C. F. Martin 00-17 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1938), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 70825, natural mahogany finish, mahogany body and neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This fine pre-war Martin 00-17 dates to mid-1938 and is generally nicely preserved, showing some wear mostly to the back but still a fine player. The 1930s 00-17s with thin, scalloped braced tops are super responsive guitars, often manifesting an extra richness and sweetness in the mids less evident in postwar models. Although they were designed as budget models the crisply defined yet warm sound these all-mahogany Martins are well-known for is excellent for recording and gigging, especially in a modern amplified context.
The 00-17 was the largest style guitar Martin offered in the all-mahogany format. Even though the overriding concern was economy (this was still the depression) they were built to the same extremely high standard as all Martin instruments. The top, back, sides and neck are all made of mahogany, there is no decoration and no frills -- just a plain and simple tone machine. Exactly 300 were shipped in 1938, when the list price was $35 without case.
Typical features for this later pre-war period include original individual Grover openback tuners, a small straight rosewood bridge and a tortoise celluloid pickguard. The neck has a lovely round backed profile that shades into a subtle "V" as it approaches the body. These mahogany-top guitars have a distinctive ringing tone and are excellent fingerpickers as well as a great all-around choice in a pre-war Martin.
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 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 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This 85-year-old 00-17 has some dings, nicks and scratches as would be expected, but overall is in very nice condition for its age. The original finish shows some wear overall; the top is much cleaner than most with hardly any of the typical pick wear, but with some checking and a couple of spots worn to the wood on the upper top/side edge. The sides and especially the back shows a more wear, the back in particular has some deeper dings and dents and a number of lateral streaks and areas that appear to be strap burn, or reaction to the case lining and/or something resting in the case. The back of the neck is also clean with only very minor wear-through.
Amazingly this the guitar appears completely crack-free, something of a miracle on a pre-war Martin. It has had a clean neck reset and the Brazilian rosewood bridge has been reglued, with a newer saddle added. The original small maple bridgeplate and delicate scalloped bracing are nicely intact. The fingerboard shows virtually no wear, and the frets appear original with some very slight wear in the lower positions.
This 00 has quite a powerful sound for its size with great projection, and is very sweet sounding for a mid-sized all-mahogany model. It is a fine instrument for delicate finger picking styles, heavy rhythm strumming, and pretty much anything in between. It is housed in a well fitted modern hardshell case. Very Good + Condition.
