The Saddest Martin Ever? A 1953 D-18 Owned by Kurt Cobain & Elliott Smith

Watch John Bohlinger summon the ghosts of two songwriting powerhouses as we learn about a special piece of acoustic history.

This well worn D-18 was coined “Grandpa” by Kurt Cobain, and was gifted to the rocker by then girlfriend Mary Lou Lord In 1991. Used by Cobain while on tour for Nirvana’s second and most notable album Nevermind. After Cobain’s death, the instrument was returned to Mary Lou Lord who toured with late rocker Elliott Smith who also used the guitar. (Courtesy of Martin Guitar.)

#guitar #kurtcobain #acousticguitar

[bsjeffrey]

the lesson here seems to be: don't take a gift guitar from marylou.

[NirvanaGuitars]

SO MUCH DISINFORMATION in regards to Kurt Cobain's connection to this. He DID NOT tour with this guitar and did not own it for "years." He played it at Mary Lou's house, once maybe twice at the most. Literally all we have is that one picture, where the "wear from a left handed player" is already there. They dated from Sep 91 to Nov 91, and with Nirvana's busy touring schedule he only would've had so much time to hang out with her and play it.

Nirvana did not play acoustic songs on tour until 2 years later on the In Utero tour where Kurt played his D18e and Epiphone Texan. Nirvana played a handful of acoustic in store shows in late 1991 to promote Nevermind, but Kurt used an Ibanez V300L at all of those.

There is absolutely 0 evidence to support that Kurt toured and wrote on this guitar for "years", and I think it's extremely shameful of Martin to continue to push this lie. I watched another video where a Martin employee says that Kurt "wrote the the first two Nirvana albums on this guitar" 😠 It seems like Martin will go to no end to lie about this guitar.

[jamesvancam]

I heard that Elliot would ask Mary Lou Lord stories of Kurt Cobain & he was interested/intrigued by him, amazing...

[tomdaoust]

What a great way to share that guitar. It needs to be in a museum, and in videos, in the hands of a great player…and it is!

[groovyhippie]

A fitting song to play us out on John. Very cool guitar!

[bldallas]

The Martin D-18 is, in my opinion, the absolute perfect acoustic guitar. Mine is a 2016 D-18E Retro. I love it. Wanted one forever. More precisely, I’ve wanted a D-18V forever. I love the soft V shape of that neck and don’t really need the electronics. But I got a good deal on my Retro and aside from the slight neck profile difference, both guitars have the forward X, scalloped bracing etc. of a “pre-War Martin. It’s just a great guitar.

[my_sideproject]

Willing to be Kurt didn't play an acoustic during his "regular sets" while touring for Nevermind. Could be wrong, but I highly doubt it. He wasn't the type to pop out an acoustic and get all cozy during his rock 'em sock 'em punk rock shows.

[OscarGuitare]

John is cracked out on acoustic nice playing

[Jackson-mszs]

Elliott had a very unique style of guitar playing bordering on virtuosic. I think the title is smarmy and disrespectful and this video offered little of substance.

[johnbest]

What a beautiful Martin guitar. My father had a D-28 Martin unfortunately I never got the chance to play it but I have played so many different Martin's and I haven't yet found another guitar that I love to play. Just give me a Martin and I'll love you forever 😊

[FoxMulder]

Don't you John, when we guitarists only see a guitar, our fingers are itching to play it.

[dwaynejessome]

what an incredibly appropriate song to bookend a story about a guitar that was in the hands of Kurt and Elliot. Masterfully played Mister JB

[terrykrall]

Giving Kurt a guitar to use for a while is a very brave thing. Especially a Martin.

[markwett]

Elliott Smith > Kurt Cobain....but both were amazing.

[SpaceAlienJesus]

Elliott was a Yamaha fan and play Red Lines as his main acoustic, with a Fish man Pick up.

[Gratefulman]

That’s the guitar that collects players. Buyer beware.

[anorexorcst]

Wasn’t Kurt’s 😂. Cmon Martin. Stop embellishing. It was MARY’s. Kurt played the thing. Like 10 times. During the couple months they saw each other. It never was in his custody. It NEVER was on the road. Never played live.
It was Mary’s guitar. Eliot played it a ton. But the connection to Kurt. While there. Is SO slight. If it weren’t for the photo of Kurt playing it IN a hotel room while with MLL….it wouldn’t have ever been connected to him at all.

[dep]

Lovely guitar! Did Kurt really use an acoustic on the Nevermind tour? Anyway, cool to see that guitar.

[johnsimmons]

Deep River Blues sound so fitting with that Martin!

[joshuataft]

Love the story and guitar...I love forgotten unappreciated guitars..I will say. I found this in my Gmail and it was a pain in the fun and to get it to my YouTube and watch it properly..cmon.now.
People love Kurt for the reasons they hate me..I want a good guitar I can make music in period. Fk me..bless you kurt..miss you and the fk the snobs aditude...Kurt if you can hear me

..I'm trying g to show the world the feel and emotions you evoked.i can be wrong bit I love God and love the .meek...they will inherent the earth