C. F. Martin 00-18 Shade Top Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937)
1
/
of
15
Couldn't load pickup availability
Item #12642
C. F. Martin 00-18 Shade Top Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1937), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 65353, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany body and neck, Adirondack spruce top, ebony fingerboard and bridge, original black hard shell case.
Here's one we don't see everyday; a well worn, beautifully aged 1937 00-18 in the very rare "Shade Top" sunburst finish. The 00-18 in general may not be one of Martin's rarer creations, but this original '30s "Shade Top" is a very cool find, a superb playing and sounding guitar just out of the Wilco Loft in Chicago. There was no modification to fit a pickup so as far as we know this was not used as a stage guitar.
The "Shaded" or "Dark" top was a catalog option for certain Martin models, first listed in the early 1930's. Originally this was a fairly subtle amber tone darkening around the edges of the top. By the time this guitar was made the edge shading was somewhat less subtle and the whole top had a darker look. This option not often ordered at the time, but likely inspired by Martin customers and/or dealers and looking at Gibsons and wanting something with a similar look. 1930s catalog listings for the Style 18 noted "This style will be furnished with a shaded dark top instead of natural finish on request at no extra charge".
The 00-18 in general to many players constitutes one of the Martin company's most propitious combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. This early 1937 guitar (carrying one of the first 200 or so serial numbers assigned that year) has a mahogany body and delicately scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top making for a very light and a superbly responsive instrument. In 1937 this model was built with all the now much coveted earlier features including the "forward shifted" scalloped X-brace and the wider 1 3/4" nut. The bridge and fingerboard are ebony, both changed to rosewood not too long after. Some folks consider 1937 to be the "magic" year for "golden age" Martins; we think they are mostly pretty magical but there is something special about many '37s.
This 00-18 was one of exactly 275 shipped in 1937, the model's best sales figures since a decade before in 1927. Only a very small proportion would have carried in this specially ordered "Dark Top" finish. Listing at $45.00 (plus case) it was not a particularly expensive instrument by Martin standards but represented a fairly substantial investment to many players in the depression era.
The 00-18's trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid binding on the outer body edges, a tortoise celluloid pickguard and a simple multiply celluloid soundhole ring. The shaded top gives the instrument a different look than the standard natural livery, darker and more stately but never as overtly attention-getting as the Gibsons it was inspired by. Despite its smaller size body and lack of bling this was billed as a professional-quality instrument fully suitable "for broadcasting or stage work".
Martins of this era have long been the benchmark for nearly all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. Compared to the more ubiquitous Dreadnoughts the 00-18 is on the small side, making for an easier handling guitar. This one offers a surprisingly powerful sound and is an extremely versatile instrument, a delightful fingerpicker with a strong reserve of sound if driven harder with a flatpick. The "advanced" scalloped bracing makes a really noticeable sonic difference on smaller bodied guitars, and this instrument has a wealth of tone not common in most 00's from later decades. An ideal writing or recording instrument as well as stage guitar, this true veteran pre-war 00 is a wonderful if well-worn survivor of Martin's undisputed "Golden Age" with a lot of stories played into it.
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 featherweight tone machine shows a lot of wear and tear accumulated over its nearly 90 years on earth but remains structurally excellent, a fine playing and sounding original instrument. The thin lacquer finish has the look of having been "smoked" and darkened over the decades. It shows heavy checking, dings, dents, scrapes and scratches practically everywhere but remains completely original with no overspray, really not even much of any touched up spots. There is pick wear down into the wood below the lower edge of the fingerboard, back edge of the pickguard and the lower soundhole rim; some lacquer is visibly worn off part of the pickguard as well. The back of the neck has wear down to the wood along both edges but no deep divots or capo wear, only small dents and dings.
There are three noticeable spruce grain splits to the top running upwards from the back edge; these are solidly sealed but plainly visible with no touch up. There is a very small grain split off the top edge of the pickguard in the standard spot, well sealed and inconspicuous. The upper side waist shows a couple of small grain splits, also well sealed and again not finished over. The back shows heavy checking and moisture wear but remains crack free. The headstock finish is worn at the edges and checked; the original metal button Grover tuners are intact and working well.
The ebony belly bridge is a repro, with a well crafted correct-height bone saddle. The very small maple bridgeplate is original and in very nice shape. Internally there is no major repair work, the beautifully delicate scalloped bracing is intact and unaltered. The neck was reset some time ago and the instrument refretted with wire just slightly larger than period standard. This very rare guitar offers a delightful and expansive sound for a 00 sized instrument, and has a unique look as the early shade tops all do and is an excellent player. It is housed in the even rarer original HSC, few of which have survived into the 21st century. This carries the Wilco Loft markings on the tail end and a "Wilco" brand Herco style nylon pick (very clever that!) is in the case pocket. Overall Very Good + Condition.
