C. F. Martin 0-18K Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1923), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 18828, natural varnish finish, koa wood body; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case.
Starting in the mid/late 1910's Martin began to be deluged with requests to make Hawaiian style guitars, as a craze for native musical stylings had recently taken hold of the country. After some doomed (and in retrospect quizzical) experiments with fan-bracing tops, Martin settled on simply replacing the rosewood and spruce normally used for the body with native Hawaiian koa wood. The scalloped X-bracing pattern was the same as used on the standard Martins, beefed up just a bit as these were intended from the start to use steel strings. While many were destined to be used as lap-style instruments, the early examples like this one were fretted and set up more-or-less standard style with a nut elevator used to adapt them for steel playing.
The 0-18K was the simplest such model, first shipped introduced in 1918 but not officially cataloged until 1923, the year this one was built. 249 were shipped out this year, a decent quantity for Martin at the time making this model a relative success. After the mid-20's Martin began to usually ship them in a dedicated Hawaiian mode, but at this point they were still finished out as standard guitars adaptable for lap-style play. As the Hawaiian bands used guitars for rhythm as well as lead, often the same group would request several identical models with differing set ups!
This guitar has the same basic features as a standard 1923 Martin 0-18, with the exception of the nicely grained koa body in place of spruce and mahogany. The 12-fret neck is mahogany, with a slotted headstock and unbound dot-inlaid ebony fingerboard. The body bindings are wood while the tuners are unplated strips with celluloid buttons. Construction is very light overall, even compared to later Hawaiian style Martins.
Martin's koa models were somewhat more expensive than standard models in any given style; the 0-18K listed for $36 early in 1923 which was a $6 premium over the standard 0-18. The company imported the woods from Hawaii, usually using an intermediary on the west coast but the process must have added considerable expense. This guitar is built with the earlier style koa the company initially procured, less flamey-grained than the later species but also less dense and to many ears better sounding. Early koa Martins like this are really a connoisseur's delight, a different and distinct flavor of the best small body flat tops ever made and especially favored for fingerpicked styles.
Overall length is 37 7/8 in. (96.2 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 3/16 in. (10.6 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.).
For an instrument just creeping up on its 100th birthday this is in fine condition overall, showing only fairly minor wear and repair overall. The finish is original, showing a light crazing in places that was common on Martins made in this era. This very thin varnish shows minor light dings, dents and scrapes with a small amount of pickwear to the top. This is mostly located between the soundhole and the treble leg of the bridge, in the area where Martin would eventually place pickguards a few years later. There is a very tight repaired grain crack to the top in the area near the center seam between the bridge and the tailblock. Unusually for a koa wood instrument of this vintage there are no other cracks.
The neck has been cleanly reset and the bridge replaced with a nicely done ebony replica. The replacement bridge covers a very slightly larger footprint than the original; it is in the correct style, but compensated enabling better intonation for Spanish-style play. There is a small amount of finish disturbance around the perimeter of the bridge, with some polish out and a bit of patching on the bass side.
The interior of the guitar is completely original and undisturbed, including the original small maple bridge plate. The bar frets are also original and in excellent condition showing virtually no wear. This is a lovely example of a 1920's koa Martin, not a fancy instrument but a discreetly elegant guitar. This is an excellent playing koa Martin with a very fine sound, surprisingly deep and rich but with the singing top end these are famous for. Overall Excellent Condition.
