Serial number 64161 is one of those rarely seen dark top D-18 guitars from 1936. It was stamped on August 19, 1936 and cleared final inspection on October 20 that year.
The Martin records don't state this guitar was made as a dark top but that is not very surprising since Martin didn't always record this detail. The records do indicate that at least thirty-six 1936 D-18s were made as dark tops so, with this guitar, it looks like the number of 1936 D-18 dark tops needs to be increased to 37.
The tuners are Grover G-98 pointed plate machines with rounded un-seamed metal buttons.
This guitar was once owned by Cowboy Bill Massie.
Cowboy Bill Massie and his band
Vintage photo of the guitar in this article
Style 18 features:
Back and sides: Mahogany
Top: Red spruce (Adirondack)
Purfling: Lines
Binding: Black celluloid
Back stripe: None
Other period features:
Scalloped forward X-bracing
Ebony fingerboard
Ebony belly bridge
Steel T-bar neck reinforcement
1-3/4" neck width at nut
25.4” scale length
Tortoiseshell celluloid pick guard
Dot fingerboard inlays
Decal on front of headstock
No C. F. Martin stamp on back of headstock
Style stamp
Photos courtesy of Gruhn Guitars