C. F. Martin 000-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1952)
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C. F. Martin 000-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1952), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 124003, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, Adirondack spruce top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
To many players and Martin aficionados, the 000-18 has remained one of the company's finest combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration, sleeker than a Dreadnought with a more even, less bass heavy sound. The light mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top make for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The 14-fret 000-sized instrument was introduced as the OM-18 in 1930. After 1933 nearly all Martin guitars were built in this new "Orchestra Model" format, so the OM designation was dropped and the model simply called the 000-18, one of the company's mainstays ever since.
While not a particularly expensive instrument by 1950s Martin standards, listing at $105.00 (plus case) the 000-18 still represented a substantial investment to many players. This is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multiply sound hole ring. In classic Martin style, the elegant understatement speaks for itself. Despite its lack of flash, this was always a fully professional instrument popular with radio entertainers, most obviously the country acts common in the Southeast.
This example was built in early-mid 1952, one of 550 000-18s shipped that year. It incorporates typical post-war Martin style 18 features including tight-grained mahogany on the back and sides, a superb straight-grained spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge and tortoise celluloid pickguard and body binding. The mahogany neck has a fairly slim profile, round backed but with an increasing "V" feel as it approches the body. The fingerboard inlay is mixed size dots and the tuners are open back individual large-plate Klusons with metal buttons specific to this era.
This 000 looks to have seen some use over seven decades but remains cleaner and more original than many from this period. It is an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has a lot of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine as well. This well loved 70+ year old guitar has matured beautifully and will continue to provide exceptional sound as the decades go on.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this is a nicely preserved 72 year old Martin, an excellent player with a deeper, rounder sound than some mahogany 000s. The neck has been neatly reset and the fretboard trued and refretted with appropriate wire so playability is excellent. There are a few minor residual divots in the first position on the fingerboard. There are two repaired grain splits coming off the lower edge of the pickguard, both sealed up but not overfinished and so visible. The lower one has a long thin cleat added underneath and the original celluoid pickguard has shrunken up a bit and been reglued.
The bridge has also been reglued and appears to have been previously lowered on treble side from underneath with a new bone saddle added. Internally the original small maple bridgeplate and all bracing are intact and unaltered. The all-original finish shows some general wear overall with dings, dents and scrapes most notably some heavier scratching on the upper back in the waist area and areas of strap burn on the back. The upper side has some wear in this area as well.
The top has less pick wear than many with a few random dings and scrapes. There is wear through into the wood only on the lower soundhole edge and a also a worn spot to the pickguard itself. The back of the neck is very clean with just a couple of small worn-through spots along the sides near the nut. The headstock is very clean as well; the original Kluson tuners work well and are still surpriosingly shiny. This is a lovely example of an early '50s 000, showing not to much wear for seven decades on the planet and sounding gtreat, still in the original heavy chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.
To many players and Martin aficionados, the 000-18 has remained one of the company's finest combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration, sleeker than a Dreadnought with a more even, less bass heavy sound. The light mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top make for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The 14-fret 000-sized instrument was introduced as the OM-18 in 1930. After 1933 nearly all Martin guitars were built in this new "Orchestra Model" format, so the OM designation was dropped and the model simply called the 000-18, one of the company's mainstays ever since.
While not a particularly expensive instrument by 1950s Martin standards, listing at $105.00 (plus case) the 000-18 still represented a substantial investment to many players. This is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multiply sound hole ring. In classic Martin style, the elegant understatement speaks for itself. Despite its lack of flash, this was always a fully professional instrument popular with radio entertainers, most obviously the country acts common in the Southeast.
This example was built in early-mid 1952, one of 550 000-18s shipped that year. It incorporates typical post-war Martin style 18 features including tight-grained mahogany on the back and sides, a superb straight-grained spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge and tortoise celluloid pickguard and body binding. The mahogany neck has a fairly slim profile, round backed but with an increasing "V" feel as it approches the body. The fingerboard inlay is mixed size dots and the tuners are open back individual large-plate Klusons with metal buttons specific to this era.
This 000 looks to have seen some use over seven decades but remains cleaner and more original than many from this period. It is an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has a lot of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine as well. This well loved 70+ year old guitar has matured beautifully and will continue to provide exceptional sound as the decades go on.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this is a nicely preserved 72 year old Martin, an excellent player with a deeper, rounder sound than some mahogany 000s. The neck has been neatly reset and the fretboard trued and refretted with appropriate wire so playability is excellent. There are a few minor residual divots in the first position on the fingerboard. There are two repaired grain splits coming off the lower edge of the pickguard, both sealed up but not overfinished and so visible. The lower one has a long thin cleat added underneath and the original celluoid pickguard has shrunken up a bit and been reglued.
The bridge has also been reglued and appears to have been previously lowered on treble side from underneath with a new bone saddle added. Internally the original small maple bridgeplate and all bracing are intact and unaltered. The all-original finish shows some general wear overall with dings, dents and scrapes most notably some heavier scratching on the upper back in the waist area and areas of strap burn on the back. The upper side has some wear in this area as well.
The top has less pick wear than many with a few random dings and scrapes. There is wear through into the wood only on the lower soundhole edge and a also a worn spot to the pickguard itself. The back of the neck is very clean with just a couple of small worn-through spots along the sides near the nut. The headstock is very clean as well; the original Kluson tuners work well and are still surpriosingly shiny. This is a lovely example of an early '50s 000, showing not to much wear for seven decades on the planet and sounding gtreat, still in the original heavy chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.