This question has no "right answer", but I welcome your input.

[mark norwine]

I have a '56 Martin D-18. I've had it since '81. I'm the second owner. The story surrounding my acquisition of it means a lot to me.

The guitar is a sound canon. Amazing guitar.

Several years ago, I acquired a Martin 000-15S. Since getting it, the total number of times I've picked up the D-18 can be counted on my fingers.

This is "My treasured, old Martin" we're talking about here, folks! Yet, I can't help but think it's time to say goodbye. I simply don't play it at all.

"Why now", you might ask?

I have my eye on a '52 single-pickup ES-175 that I KNOW I'd play the heck out of. How do I know? Because I had an old 175 (which I foolishly sold) and I played the daylights out of it.

My present ES-175 iteration is a "early-issue ('92) Herb Ellis ES-165". Very nice, but just not the same......it just doesn't have that "old wood feel".

So....here's the unanswerable question: is it time to say goodbye to the D-18, in favor of something I know I'll play regularly?

I appreciate your comments.....

[Mark Kane]

If you don't play it, let it go to someone that will.

[b2sc]

I'd say go ahead. My rule of thumb is never sell a vintagre piece for another piece of gear that is common and can be found anywhere (IOW, modern production guitars).

But to replace a vintage git that goes unplayed with another quality vintage piece is fair game as far as I 'm concerned.

Good luck w/your decision.

[Sadhaka]

The story surrounding my acquisition of it means a lot to me.


If you sell it, that story becomes a memory. Just think, it might take a little while to save for the new guitar, but something with sentimental value can't be saved for.

[RussB]

I'd have loved to keep all the toys I've had over the years, but the economy of my Blue Collar existence doesn't allow so.

All mumbling aside, you will sadly regret selling the D-18 no matter what. That guitar is close to your heart.

Sell a kidney instead, heck, you've got a spare anyways! :)

[stormin1155]

Who says you have to play a guitar to enjoy it? I have a whole closet full of guitars that I might only break out once or twice a year, but I still enjoy having them and wouldn't want to part with them. I still have the Yamaki acoustic I bought right out of high school in 1973. I hardly ever play it, but I know I'd be sorry if I sold it.

[bluesjuke]

Boy that's a hard one.
'52 175's don't come along every day either.

If Dave Orban posts remember he's biased to the 175's!

I would probably do it myself.

[Peppy]

I'd say go ahead. My rule of thumb is never sell a vintagre piece for another piece of gear that is common and can be found anywhere (IOW, modern production guitars).

But to replace a vintage git that goes unplayed with another quality vintage piece is fair game as far as I 'm concerned.

Good luck w/your decision.

Agreed.

[mark norwine]

Folks, it's all moot now.

From the git-go, I knew my D-18 was "well used". It's got mileage on it, and has had a few cracks fixed (by Martin) as well as a neck reset (and obligatory overspray of the heel area...again, by Martin). All of this was done in '87.

Today, my friend (who owns a vintage guitar store & has the 175) was eyeballing the D-18 in consideration of the trade, and he noticed something that I have never noticed before: The heel has been broken & repaired. Best guess is that it happened during the reset (the only time the neck's been off), and the evidence of the break was quite expertly fixed / hidden....but under close scrutiny, there it is nevertheless.

So my ~$4000 Martin is, in the vintage world, actually about a ~$2000 Martin.

This was done +20 years ago and I never noticed, so there's little point in crying about it. And since I paid a whopping $250 for the guitar in '81, I'm not all twisted over the financial aspect of all of this.... (though maybe I should be...)

But the ES-175 is out of reach at this point, so it's back to "plan B"......save pennies.

mn