Martin Electric Guitars of the late 1970s

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• I bought one of these as a kit from The 1833 Shop in the early eighties. Dick Boak signed the invoice: I still have the guitar and the invoice. I assembled it, but bodged the neck joint, and a friend of mine separated the joint with a specially made angled air hammer chisel, routed it out, and plugged it. Very much like the old story of refurbishment of old....oh, never mind.

  The guitar plays great now.

• Nice article.
  Not played one myself, but would love to. Love their look!

• I've owned an EM 18 for the past 22 years. It's been my main guitar ever since. I had to replace the wraparound bridge a few years ago but recently scored an original, unused Leo Quan bridge. Also, I had to replace the original phase reversal switch with a similar unit. I called Martin when the switch failed but they had no parts available for this model. It is one of the finest guitars I've had the pleasure to play.

• I bought a E-18 second-hand in Lancaster, England back in 1984 for £200. It's intonation, sustain and variation of tone is superb, with a neck narrower than most others. It is very heavy though and I use it purely for recording - the above sites has some examples of it played through Line 6 gear and also a Vox amp. Serial number 1214...but I'm not parting with it!

• I am looking for a wiring schematic for an EM-18, does anyone happen to have one? I had a cat replace the wiring, but he did a poor job... any help would be most appreciated!

  Oh yeah.. I mine is #1410 by my the way...

  • Macstilton, I have an EM 18 schematic. On Facebook, there is a Martin EM 18 owner's club kind of thing...group, whatever. I'll be posting the schematic there in a day or 2.

    John

    • Thanks for this! I just saw that you replied.. sorry for my delay. I am a member of that said page.. Ill have to take a look.. Thanks

  • Did you ever get a wiring scheme? I am looking for one myself..

    Thanks,

    Mark

  • I do set ups and repairs for a shop in Murfreesboro TN. somebody brought one in to give it a going over today. The wiring looks to be original. If you like I can take a pic of the control cavity, which looks like it was cut out with three different sized hole saws. I don't know if the caps have any info. but I will check tomorrow.

• I have an E-18 serial # 0000046. Bought it in 1982 for $70 with the amp from Star music in morristown, NJ.

• I have an EM18 it plays great and sounds great. It is for sale sn# 2097.
  Larry@rue-x.com

• I have one that I bought new when they first came out. #69 produced. It's very heavy, like an old Les Paul. Great sound from the Mighty Might pickups. Versatile. I stopped by Martin in Nazareth about 10 years ago to show them. They loved seeing it.

• I also have an EM-18. Have also owned it new since 1981 ( It was a Christmas gift.. awesome). Still plays/holds a tune great! I also have a spare original bad ass bridge for it, as well as original Martin Sealed tuning pegs set.

• I actually own the one standing in the ad on the link. I bought it from the original owner in 1983 and have owned it ever since. It's an amazing guitar. never goes out of tune and never really needs a set up. The pickups are not as hot as they used to be but still sound great; a little more compressed than a standard PAF. Love it!