
2018 | $1375 | worn | Liam | the ultimate vintage guitar |
1980 | $350 | excellent | GGT40 | Traded a mid-seventies Strat for an EM-18 in a music store in Columbus Ohio in 1980...the salesman couldn't believe I wanted to trade, but that quality Martin hand-built feel and tone/playability just captivated me ...My No. 1 for 20 years...If you can find one of those EM-18, E-18, or EB-18 guitars for less that $2K, buy it...your grandkids will thank you for it someday... |
1981 | €600 | good | Rob Olthof | |
2017 | $800 | excellent | BD |