Sell Your Martin Guitar
Sold my old Martin guitar to Gavin at Edgewater. Really knowledgeable guy and overall a great experience.
Isaac Dailey
Edgewater Guitars buys vintage Martin guitars nationwide from our shop in Valley City, Ohio. Send a few photos and the serial number for a free appraisal, and you will usually have a cash offer the same day. We pick up in person across Ohio and neighboring states or cover insured shipping. Call or text (440) 219-3607.
What we buy
This is where most of our Martin business happens; if yours isn't on the list, ask anyway.
D-28. The model most sellers call about. Herringbone examples built through 1946 are the ones collectors chase, and any Brazilian rosewood D-28 through 1969 draws serious money. See our D-28 dating guide and D-28 and D-18 value guide.
D-18. Mahogany back and sides on the same body. Pre-war scalloped-brace examples sit at the top; 1950s and 1960s D-18s are steady sellers. See our D-18 dating guide.
D-45. Martin built only 91 between 1933 and 1942 and brought the model back in 1968. A pre-war D-45 is the most valuable production Martin there is; the 1968 and 1969 Brazilian rosewood examples are strong too.
000-28 and OM-28. The 15-inch body in rosewood. Original OM-28s from the model's first short run are among the most sought-after flat-tops ever made; pre-war 000-28s aren't far behind. See our 000-28 value guide and OM-28 value guide.
000-18, 00-18 and 0-18. Martin's smaller mahogany guitars, in demand from pre-war through the 1960s. Our 0-18, 00-18 and 000-18 dating guide will place yours.
HD-28 and D-35. The HD-28 is the herringbone reissue with scalloped bracing. Brazilian rosewood D-35s carry a premium over the later Indian rosewood ones; see our D-35 value guide.
Style 42 and 45, 12-fret, parlor and tenor Martins. D-42, 000-45, 00-45 and other pearl-trimmed guitars, plus older 12-fret models, parlors and tenors.
The eras that carry premiums. Pre-war guitars, built before the end of World War II, carry the biggest premium; the scalloped bracing Martin used until late 1944 is why collectors split hairs over a 1944 versus a 1945 serial. Herringbone trim on Style 28 ran through 1946, with a handful of early-1947 guitars still carrying it. Brazilian rosewood back and sides ran through 1969 before Martin moved to East Indian rosewood. A Martin on the right side of all three lines is the guitar we most want to see.
Later and modern Martins are welcome too. We buy 1970s Martins, Standard Series and Custom Shop guitars, and clean modern D-28s, D-18s, HD-28s and OMs.
What we have paid for vintage Martins
Real prices reflect specific guitars in specific condition, so yours may differ. These are recent Edgewater purchases:
1959 Martin D-28: we paid $8,700
1954 Martin D-18: we paid $7,250
1948 Martin 000-28: we paid $14,200
1934 Martin OM-28: we paid $43,210
1933 Martin 000-15: we paid $110,500
What moves a Martin's value
Two Martins with the same model stamp and the same year can be worth very different money.
Originality
Original finish, bridge, tuners and pickguard, unshaved braces, no added pickup. Every original part keeps the guitar in the collector column; every replacement moves it toward player grade.
Cracks and repairs
Old Martins crack, and the pickguard crack is the common one. Until the mid-1980s Martin glued the pickguard straight to the bare spruce and finished over it; as the plastic shrank it pulled the top with it and opened a crack along the guard's edge. A clean, cleated repair is normal on a 60-year-old guitar and doesn't scare us off. What costs real money is an open crack left to spread, or a "repair" that included refinishing the top.
Neck resets
The one repair sellers worry about that they shouldn't. Decades of string tension pull the neck forward at the dovetail joint, the action climbs, and eventually the saddle can't go any lower. The fix is to steam the neck out and recut the heel angle. Repair shops call it an everyday job on a Martin, and a vintage Martin that has never needed one is the exception. A clean reset is maintenance in our appraisal, not a defect; a sloppy one, with gaps at the heel or finish damage around the joint, does count against the guitar.
Bridge and pickguard
If a slip of paper slides under the back edge of the bridge, it is lifting, which is a routine reglue. A bridge shaved down to chase the action, or replaced with a non-Martin part, is a bigger deal because it usually means the neck reset was skipped. A replaced pickguard on an older Martin leaves a visible footprint where the original sat, which is fine as long as the top wasn't refinished to hide it.
Refinishes
A refinish is the single biggest hit to a vintage Martin's value, however good the new finish looks, and overspray on the original finish counts too. A refinished pre-war D-28 is still a valuable guitar; it just isn't a collector's guitar anymore. Our post on how much refinishing reduces vintage guitar value goes deeper.
