1966 Martin D-21 Brazilian Rosewood Dreadnought

The 1966 Martin D-21 is a classic vintage full-size dreadnought acoustic guitar, combining a solid Sitka spruce top with Brazilian rosewood back and sides to produce the powerful projection, warmth and tonal clarity for which Martin's finest acoustic instruments are renowned. Built during the mid-1960s, this D-21 represents an important period in Martin's history and offers the distinctive character of a genuine vintage acoustic rather than a modern recreation.

Its Style 21 appointments, traditional dovetail neck joint, mahogany neck and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard create a specification that is both understated and highly desirable. With a 25.4" scale length, 1 11/16" nut width and 20-fret fingerboard, it provides a comfortable platform for both fingerstyle and flatpicking, while the solid tonewoods and Martin X-bracing deliver a balanced response extending from deep, resonant bass to articulate high frequencies.

At A Glance

Key Detail Information
Brand	Martin
Model	D-21
Year	1966
Product Type	Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Body Style	Dreadnought
Top	Solid Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides	Brazilian Rosewood
Neck	Mahogany
Fingerboard	Brazilian Rosewood
Scale Length	25.4"
Nut Width	1 11/16"
Number of Frets	20
Bracing	X-Bracing
Neck Joint	Traditional Dovetail
Bridge	Ebony
Saddle	Bone
Tuners	Patent Pending Grover
Pickguard	Tortoiseshell-Style
Finish	Gloss Natural
Trim	Style 21
Main Appeal	Genuine 1960s Martin with Brazilian rosewood construction
Best For	Fingerstyle, flatpicking, folk, country, blues, songwriting and recording

What Makes The 1966 Martin D-21 Special?

The Martin D-21 occupies a particularly interesting place within Martin's vintage dreadnought range. It combines the familiar projection and versatility of a full-size dreadnought with relatively understated Style 21 appointments, allowing the quality of its tonewoods and construction to remain the focus.

This 1966 example pairs a solid Sitka spruce top with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, a combination prized for its ability to produce a broad, resonant acoustic voice with strong projection and clarity.

More than simply being an older version of a modern acoustic guitar, a vintage Martin offers the opportunity to experience the construction, materials and playing characteristics of a particular period of the company's history.

Key Features & Benefits

Solid Sitka Spruce Top

The guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top, providing the responsive soundboard characteristics expected from a high-quality Martin acoustic.

Sitka spruce offers a broad dynamic range, allowing the player to move between delicate fingerstyle passages and stronger flatpicked playing while retaining clarity and definition.

Brazilian Rosewood Back & Sides

The Brazilian rosewood back and sides are one of the defining features of this 1966 D-21.

Brazilian rosewood contributes to the guitar's rich resonance, strong projection and complex tonal response, complementing the spruce soundboard with a broad frequency range.

For vintage acoustic enthusiasts, the presence of Brazilian rosewood also makes this specification particularly noteworthy.

Full-Size Dreadnought Body

The traditional Martin dreadnought body provides substantial acoustic projection and a strong low-end response.

This makes the D-21 particularly effective for strumming and flatpicking, while the responsive spruce top also allows it to work effectively for fingerstyle playing.

Style 21 Appointments

The D-21 uses Martin's understated Style 21 aesthetic, including simple black and white body binding and a multi-ring rosette.

Rather than relying on elaborate ornamentation, the design places the emphasis firmly on the instrument's construction and natural tonewoods.

Mahogany Neck

The mahogany neck provides the foundation for the guitar's vintage playing feel.

The mid-1960s neck profile reflects the design approach of its period, offering a distinctly traditional Martin experience rather than the feel of a contemporary acoustic guitar.

Brazilian Rosewood Fingerboard

The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard features small dot inlays and 20 frets.

Combined with the 25.4" scale length and 1 11/16" nut width, the fingerboard provides a versatile platform for both chord work and single-note playing.

Traditional Dovetail Neck Joint

The traditional dovetail neck joint is an important element of Martin's acoustic construction.

It creates a secure mechanical connection between the neck and body and contributes to the efficient transfer of vibration through the instrument.

Martin X-Bracing

The internal X-bracing pattern supports the soundboard while allowing it to vibrate effectively.

