Posted by Mike Joyce on April 26, 19103 at 19:20:04:
Hi folks,
Seems like a lot of folks know about Earl's Gibson Grenada and the great story of the trade with Don Reno. I'd like to know more about the Martin D-18 guitar that Earl played for years. It had a pickguard that covered about half of the front. Another modification was an adjustable truss rod in the neck a la Gibson. I've also read that it had a hole in the rear about the size of a dime. During his years with Lester Flatt on the Martha White GOO, he played several other guitars, A Gibson Dove and a Martin D-28 with a white rosette and white normal sized pickguard, not to mention a Gibson 12-string. And of course, on the Songs of the Famous Carter Family, he played Mother Maybelle's old F-hole Gibson (except on You Are My Flower). But he always came back to that D-18 which had a beautiful ring to it. I'd sure like to hear from anyone who knows a little bit about it. Perhaps someone who knows Earl personally could ask him about it.
Best regards to all,
Mike