Suze Rotolo's 1957 Martin D-18 Natural Acoustic Guitar, Serial # 154103 . ...

Description

Suze Rotolo's 1957 Martin D-18 Natural Acoustic Guitar, Serial # 154103
Often played by Bob Dylan in her Greenwich Village apartment, this Martin D-18 was given to current owner Bob Spitz by Suze Rotolo. Rotolo was Dylan's girlfriend and is featured on the iconic album cover of The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, released in 1963.

Spitz, an acclaimed biographer (whose books include Dylan: A Biography, The Beatles: The Biography, and Reagan: An American Journey) and former co-manager of Bruce Springsteen shared this with us:

"As Suze told me, Bob often played and wrote on this instrument in her apartment, and she believed it was originally owned by Tom Paxton ("The Last Thing on My Mind," "I Can't Help But Wonder Where I'm Bound," et. al.) who left it for safekeeping with her. When I was writing my Dylan bio, I called Paxton and offered to return the guitar to him, but he said he had moved on. But he, too, recalled Bob playing it often in Suze's apartment."

Original finish is nicked, dinged and weather checked. Two minor top cracks. One at the treble waist and one at the treble lower bout. The fingerboard has been planed and refretted. The bridge has been replaced and is lifting. Original bridge plate. Very playable after a bridge glue and minor setup. Comes with a new Gator guitar case. Condition: Good.

COA from Heritage Auctions. LOA from Bob Spitz.


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