What we find | What it does to our offer |
|---|---|
All original, with well-repaired cracks at most | Top of the range for the model and year |
Professional neck reset, refret or reglued bridge | Little to nothing; that is maintenance on an old Martin |
Replaced tuners, pickguard, nut or saddle | Small reduction; the parts are correctable |
Replaced bridge, added pickup, shaved braces | Moderate reduction; the guitar moves toward player grade |
Refinish or heavy overspray | Large reduction, even on a pre-war guitar |
Open cracks or a reset still needed | Priced with the repair cost taken out |
How to sell your Martin to Edgewater
Take five photos. The headstock; the neck block through the soundhole, with a flashlight pointed toward the neck, where the serial number is stamped with the model number above it; the bridge and top; the back and sides; and the case. Add any crack or repair. Phone photos are fine.
Send them with the serial number. Use the free estimate form, or call or text (440) 219-3607. To date the guitar first, our Martin serial number lookup reads the year from the serial; Martin has numbered its guitars in one continuous sequence since 1898, so a serial gives an exact year, not a range. Our post on Martin value by serial number explains what the serial cannot tell you.
Get the appraisal and the offer. We tell you what the guitar is, what is original, what it brings on the open market and what we will pay, usually the same day. Because we buy, we have no reason to inflate a value to win a listing.
Choose in person or shipping. We drive to sellers across Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana and pay on the spot, usually Gavin Coe, our co-owner. Everywhere else, we send a prepaid, insured shipping label on our account. You drop the cased guitar at your local shipping store; we carry the risk.
Get paid. Cash or check in person the same day. For shipped guitars we pay the day the guitar arrives; PayPal in advance is an option on request.
Edgewater vs the other ways to sell a Martin
We'd rather you pick the right channel than the loudest one, so here is the honest version.
Option | What it costs you | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
Edgewater Guitars | No fees. Our offer sits below what a dealer would eventually list the guitar for; that margin is how we operate. | Free appraisal, offer usually the same day, payment the day we take the guitar, shipping paid and insured by us. |
Dealer consignment | A commission, commonly 20 to 40% of the sale price, taken when it sells. | Often the highest gross price on a rare Martin, but you wait for a buyer, sometimes months. |
Reverb | About 8% all in: a 5% selling fee plus payment processing a little over 3%. | You photograph, list, answer questions, pack, ship and handle returns yourself. |
eBay | A 6.7% final value fee in the Guitars and Basses category on the first $7,500, then 2.35% above that. | The same work as Reverb with a wider audience and more buyer-protection risk on an expensive guitar. |
Pawn shop | No fee, but the offer is a fraction of value. | Fast cash, no Martin expertise. A pre-war Martin should never go to a pawn shop. |
Private sale | No fees. | You screen buyers, meet strangers or ship to them, and carry the fraud risk yourself. |
If a fast, certain number matters, we are the right call. If you have months to wait and a rare pre-war guitar, consignment with a specialist can net more after the commission, and we will say so when it's true. More in our where to sell a vintage Martin comparison and our post on what pawn shops really pay.
Two sellers, in their own words on Google:
"We reached out about our Martin Guitar and within 1-2 days we had an immediate response!" Carmen Karecki, May 2025
"Highly knowledgeable, responsive, and professional ... I sold a guitar I inherited ... got more than I expected ... absolutely recommend." Hannah Shell, March 2025
Sell your Martin today
Send photos and the serial number through our free estimate form, or call or text (440) 219-3607. You get a straight appraisal and a real offer from two owner-operators with more than 15 years each buying vintage guitars, backed by more than 150 five-star Google reviews. No fee, no obligation. Pre-war herringbone or a 1990s D-28, we want to see it.
Common questions from Martin sellers
Do you buy Martins that need a neck reset?
Yes. A high action from a pulled-forward neck is the most common issue on an old Martin, and a reset is routine work. We buy guitars that need one and guitars that have had one. A clean professional reset doesn't lower our offer; if the work is still needed, we simply price it in.
How much is my Martin guitar worth?
It depends on the model, the year, originality and condition, and the spread is enormous: a pre-war herringbone D-28 and a 1970s D-28 are both "Martin D-28s." Send photos and the serial number for a free appraisal and we will give you a real number for your guitar, usually the same day. Call or text (440) 219-3607.
Do you buy modern Martins?
Yes. We buy 1970s and later Martins, including current Standard Series, Custom Shop and Authentic Series guitars, along with clean used D-28s, D-18s, HD-28s and OMs. They don't carry vintage premiums, but they sell steadily and we pay fair prices for them. The same free appraisal and same-day offer apply.
Do I have to bring my Martin to Ohio?
No. We drive to sellers across Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Indiana and pay in person. For the rest of the country we send a prepaid, insured shipping label on our account; you drop the cased guitar at your local shipping store, we carry the shipping risk, and we pay the day it arrives.
Do you buy Martins with cracks or a refinish?
Yes, and we will be straight about what they cost you. Well-repaired cracks are normal on old Martins and move the number only a little. A refinish takes the guitar out of the collector market, so the offer drops, but a refinished pre-war D-18 or D-28 is still worth real money and we buy them regularly.
