Tracy Grammer's 2002 Martin D-18GE For Sale ("Chaka")
Modifications:
What makes this one special: The crisp, deep, detailed voice of this guitar, its lightweight construction, its easy playability, and its handsome sunburst are more than enough to sell this beautiful instrument. But it also has a good story, having served as my anchor, my armor, and a voice I could trust when I wasn’t so sure about my own during my recovery from partner loss in 2002. Fair to say this big guitar gave me strength and shelter and a sound all my own as I figured out how to be a solo artist. We traveled the world together, opening for Joan Baez, serenading Parisians in a French dungeon, crooning in the Canadian Rockies, cutting through the smoky din in a Dutch bar. She’s been the envy of guitar nerds since the day I got her; many have come up to play her at the end of my shows, which has been great fun. Jim Henry, Rob Schnell, and Michael Kurman played her on tours with me, and Richard Shindell took her out for about six months in 2015. She is a righteous presence on stage and in the studio and made several records with me, including THE VERDANT MILE, FLOWER OF AVALON, BOOK OF SPARROWS, and LOW TIDE. She’s no museum piece. I played this guitar. Scratches and dings are part of what happens with a touring instrument. She was manhandled by the TSA some before I got the Calton case, and shows little chewy nicks on her headstock and a few small cracks along the sides and lower back that have been sealed and smoothed by expert luthiers. Despite these cosmetic flaws, this guitar boasts a big, confident, crystalline sound. She is beautifully broken in after 14 good years of use, and ready to sing with you. Why I’m selling her: Chaka is lightweight, but she is BIG. I have thoracolumbar scoliosis and have been warned by several chiropractors and physical therapists that if I want to keep playing, I need a smaller guitar, STAT. I thought about keeping her for studio work, but even short sessions bring pain. It’s taken me two years to acknowledge that it’s time to let her go. So I’m hoping to find a fan or a friend to take this baby and run with her. Play her. Appreciate her. Sing with her. And I’ll keep looking for my next partner in song, my next perfect fit. Feel free to contact me with any questions, and I’ll do my best to answer them. Thank you for your interest. tg 12.20.18 |
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Factory Details
Factory details below are cribbed from the Martin site. I encourage you to check it out on your own here.
SPECIFICATIONS OVERVIEW BODY SIZE: D-14 Fret FINISH TOP: Gloss CONSTRUCTION: Dovetail Neck Joint BACK & SIDE FINISH: Gloss BRACING PATTERN: Forward Shifted X Brace SCALE LENGTH: 25.4" BRACE SHAPE: Scalloped FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1 3/4'' TOP MATERIAL: Adirondack Spruce NECK SHAPE: Modified V BACK MATERIAL: Genuine Mahogany NECK TAPER: Standard Taper SIDE MATERIAL: Genuine Mahogany ELECTRONICS: LR Baggs IBeam TOP TOP COLOR: 1935 Sunburst BRIDGE STYLE: 1930 Style Belly - Glue in Long Saddle BINDING: Black BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2 5/16'' TOP INLAY MATERIAL: Multi-Stripe BRIDGE MATERIAL: Ebony TOP DETAIL: N/A BRIDGE PIN MATERIAL: Black Plastic PICKGUARD: Faux Tortoise BRIDGE PIN DOTS: N/A PICKGUARD INLAY: N/A SADDLE: Bone ROSETTE: Multi-Stripe SADDLE RADIUS: 16" |
BODY
BRACE MATERIAL: Adirondack Spruce BACK & SIDES COLOR: Dark Mahogany BRACE SIZE: 5/16" BACK DETAIL: N/A BACK PURFLING/STRIP: Style 18 BACK INLAY MATERIAL: N/A HEELCAP: Ebony SIDE DETAIL: N/A ENDPIECE: Faux Tortoise SIDE INLAY MATERIAL: N/A ENDPIECE INLAY: N/A NECK NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Ebony FINISH NECK: Satin FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2 1/4'' NECK COLOR: Dark Mahogany FINGERBOARD INLAY STYLE: Old Style 18 NUMBER OF FRETS TOTAL: 20 FINGERBOARD INLAY MATERIAL: Abalone NECK JOINS BODY AT: 14th Fret FINGERBOARD BINDING MATERIAL: N/A SIDE DOTS: Yellow RECOMMENDED STRINGS: SP LIFESPAN 92/8 PHOSPHOR BRONZE MEDIUM (MSP7200) HEADSTOCK HEADSTOCK SHAPE: Solid with Square Taper TUNING MACHINES: Nickel Open Gear HEADPLATE MATERIAL: Brazilian Rosewood KNOB: Butterbean HEADPLATE LOGO STYLE: Script Golden Era Overlay NUT MATERIAL: Bone HEADPLATE BINDING MATERIAL: N/A |