C. F. Martin 00-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1943), made in Nazareth, PA, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black tolex hard shell case.
While the 00-18 is generally not one of Martin's rarer creations, to many players and flat top fans the model constitutes one of the company's most propitious combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. This mid-war example's mahogany body and scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top makes for very light and superbly responsive instrument. It just slipped in under the wire on these features; Martin stopped scalloping the main X brace on most guitars within months after this instrument was built.
This 00-18 dates to the end of 1943, one of exactly 450 shipped that pivotal year of the Second World War. Compared to Gibson, Martin managed their materials very well during the war years and maintained a surprisingly full production schedule. This 00 incorporates typical wartime features, most notably the ebony neck re-inforcement that replaced the metal rod due to restrictions on civilian use of critical metals. The original wartime Kluson tuners have been replaced with excellent modern replicas. Standard 00-18 features include the 14 3/8" wide mahogany body with dark celluloid binding, dot inlaid rosewood fingerboard and gold C.F. Martin decal on the rosewood-faced headstock.
While not particularly expensive by 1940's standards listing through the war years at $55.00 (plus case) this 00-18 still represented a fairly substantial investment to many players. This is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multiply 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 fully suitable "for broadcasting or stage work".
Over the years since, Martins of this era have become the benchmark for all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. By modern standards the 00-18 is on the smaller side but even so is an extremely versatile instrument. The scalloped bracing really makes a major sound difference on smaller bodied guitars, and this instrument has a wealth of sound not evident even on most 00's from later in the same decade. Both as a creative tool and as an object of beauty and grace, this 00 is a well-played but wonderful example.
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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this is a beautiful guitar to behold looking somewhat worn in but not abused and wearing its finish scars proudly, still in great playing condition overall. Much of the body is covered with small dings, nicks and scratches, but the original thin lacquer finish has not been noticeably oversprayed or touched up. There is some notable strum wear on the top around the pickguard and rosette, as well as off the treble and bass sides of the fingerboard. A fairly deep scratch to the top is visible on the bass side of the lower bout right off the edge, with a randomly scattered bunch of smaller nicks above and behind the bridge. The upper treble side has a deep scrape courtesy of the original chipboard case. The headstock face has some general wear and one small deeper ding in the center.
There are a several small side cracks on both sides of the lower bout, and one thin grain split along the middle of the back, all neatly sealed. The bridge had been reglued and lowered somewhat with a new bone saddle fitted but the original small maple bridgeplate beneath is still untouched. Internally, all of the top braces are original and intact. There is one inconsequential but quizzical internal alteration; the top back brace has a small piece worn or scraped off in the center, and there is a small plugged screw hole in the beck block; we would guess this is related to some sort of aborted pickup installation, though it's hard to say for sure.
The guitar has had an older neck set and refret with a small rosewood shim added under the fingerboard extension. The frets show some subsequent wear but not enough to affect play. The tuners are modern repros in the correct open-back Kluson style; some older patched screw holes from others previously can still be seen. This 00-18 is a very fine playing guitar with a beautiful tone and great projection; evenly balanced and super responsive in any style of play. It lives in an older (likely 1980's) HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
