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Vintage Martin Acoustic Guitar Value Guide
Vintage Martin Acoustic Guitar Value Guide
Vintage Martin flat-tops set the standard for the American steel-string guitar, from the rosewood D-28 dreadnought to the pre-war mahogany small-bodies and the rare Orchestra Models. Values run from solid four figures for a post-war mahogany Martin to six figures for a pre-war herringbone D-28 or an early OM. Edgewater recently paid $11,000 for a 1937 00-18 and $9,300 for a 1958 D-28. Model, era, wood, and originality set where any single guitar lands. Use the model guides below to value yours.
Last Updated: June 2026
What Are Vintage Martin Acoustic Guitars Worth? (By Model, 2026)
The ranges below are reference points for clean, all-original examples and reflect what a fair buyer like Edgewater pays, not best-case auction results. Pre-war Brazilian rosewood, herringbone trim, and scalloped bracing push the most desirable Martins into five and six figures.
Model | Era and body | Reference value for a clean example |
|---|---|---|
D-28 | Brazilian rosewood dreadnought, 1930s to 1969 | Around $8,000 to $11,000 |
D-18 | Mahogany dreadnought, pre-war and golden era | Around $10,000 |
00-18 and 000-18 | Pre-war mahogany small-body | Around $7,500 to $11,000 |
000-17 | Post-war all-mahogany auditorium | Around $4,500 |
Pre-1934 herringbone D-28 and OM | The earliest, rarest Martins | Five to six figures |
Current market note (2026): the single biggest value divide on a vintage Martin is pre-war versus post-war, followed by Brazilian rosewood versus mahogany and original versus altered bracing. A pre-1934 herringbone D-28 or an original Orchestra Model is a six-figure instrument; a clean post-war mahogany Martin is far more attainable. As a buyer, Edgewater prices to the honest, all-in condition of the actual guitar, not the best-case auction headline.
What Drives a Vintage Martin’s Value?
Era: pre-war Martins (before 1942) carry the highest premium, with the herringbone D-28 trim that ended in 1947 and scalloped bracing that ended in 1944 as key markers.
Wood: Brazilian rosewood (used through 1969) is worth far more than the East Indian rosewood that replaced it, and rosewood models outvalue mahogany.
Model and size: the D-28 and D-18 dreadnoughts, the small-body 0 to 000 sizes, and the rare Orchestra Models each have their own value tier.
Bracing: original scalloped bracing and an unaltered top are major value drivers; a re-braced or repaired top cuts value sharply.
Originality: original finish, bridge, tuners, and the interior paper label all matter. Never remove a Martin label, as it is part of the guitar’s documentation.
Condition: no top cracks, a solid neck angle, and original frets all add up.
How to Identify and Date a Vintage Martin
Four things place a Martin and set the value: the serial number, the wood, the bracing, and the trim. Here is how to read them.
Serial numbers
Martin has used a continuous serial number sequence since 1898, stamped on the neck block inside the body, which makes Martins easier to date than most brands. Confirm the year with our Martin serial number lookup.
Brazilian versus East Indian rosewood
Martin used Brazilian rosewood through 1969, then switched to East Indian rosewood. Brazilian rosewood, with its tighter, spider-web grain, is a major value driver, so identifying the wood species is essential when valuing a rosewood Martin such as a D-28.
Scalloped bracing and herringbone trim
Pre-war Martins used scalloped top bracing, discontinued during the war around 1944, and the D-28 wore herringbone trim until 1947. A genuine scalloped-braced, herringbone-era Martin sits at the top of the value range, so confirm both before valuing a 1930s or 1940s example.
Model size and the paper label
Body size runs from the small 0 through 00 and 000 up to the D dreadnought and the OM. The interior paper label and the stamp on the neck block confirm the model and year, so leave the label in place and read it rather than removing it.
Martin Model Value Guides and Resources
Drill into a model or a value topic to value your guitar:
Martin herringbone binding: the detail that disappeared in 1934
Brazilian vs East Indian rosewood: identify your Martin’s wood
Sell your vintage Martin acoustic
Edgewater Guitars buys vintage Martin acoustics nationwide, from pre-war herringbone D-28s and small-body mahogany Martins to post-war dreadnoughts. We give free, no-pressure estimates and pay fairly for clean, original, and even repaired guitars. To sell yours, request a free estimate.
Which vintage Martin is most valuable?
The pre-war Brazilian rosewood models. A pre-1934 herringbone D-28, an early Orchestra Model, or a clean pre-war 000 brings the most, often into five or six figures, while post-war mahogany Martins are more attainable. Within any model, originality and condition drive the final number.
How do I date my Martin?
Martins are unusually easy to date thanks to a continuous serial sequence stamped on the neck block since 1898. Read that number and confirm the year with our Martin serial number lookup.
Does a repair or refinish hurt a vintage Martin’s value?
Yes. A refinish, a re-braced top, or a replaced bridge lowers the value, but a vintage Martin is still very much worth selling. We make fair offers on original, repaired, and project guitars alike.
