C. F. Martin 0-18T Model Flat Top Tenor Guitar (1931), made in Nazareth, PA, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back,sides and neck, spruce top, ebony fingerboard and bridge, blue plastic hard shell case.
We consider this model Martin to be one of the finest tenor guitars ever made, and this is a lovely example from the finest era. Sporting the then brand new features of the belly bridge, teardrop pickguard, and 14 fret neck, this was a very "modern" instrument for Martin in 1931!
Rosewood-faced headstock has no decal logo and Grover "no-tab" pancake tuners. Ebony fingerboard and nut, bar frets, mixed-size dot inlay at frets 5,7 and 10. All wood binding and trim. While designed in the late 1920's for tenor banjoists getting pushed out of work by the preference for the guitar's mellower tone, tenor guitars have a range of possibilities still not fully explored. Rabon Delmore used small tenor Martin models including the 0-18T to play the deftly picked leads that characterize the Delmore Brothers' music; this is one "Ol' Guitar" it's hard to "Lay Down"!
Overall length is 35 1/2 in. (90.2 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/16 in. (10.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 23 in. (584 mm.).
Very fine overall and all original, with only minor finish dings and strum wear. One small side repair and some possible overspray.
Newer plastic Martin HSC has been professionally adapted (probably at Martin) for this smaller guitar. Excellent Condition.
