C. F. Martin 00-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1967), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 219691, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a great feeling and sounding 00-18 from the tail end of the "guitar boom" era, a transitional guitar with a feel more like the older 1960's Martins than the more heavily built '70's instruments just around the corner. The top still has old-style tortoise celluloid pickguard but the newer black edge binding. Other features include the then-new short-saddle rosewood bridge, Grover Sta-Tite tuners with hexagonal bushings and a typical '60's rounded-edge peghead. The bridgeplate is maple, larger than the earlier style but not as oversized as the heavy rosewood piece that arrived after 1968.
To many players and Martin fans, the 00-18 has always been one of the company's most propitious and beloved combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration. The mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top makes for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the narrow-waisted 00-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound.
The 00-18 was built in early 1967, one of 650 shipped that year. The same year the D-18 sold over 2600 units making this 00 something of a rarity by comparison; the commercial eclipse of the smaller body Martins was in full swing by this point. With 55+ years of ageing this is not only an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has plenty of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine.
Overall length is 39 1/8 in. (99.4 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.).
This light and handy mahogany 00 remains nicely original and an excellent player. The finish is lightly aged, with some minor checking and ambered on the top but simply does not show much wear, either from playing or handling. The top has some scuffs and tiny dinks but very little of the usual pickwear often seen on older Martins.
The finish on the back and sides shows some light handling marks but not much actual wear, and the back of the neck is very clean. The guitar is completely crack free. The maple bridgeplate is intact with a bit of wear at the pinholes; the original bridge appears to have possibly been reglued, a very clean job if so, and very slightly cut down. There appears to be a tiny split sealed between the pins and saddle. The only notable alteration is a strap button added to the heel. If there has ever been a neck set it would be an exceptionally clean job.
The frets and fingerboard show only some minimal wear. Well past its 55th birthday this guitar feels and sounds even "older" than it actually is, with a nice dry but still mellow ring reminiscent of 1950's mahogany 00's. A sweet guitar and extremely friendly playing Martin, in far better condition than most from this period. It is housed in a nice recent HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.