The result is an acoustic response capable of combining volume, resonance and tonal balance across the instrument's frequency range.

Ebony Bridge & Bone Saddle

The D-21 features a rosewood bridge with a bone saddle, providing a traditional Martin specification and an efficient interface between the strings and soundboard.

Patent Pending Grover Tuners

The guitar is fitted with Patent Pending Grover tuners, providing the period-appropriate hardware associated with this instrument.

Gloss Natural Finish

The gloss natural finish allows the natural character and grain of the guitar's tonewoods to remain visually prominent.

Tone & Playing Experience

The tonal character of the 1966 D-21 is shaped by its combination of solid Sitka spruce and Brazilian rosewood, together with the full-size dreadnought body.

The spruce top provides responsiveness and clarity, while the Brazilian rosewood contributes depth, resonance and a strong sense of projection. This gives the guitar a broad tonal range that can accommodate both delicate playing and more forceful strumming.

The dreadnought body is particularly effective for players who need acoustic volume and a strong bass foundation, while the clarity of the instrument's upper register helps individual notes remain articulate during fingerstyle and flatpicked passages.

Suitable Genres & Applications

The 1966 Martin D-21 is particularly well suited to:

• Folk

• Country

• Blues

• Bluegrass

• Americana

• Singer-songwriter

• Acoustic rock

• Roots music

• Fingerstyle guitar

• Flatpicking

• Rhythm guitar

• Studio recording

• Live acoustic performance

Its combination of projection, tonal balance and responsiveness makes it suitable for both solo acoustic playing and ensemble environments.

Who Is It For?

Vintage Martin enthusiasts – A genuine 1960s Martin dreadnought with a particularly desirable Brazilian rosewood specification.

Fingerstyle players – The responsive spruce top and articulate upper register provide a strong platform for detailed acoustic playing.

Flatpickers – The dreadnought body offers projection and a substantial low-end response for plectrum-based playing.

Songwriters – Its broad tonal range works particularly well as a standalone accompaniment instrument.

Folk, country and Americana players – The D-21's traditional Martin construction suits genres where natural acoustic tone and projection are central to the performance.

Vintage acoustic collectors – A mid-1960s Martin with Brazilian rosewood construction represents an important period-specific instrument for enthusiasts of vintage acoustic guitars.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

1966 Martin D-21 vs Martin D-28

Both models use the full-size Martin dreadnought format and are associated with strong projection and traditional acoustic performance. The D-21 is distinguished by its Style 21 appointments, giving it a more understated appearance.

This particular D-21 also features Brazilian rosewood back and sides, making its specification especially interesting to players and collectors seeking a vintage Martin with this tonewood combination.

Martin D-21 vs Martin D-18

The principal construction difference is the choice of back and sides. The D-21 uses Brazilian rosewood, while D-18 models are traditionally associated with mahogany.

This gives the D-21 a different tonal character, with greater emphasis on resonance, depth and complexity.

Vintage Martin D-21 vs Modern Acoustic Guitar

A modern acoustic can offer updated construction, materials and contemporary playability, whereas a genuine 1966 Martin provides an authentic connection to a specific period of Martin's history.

For players who value vintage character, traditional construction and the individual response of an older acoustic instrument, the vintage D-21 offers something a new guitar cannot replicate.

Story & Context

The 1960s were an important period for Martin's development of the dreadnought acoustic guitar, with instruments from this era becoming closely associated with the folk, country and roots music scenes.

The D-21 sits within Martin's traditional Style 21 range, offering the company's familiar dreadnought construction with understated cosmetic appointments.

This 1966 example combines that period-specific design with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, solid Sitka spruce and a traditional Martin construction approach, making it a particularly interesting instrument for anyone interested in vintage acoustic guitar history.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
Brand	Martin
Model	D-21
Year	1966
Body Style	Dreadnought
Top Material	Solid Sitka Spruce
Back Material	Brazilian Rosewood
Side Material	Brazilian Rosewood
Neck Material	Mahogany
Neck Construction	Traditional Dovetail
Fingerboard Material	Brazilian Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlays	Small Dot
Scale Length	25.4"
Nut Width	1 11/16"
Number of Frets	20
Bracing	X-Brace
Bridge Material	Ebony
Saddle Material	Bone
Tuners	Patent Pending Grover
Pickguard	Tortoiseshell-Style
Binding	Black & White
Rosette	Multi-Ring
Finish	Gloss Natural
Trim	Style 21

Vintage Specification Note

The information supplied for this instrument identifies the principal construction, hardware and appointment details described above.

