Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest struggled to speak after hearing the value of her father-in-law’s guitar (marketrealist.com)
A “shocked” woman on Antiques Roadshow discovered her father-in-law’s 1938 Martin D-18 guitar was worth a staggering $30,000. The guest recounted the guitar’s history, explaining it belonged to her father-in-law, who purchased it from his brother, a professional musician. She knew it was a 1938 Martin and that her father-in-law, while primarily playing for enjoyment, once performed on the radio with comedian George Gobel.
Appraiser David Bonsey highlighted the D-18’s popularity among bluegrass and folk musicians, praising its simple design and mahogany wood. He further noted the spruce top, sourced from the Adirondack Mountains, and pointed out the internal stamp and serial number confirming its 1938 manufacture date. Bonsey explained that 1938 was a pivotal year for Martin guitars, as they introduced “advanced bracing” near the sound hole, increasing the instrument’s value.
When asked if she had any inkling of the guitar’s worth, the guest responded negatively. Bonsey hinted that similar guitars from the 1960s could fetch $5,000, leaving the guest stammering about insurance.
The final appraisal of $28,000 to $30,000 left her speechless. Recovering from the shock, the guest expressed her father-in-law’s pride in the instrument’s value, calling it “an honor for him.”