C. F. Martin 0-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 114077, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a generally well preserved Martin 0-18 from mid-1950, showing some general wear and tear but structurally excellent with an unblemished mojo! The mahogany body has typical features for the early post war era including tortoise celluloid binding on the edges, tortoise celluloid pickguard and long-saddle Brazilian rosewood bridge. The Sitka spruce top shows a fairly wide grain for the period under nicely ambered thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The headstock corners are the rounded-off style typical of the period; the peghead face is adorned with the "CF Martin" gold decal. It is fitted with individual openback Kluson tuners with the early style large baseplates.
This guitar like all made prior to 1964 is the product of the "old" red brick Martin factory, before the move to the modern facility down the road resulted in many changes. Late '40s/early '50s 0-18s are lovely-sounding instruments, no longer scallop braced but still lightly built compared to those from a decade or so later. Exactly 551 of these small mahogany-and-spruce guitars were shipped from Nazareth in 1952, priced at $70 (Plus case) for most of the year, marked up to $80 in December. The post war era saw a period of rapid inflation; in 1946 the 0-18 carried a $52 price tag. This one is a fine survivor, a little worn but playing perfectly with a low, comfortable action and plenty of volume (more than many expect in a smaller body guitar) and a nicely even ringing tone.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This is a nicely original guitar, definitely played over the last 70+ years but not abused. The original lacquer finish has no overspray or touch-up; there is some strum wear to the face on either side of the soundhole and off the front edge of the pickguard, with some random dings and scrapes here and there. The soundhole edge is worn through the finish in spots. The back shows a scuffed and scratched area near the lower middle but no heavy buckle wear. There are random dings and dents overall and some noticeable light scratch marks along the treble side of the upper bout.
This Martin remains ALMOST crack-free, with only one tiny grain split off of the top edge of the pickguard that shows no sign of movement. The neck has been neatly reset, the fingerboard previously refretted and the frets recently leveled and polished. The rosewood bridge has been slightly lowered forward of the pins with a new bone saddle, and possibly reglued at some point though it was a very neat job if so. Internally, all of the original bracing and small maple bridgeplate remain untouched. The original openback Kluson tuners are intact and working well. This is a great playing fine sounding postwar 0-18 that still has a '40's vibe, a very lively little guitar. It resides in a modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