With vintage instruments, individual component history can vary over the course of more than five decades. Unless specifically inspected and verified, claims regarding complete originality, replacement components, refinishing or previous repairs should not be assumed solely from the model year.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required.

The 1966 Martin D-21 is a traditional acoustic guitar and can be played acoustically without amplification. For amplified performance or recording, an appropriate acoustic guitar microphone or external pickup system can be used.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The 1966 Martin D-21 is a highly appealing vintage dreadnought for players who value traditional Martin construction, natural acoustic projection and the distinctive tonal character of Brazilian rosewood.

Its combination of a solid Sitka spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard gives it a particularly strong vintage specification, while the understated Style 21 appointments add to its classic appeal.

For fingerstyle, flatpicking, folk, country, blues and singer-songwriter applications, this is the kind of acoustic guitar that can provide both the tonal depth and projection expected from a full-size Martin while retaining the individual character that makes vintage instruments so compelling.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family-run music retailers since 1987.

Fair Deal Music is Birmingham's largest independent music store, combining a major showroom with nationwide ecommerce and decades of experience helping musicians choose acoustic guitars, electric guitars, amplifiers and other musical equipment.

When you buy from us, you benefit from:

• Family-run independent retailer established in 1987

• Birmingham's largest independent music store

• 6,000+ Trustpilot reviews

• Expert musician-led advice

• Extensive experience with Martin acoustic guitars

• Experience with vintage and pre-owned instruments

• Secure ordering

• Fast UK delivery

• Large Birmingham showroom

• Friendly support before and after purchase

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Your existing gear could help towards the cost of this vintage Martin.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses, amplifiers, effects and a wide range of other musical equipment.

Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and find out what your current gear could be worth towards this 1966 Martin D-21.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year is this Martin D-21?

This is a 1966 Martin D-21, making it a genuine vintage Martin acoustic guitar from the mid-1960s.

What type of guitar is the Martin D-21?

The Martin D-21 is a full-size dreadnought acoustic guitar.

What is the top made from?

The guitar features a solid Sitka spruce top.

What are the back and sides made from?

The back and sides are made from Brazilian rosewood.

What makes Brazilian rosewood significant?

Brazilian rosewood is valued for its rich resonance, projection and complex tonal character. Its use on a vintage Martin makes this D-21 particularly interesting to players and collectors.

What neck wood does the 1966 D-21 use?

It has a mahogany neck.

What fingerboard does it have?

The guitar features a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with small dot inlays.

What is the scale length?

The scale length is 25.4 inches.

What is the nut width?

The nut width is 1 11/16 inches.

How many frets does it have?

The guitar has 20 frets.

What type of bracing does it use?

The D-21 uses a traditional Martin X-brace pattern.

What bridge does the guitar have?

It features an ebony bridge with a bone saddle.

What tuners are fitted?

The guitar is fitted with Patent Pending Grover tuners.

What does Style 21 mean?

Style 21 refers to Martin's traditional understated appointment level, including details such as simple black and white binding and a multi-ring rosette.

Is the 1966 Martin D-21 suitable for fingerstyle?

Yes. Its responsive spruce top, articulate high frequencies and balanced tonal range make it well suited to fingerstyle playing.

Is it suitable for flatpicking?

Yes. The full-size dreadnought body provides the projection and low-end response that work particularly well for flatpicking and stronger acoustic playing.

Is the Martin D-21 suitable for recording?

Yes. Its natural acoustic projection and balanced tonal response make it a strong choice for studio recording, particularly when captured with a suitable acoustic guitar microphone.

Does it require a battery?

No. The guitar is a traditional acoustic instrument and does not require batteries or an external power supply.

Can I part-exchange another guitar against it?

Yes. Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges a wide range of acoustic guitars, electric guitars, basses, amplifiers and other musical equipment. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation.