C. F. Martin 0-17 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1931), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 46362, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a nice example of a transitional Depression-era Martin 0-17 in very fine condition for its age. Not only does this guitar show only light wear but it is also a wonderful player with a surprisingly powerful voice for a small all-mahogany guitar. This 0-17 was built in mid-1931, as the clock was ticking for the switch to a "modern" fourteen fret design. At the time the Depression was hitting its worst point and this small, affordable guitar was unsurprisingly one of Martin's best sellers. This model may well have had a major role in keeping the company in business.
This 0-17 is a direct descendant of Martin's first 12 fret, 2-17 steel string budget guitars of the early 1920's, which were a novel idea for the company at the time. Designed to offer a reliable, great sounding instrument at the lowest price Martin could possibly manage, these all-mahogany Style 17 instruments were a study in elegant minimalism. This larger 0-sized version was designed in 1929 and first shipped in quantity in 1930 so is a second year example.
The 0-17 body is all mahogany, with no binding or ornament except for the 5-ply soundhole ring. This one is just too early to have the tortoise celluloid pickguard that was coming into use at the time. The top is very delicately scallop braced, but designed for steel strings. The neck has a shallow very soft "V" profile with an unbound, tiny-dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The ebony nut is wider than later models at 1 13/16". The traditional Martin bar frets were retained until early 1934, then supplanted by modern tang fretwire. The tuners are unplated brass strips with black plastic buttons.
While plain in appearance and at the bottom of the Martin guitar line, The 0-17 is still built of high-grade materials to the company's lofty standards. Decent guitars could be had at the time much cheaper from the likes of Harmony, Regal or the Sears catalog, but none came close to the sonic value of this instrument. All of 353 of these little mahogany wonders were shipped in 1931, a large number for the company at that time and an indication of how their dealers must have been clamoring for an affordable Martin guitar. While the original price of $30.00 may seem laughable today, in 1931 this was still a fairly expensive proposition for many Americans struggling to make ends meet.
Then as now 0-17 is a fully professional-quality guitar, extremely responsive with a rich, singing tone that belies its small size and humble appearance. This initial 12-fret version without a pickguard is a fairly rare variation of the model and a true treat for the Martin connoisseur as well as the casual strummer.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 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 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This is one of the better preserved early depression-era mahogany Martins we have seen recently, showing signs of use but still generally pretty clean and solid for being well over 90 years old. The thin lacquer finish is completely original showing some dings, dents and scrapes, with some of the common pick wear to the top below the strings where a pickguard would shortly be. There is one deeper scrape near the waist on the lower treble bout, and some deeper scratches around the sides.
This Martin has survived the past 90 years with only a minor repairs. There is one short grain split to the back running from the outer edge off the rim on the treble side lower bout, sealed, cleated and minimally touched up. The lower side/top seam has a small impact mark with a tiny crack at the turn of the lower treble bout.
All of the delicate internal bracing and very small maple bridgeplate are intact and unaltered, the X-brace on the treble side of the lower bout has been reglued. The neck has been neatly reset with a shim under the fingerboard. The rosewood bridge is a correct replica matching the original footprint. The original bar frets have a fresh grind and polish and are in fine shape with plenty of life left, The original brass strip tuners with black buttons are intact and functional.
This depression-era 0-17 is really a lovely find in a more affordable prewar Martin combining the 1920s 12-fret body with the slightly sturdier depression-era construction. It offers a huge shimmering sound for a small mahogany guitar, one of the nicest examples of this fairly rare transitional 12-fret instrument we have had; a real gem housed in a modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
