Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle Custom Special Edition Acoustic Guitar - Vintage Sunburst

Inspired by her personal 1943 Martin D-18, the Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle mirrors Molly’s trailblazing blend of virtuosic bluegrass tradition and modern acoustic innovation—now available at Sadek Music. This high-power dreadnought's sonic signature starts with a Sitka spruce top and rear-shifted GE scalloped X-bracing. Slightly sweeter sounding than the Adirondack spruce you’d find on most 1940s Martins, this top pairs perfectly with Molly’s dynamic and surgically precise right-hand flatpicking technique. Mahogany back and sides then impart a pleasing warmth and midrange bark with powerful bass and a crisp, firm focus. Take this D-18 to your local bluegrass jam, and you’ll have no trouble at all cutting through the din of acoustic instrumentation. In addition, Molly’s D-18 preserves the vintage feel of its inspiration with an Authentic 1941 genuine mahogany neck and an ebony fingerboard, while the custom moon phase inlays impart a touch of signature style. You also get a slim 1.6875-inch nut width for enhanced flatpicking accuracy, top-shelf open-gear nickel tuners, and a vibrant Vintage Sunburst finish. Fine-tuned to flatpick with the best of them, the Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle honors an all-time bluegrass legend in the making—available now at Sadek Music.

Molly Tuttle: reinventing bluegrass for the 21st century

No discussion of modern bluegrass greats is complete without Molly Tuttle. In 2017, at the age of 24, Molly became the first woman to win the IBMA’s prestigious Guitar Player of the Year award. In 2018, she won it again. Her prowess as a guitarist, singer, and songwriter has only grown since then, earning Molly two Grammys, five Grammy nominations, and universal acclaim throughout the world of bluegrass and modern Americana music. Throughout her flatpicking career, a Martin dreadnought has always sat by her side, with the Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle taking inspiration from Molly’s personal 1943 D-18.

Tonewoods inspired by Molly’s 1943 D-18

Based on Molly’s trusted 1943 Martin D-18, the Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle features a traditional set of Style 18 tonewoods, now available at Sadek Music. Topside, this guitar’s Sitka spruce soundboard delivers a sweet, dynamic response with powerful projection. The addition of rear-shifted GE scalloped X-bracing enhances clarity and focus, offering a slightly more refined tonal balance compared to the more common forward-shifted bracing design. Moving to the back and sides, Molly’s D-18 showcases classic Style 18 mahogany. Known for its crisp, focused, and highly projecting character, mahogany has been a cornerstone of the Martin sound for over a century. Its strong midrange presence allows it to cut effortlessly through mixes and acoustic ensembles, making it a top choice for bluegrass flatpickers like Molly. Whether you're playing alongside banjos, fiddles, or mandolins, this guitar—available at Sadek Music—delivers the clarity and power needed to stand out.

Setting the standard for steel strings everywhere

If there were such a thing as a “standard” acoustic guitar shape, it would undoubtedly be the dreadnought. It’s Martin’s most iconic model and a key component to the cannon-like projection and booming bass response that’s defined the Nazareth sound since the D-18 and D-28 appeared in the early 1930s — and even earlier if you count Martin’s “Ditson” models! Whether you’re a flatpicking bluegrass phenom or a singer/songwriter strummer, a Martin dreadnought will provide you with a lifetime’s worth of superior steel-string tone.

Martin D-18 Molly Tuttle Features:

• Signature acoustic of modern bluegrass icon Molly Tuttle, inspired by her personal 1943 Martin D-18
• Sitka spruce top with rear-shifted GE scalloped X-bracing dishes out a room-filling projection with a clear and focused tone
• Mahogany back and sides ensure your sound cuts through a dense bluegrass band mix, providing rich midrange and ample warmth
• Genuine mahogany neck in an Authentic 1941 profile to ensure a vintage-accurate feel
• Ebony fingerboard loaded with customized moon phase inlays
• Rock-solid nickel open-gear tuning machines
• Gleaming gloss finish in a stylish Vintage Sunburst stain
• Includes a custom 1970s-style light blue molded hardshell case
• Slim 1.6875-in. nut width provides rapid-fire flatpickers a tighter string spacing with superior precision.

Tech Specs

• Number of Strings:6
• Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed
• Body Shape:Dreadnought
• Back & Sides Wood:Mahogany
• Top Wood:Spruce
• Top Finish:Gloss
• Color:Vintage Sunburst
• Body Bracing:X-bracing
• Neck Wood:Geniune Mahogany
• Neck Shape:Authentic 1941
• Radius:16"
• Fingerboard Material:Ebony
• Fingerboard Inlay:Moon Phase
• Number of Frets:20
• Scale Length:25.4"
• Scale Length Type:Standard-scale
• Nut Width:1.6875"
• Nut Material:Bone
• Saddle Material:Bone
• Bridge Material:Ebony
• Tuning Machines:Nickel Open Gear
• Strings:Martin MA550T, .012-.053
• Case/Gig Bag:Hardshell Case