C. F. Martin 00-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1956), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 148913, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This well-worn mid-1950s 00-18 is not one of Martin's rarer creations, but a really fine sounding "real relic" vintage flat top. To many players and Martin fans this 14 1/4" mahogany guitar constitutes one of the company's most beloved combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration. This is not a flashy instrument; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multiply sound hole ring. In classic Martin style, the elegant understatement speaks for itself.
The 00 sized mahogany body makes for a very light and responsive guitar, with a nice mix of depth and clarity to the sound. This example was built early in 1956, one of a total of 651 00-18s shipped that year. It has typical period features with tortoise celluloid binding and pickguard, a rosewood belly bridge, and an ambered top finish over some nicely grained spruce. The tuners are the open back single-unit Waverlys, more familiarly used by Gretsch and Danelectro, among others.
While not a particularly expensive guitar by Martin standards, listing at $95.00 (plus case) in 1956 the 00-18 still represented a substantial investment to many players. Despite its smaller size and lack of flash, the 00-18 remains a fully professional instrument popular with pickers of just about any type. This is a much loved, played in and great feeling example of one of Martin's most versatile and timeless classics. It sounds "bigger" than it is, an excellent recording, songwriting or performing guitar in a host of styles new and old.
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 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.).
This 00-18 has seen a lot of play over the last 66+ years, with a "genuine relic appearance and a lot of character to its smaller sized body. The finish is nicely aged, finely checked and ambered with a decent amount of fairly heavy pick wear to the top and dings, dents and scratches overall. There is pick wear into the wood above the fingerboard extension, around the soundhole rim and all around the bottom of the pickguard. The finish on the back and sides is fairly well worn as well, while the back of the neck is surprisingly clean with fairly minor dings and dents.
There have been a few repairs, notably been a very clean neck set. The original bridge had been previously reglued, with some drops of glue running down the bridge pins holes onto the bridgeplate. The fingerboard has been neatly planed and refretted with fret wire comparable to 50's Martin spec. Internally all of the braces and the original maple bridgeplate remain untouched. A newer bone nut and saddle have also been installed. Despite all of the scratches and nicks over the top, back, and sides, the are only fairly minor crack repairs One is on the back off the bass side neatly cleated. There are two fine grain splits along the top center seam below the bridge, as well as one in-between the pickguard and bridge, all of which are sealed and show no signs of movement.
Well past its 66th birthday this guitar feels and sounds even "older" than it actually is, with a lot of power and nice dry but still mellow ring, a trait these 1950's mahogany 00's are known for. This is a super sweet guitar and extremely friendly playing Martin, played in heavily but with vibe to spare. It is housed in a later black tolex HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
