MARTIN EM-18

  • Martin EM-18 electric guitar
    Martin EM-18

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • electric guitars

Series name: 

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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 materialBrass control
Pickup selector controls3-way selector switch
Tone controls2 tone controls
Volume controls2 volume controls

Electronics

Pickups brand and modelDiMarzio pickup(s), Mighty Mite pickup(s)
Pickups configuration2 humbucker pickups

General

Finish colorsnatural finish
Made inUSA
Number of strings6 strings

Body

Body materialmaple and walnut body

Hardware

Bridgewraparound bridge
Hardware colorchrome hardware
TunersSperzel tuners

Fretboard

Fingerboard inlay materialpearl fingerboard inlay material
Fingerboard materialrosewood fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdot fingerboard position markers

Neck

Number of frets22 fret
Nutbrass nut
Peghead (headstock)veneer headstock

Prices (10)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
1981$500newDenzilused 1 year
1981$500newDenzilused 1 year
1981$700newguitar-listMSRP
1981$700newWilliamAwesome guitar! Holds a tune for months!
2000$10000goodThis 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
2017kr2000excellent
2018$1375wornLiamthe ultimate vintage guitar
1980$350excellentGGT40Traded 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€600goodRob Olthof
2017$800excellentBD

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