This is your opportunity to own a rare Martin R&D (research & development) guitar acquired from a Martin Guitar authorized service center. Instrument is very difficult to date, although the service center narrowed it down to sometime between 1967 to early/mid 1970's based on Instrument bracing and having patent-pending Grover tuners available from that period. Bridge plate appears made of Indian rosewood while the top is Sitka Spruce, and sides, back and neck are mahogany. Demo video is at www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAb4L0lC0tI.

There are several aspects of this guitar that make it unique according to the service center:

1. Martin logo on the headstock that's apparently unusual for an R&D guitar.
2. The instrument has a D-28 neck and D-18 body.
3. D18 is stamped inside body but there is no serial number. Typically, an R&D guitar would initially have a serial number that was later removed and show clear mechanical signs of being removed.
4. The bridge is ebony rather than rosewood typically used with D-18 bodies. This may have been done to match better with the D-28 neck.
5. The R&D aspect of the instrument appears to be the "unusual" lacquer finish on the sides and back.

The neck is very straight with almost no bow or twist. Action was high, so the repair shop performed a neck reset. They also dressed the frets, installed a K&K Pure Mini pickup and D 'Addario EJ16 light strings, and new bone saddle.

The instrument plays very nice and sounds amazing through a Hughes & Kettner Acoustic Amp or when unplugged. Includes chipboard acoustic case.