C. F. Martin 0-16NY Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1963), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 193864, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This 0-sized 12-fret Martin is an early (if unheralded) example of a "vintage" re-issue; one of the first in the company's history. Beginning in the early '60s there was a groundswell of interest in the "old" 1920s-style Martin guitars with 12-fret neck joints and wider fingerboards. At the time these were considered more "authentic" folk instruments than the newer 14-fret styles built since the 1930s. Joan Baez in particular was very influential in this regard; her use of an already-vintage 12-fret 0-45 became an icon of the era and many players wanted a similar type of instrument.
The 0-16NY was offered beginning in 1961, designed as an affordable guitar for folk-style playing with either steel or nylon strings; to this end, they were built much lighter than the "modern" steel string Martins of the time. The satin (non-gloss) finish and trimmings are very plain but the guitar is built with Style 18 materials: a spruce top, mahogany body and neck with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. This very early 1963 example is one of 525 shipped out that year. The list price at the time was a very reasonable $139.50, without the case. While conceived for a specific audience the 0-16NY sold well for Martin for some years, proving it had "legs" well beyond the folk boom of the early '60s.
Although not promoted originally as such this is essentially a re-issue of a late 1920s 0-18 with a wide 12-fret neck, slot head, small rectangular bridge, no pickguard and only side dot position markers. The trim is very plain, with tortoise-celluloid outer layer trim on the top and a discreet multi-ring rosette. Although advertised when new as suitable for nylon strings or steel, these guitars have full traditional Martin X-bracing and handle light steel strings perfectly well. Suitable for many styles beyond traditional folk, this is a very nice somewhat under the radar model and something of a bargain in a vintage Martin still.
Overall length is 38 1/4 in. (97.2 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
Overall this is a nice, clean and original example showing only minor wear. The finish shows some light checking overall with some small dings and dents and a bit of pick wear to the soundhole edge. There are no cracks or repairs on the instrument. This guitar has had a clean neck reset (with a little touch up on the treble side of the fingerboard) and a new saddle; the original bridge does not appear to have ever been cut down. It has been neatly reglued with some very slight touch up around the edges.
The top has a slight bulge behind the bridge, which is common on this lightly braced model but everything is solid. This is a fine playing, sweet sounding guitar with more power than one might expect from a 1963 model; it is now older than the 1920s instruments it was patterned after was at the time this guitar was made! This 0-16NY remains a relative bargain in a 50+ year old small-body Martin complete in the original HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.
