C. F. Martin 00-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 68585, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, Adirondack spruce top, ebony fingerboard and bridge, black tolex hard shell case.
The 00-18 may not be one of Martin's rarer or more hallowed creations, to many players constitutes one of the company's most propitious combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. This late 1937 guitar combines a mahogany body and delicately scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top making for very light and a superbly responsive instrument. The top wood shows some subtle bearclaw figure between the bridge and soundhole, now considered a premium feature but at the time seen by Martin as a borderline flaw, thus used on this less fancy model.
This 00-18 was made right at the end of 1937, one of exactly 300 shipped that year. Listing at $45.00 (plus case) it was not a particularly expensive instrument by Martin standards but still represented a fairly substantial investment to many players inn that still-depression ridden period. In late 1937 this model was still built with the now much desired earlier features including the "forward shifted" scalloped X brace and the wider 1 3/4" nut. The bridge and fingerboard are ebony, changed to rosewood soon after.
The 00-18 is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid binding on the outer body edges, a tortoise celluloid pickguard and a simple multiply celluloid soundhole ring. In classic Martin style, the elegant understatement speaks for itself. Despite its smaller size body and lack of flash this was a fully professional-quality instrument described as fully suitable "for broadcasting or stage work".
In the years since, Martins of this era have become the benchmark for nearly all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. The 00-18 is on the small side compared to the more ubiquitous dreadnoughts, making for a very easily handling guitar. Despite this it offers a surprisingly powerful sound and is an extremely versatile instrument, a delightful fingerpicker with a strong reserve of sound if driven with a flatpick. The "advanced" scalloped bracing makes a major sonic difference on smaller bodied guitars, and this instrument has a wealth of tone not evident even on most 00's from later in the decade. An ideal writing or recording instrument as well as stage guitar, this pre-war 00 is a wonderful creative tool and a fine survivor of Martin's undisputed "Golden Age".
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 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 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This is a well-preserved guitar for being 85 years old, showing some typical wear and common maintenance repairs. The finish has wear overall but remains completely original with no touch up or overspray anywhere. There is some moderately heavy play wear down to the wood on the back of the neck and several areas of pick wear to the top mostly around the pickguard and soundhole rim. The top finish also shows checking, dings and scrapes and one deep "case lid bite" behind and above the bridge. The back and sides have typical general wear with dings dents and scrapes but less belt buckle wear than many. The initials "T.B." are discreetly inked on the top edge of the headstock.
The ebony bridge appears to be a very nicely done replacement, the small maple bridgeplate is original with a couple of small glue spots visible. We can find no cracks on the instrument except for one small split on the back near the upper waist, solidly sealed but not finished over so plainly visible. Internally there is no visible repair work, the delicate scalloped bracing is intact and unaltered. The top is delightfully crack free. A strap button has been added to the heel.
The neck was cleanly reset some time ago, and the guitar neatly refretted with period-correct wire. The fingerboard has some shallow divoting in the lower positions the frets show light wear. The original metal button Grover tuners are intact and working well. This guitar is a very fine player, with a delightful and expansive sound for a 00 sized instrument. It is housed in a modern HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