By Stephen Pedone, co-owner of Edgewater Guitars. Last updated: September 2026.
Sources
Vintage Martin guitar specifications by year (herringbone, bracing, rosewood, pickguards, serial and model stamps, D-45), guitarhq.com: guitarhq.com/martin.html
Dating Your Martin: A Quick Reference (year-end serial numbers), C.F. Martin & Co.: martinguitar.com
Martin FAQs (Brazilian rosewood ended in standard production in 1969; serial and model stamped on the neck block), C.F. Martin & Co.: martinguitar.com/faqs
Martin D-28, Wikipedia (herringbone discontinued 1946): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_D-28
Martin D-45, Wikipedia (91 pre-war instruments, 1933 to 1942; reintroduced 1968): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_D-45
Martin D-28 and D-45 (scalloping discontinued late 1944; herringbone discontinued after the first 1947 run), Vintage Guitar magazine: vintageguitar.com
1944 Martin 00-28 (scalloped bracing discontinued late 1944 from serial 89926), Vintage Guitar magazine: vintageguitar.com
1944 Martin D-28, Peghead Nation Vintage Vault: pegheadnation.com
Brazilian Rosewood, Part 1 (Martin's late-1969 switch to East Indian rosewood), California Bluegrass Association: californiabluegrass.org
1969 Martin D-28 (last year of Brazilian rosewood on Style 28), Folkway Music: folkwaymusic.com
What Year Is My Martin? (serial location on the neck block), Carter Vintage Guitars: cartervintage.com
Replacing a Shrunken Pickguard (guards glued to bare wood under the finish before 1985), StewMac: stewmac.com
Ask the Expert: Does My Guitar Need a Neck Reset?, Acoustic Guitar magazine: acousticguitar.com
Vintage Martin Neck Reset and Refret, Chicago Fret Works: chicagofretworks.com
Selling fees, Guitars and Basses category (6.7% up to $7,500, 2.35% above), eBay: ebay.com
How do you determine what my guitar is worth?
We evaluate each instrument based on brand, model, year, condition, originality, rarity, and current market demand. Our extensive knowledge of the vintage guitar market allows us to make competitive offers based on real-world values.
Do you buy guitars in any condition?
Yes! While mint condition guitars command premium prices, we purchase instruments in all conditions, including those with modifications, wear, or damage. Even project guitars can have value.
Do I need to clean or repair my guitar before selling it?
No, please don't make any repairs or even clean vintage instruments before contacting us. Original condition, even with dust, grime, or minor issues, is often preferable for accurate valuation. Improper cleaning can actually damage valuable finishes on vintage instruments.
How do I know if my vintage guitar is valuable?
Guitars built before 1970 by Gibson, Fender, Martin, Gretsch, Rickenbacker and Epiphone hold the highest value, especially Les Paul, SG, ES-335, Stratocaster, Telecaster, J-45, D-28 and Jazzmaster models. Key factors are the year of manufacture, the model, condition, originality and rarity of finish. An all-original example with its original finish and hardware commands a premium; replaced parts, a refinish or a repaired headstock lower the offer. The fastest way to find out is to send us a few photos and the serial number for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Do you offer more for guitars with original cases?
Yes, original cases, especially for vintage instruments, can significantly increase value. 'Case candy' such as original paperwork, warranty cards, tags, and accessories also adds value. Keep everything together when selling for maximum return.
What payment methods do you offer?
We offer several secure payment options including cash (for in-person transactions), certified check, bank wire transfer, PayPal, or direct deposit. For high-value instruments or collections, we can accommodate special arrangements to ensure your comfort and security.
Will you travel to my location to purchase guitars?
Yes, for valuable instruments or collections, we regularly travel throughout Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and West Virginia. For exceptional pieces, we may travel nationally. This service is complimentary for instruments meeting certain value thresholds.
How long does the entire selling process take?
For most guitars, the entire process from initial contact to payment can be completed within 1-3 days. For rare or extremely valuable instruments requiring in-person evaluation, the timeline might extend to a week. We pride ourselves on efficiency and respect for your time.
What makes a guitar "vintage"?
Generally, guitars 30+ years old are considered vintage, with those from certain golden eras (1950s-1960s for many electric guitars, pre-1945 for acoustic instruments) being especially desirable. However, specific brands and models may be considered vintage or collectible from different periods based on construction changes, company ownership transitions, or historical significance.
Do modifications decrease my guitar's value?
Modifications typically do decrease value for collectible vintage instruments, with the impact varying based on the extent and reversibility of the changes. Original parts, finishes, and electronics command premium prices on vintage instruments. However, some professional modifications on player-grade instruments may have minimal impact, and certain period-correct modifications on specific models (like Parsons-White B-benders or Bigsby additions) can occasionally increase value.
Tools & Resources