View full details
Here's one we don't see everyday; a well worn, beautifully aged 1937 00-18 in the very rare "Shade Top" sunburst finish. The 00-18 in general may not be one of Martin's rarer creations, but this original '30s "Shade Top" is a very cool find, a superb playing and sounding guitar just out of the Wilco Loft in Chicago. There was no modification to fit a pickup so as far as we know this was not used as a stage guitar.
The "Shaded" or "Dark" top was a catalog option for certain Martin models, first listed in the early 1930's. Originally this was a fairly subtle amber tone darkening around the edges of the top. By the time this guitar was made the edge shading was somewhat less subtle and the whole top had a darker look. This option not often ordered at the time, but likely inspired by Martin customers and/or dealers and looking at Gibsons and wanting something with a similar look. 1930s catalog listings for the Style 18 noted "This style will be furnished with a shaded dark top instead of natural finish on request at no extra charge".
The 00-18 in general to many players constitutes one of the Martin company's most propitious combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. This early 1937 guitar (carrying one of the first 200 or so serial numbers assigned that year) has a mahogany body and delicately scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top making for a very light and a superbly responsive instrument. In 1937 this model was built with all the now much coveted earlier features including the "forward shifted" scalloped X-brace and the wider 1 3/4" nut. The bridge and fingerboard are ebony, both changed to rosewood not too long after. Some folks consider 1937 to be the "magic" year for "golden age" Martins; we think they are mostly pretty magical but there is something special about many '37s.
This 00-18 was one of exactly 275 shipped in 1937, the model's best sales figures since a decade before in 1927. Only a very small proportion would have carried in this specially ordered "Dark Top" finish. Listing at $45.00 (plus case) it was not a particularly expensive instrument by Martin standards but represented a fairly substantial investment to many players in the depression era.
The 00-18's trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid binding on the outer body edges, a tortoise celluloid pickguard and a simple multiply celluloid soundhole ring. The shaded top gives the instrument a different look than the standard natural livery, darker and more stately but never as overtly attention-getting as the Gibsons it was inspired by. Despite its smaller size body and lack of bling this was billed as a professional-quality instrument fully suitable "for broadcasting or stage work".
Martins of this era have long been the benchmark for nearly all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. Compared to the more ubiquitous Dreadnoughts the 00-18 is on the small side, making for an easier handling guitar. This one offers a surprisingly powerful sound and is an extremely versatile instrument, a delightful fingerpicker with a strong reserve of sound if driven harder with a flatpick. The "advanced" scalloped bracing makes a really noticeable sonic difference on smaller bodied guitars, and this instrument has a wealth of tone not common in most 00's from later decades. An ideal writing or recording instrument as well as stage guitar, this true veteran pre-war 00 is a wonderful if well-worn survivor of Martin's undisputed "Golden Age" with a lot of stories played into it.
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 featherweight tone machine shows a lot of wear and tear accumulated over its nearly 90 years on earth but remains structurally excellent, a fine playing and sounding original instrument. The thin lacquer finish has the look of having been "smoked" and darkened over the decades. It shows heavy checking, dings, dents, scrapes and scratches practically everywhere but remains completely original with no overspray, really not even much of any touched up spots. There is pick wear down into the wood below the lower edge of the fingerboard, back edge of the pickguard and the lower soundhole rim; some lacquer is visibly worn off part of the pickguard as well. The back of the neck has wear down to the wood along both edges but no deep divots or capo wear, only small dents and dings.
There are three noticeable spruce grain splits to the top running upwards from the back edge; these are solidly sealed but plainly visible with no touch up. There is a very small grain split off the top edge of the pickguard in the standard spot, well sealed and inconspicuous. The upper side waist shows a couple of small grain splits, also well sealed and again not finished over. The back shows heavy checking and moisture wear but remains crack free. The headstock finish is worn at the edges and checked; the original metal button Grover tuners are intact and working well.
The ebony belly bridge is a repro, with a well crafted correct-height bone saddle. The very small maple bridgeplate is original and in very nice shape. Internally there is no major repair work, the beautifully delicate scalloped bracing is intact and unaltered. The neck was reset some time ago and the instrument refretted with wire just slightly larger than period standard. This very rare guitar offers a delightful and expansive sound for a 00 sized instrument, and has a unique look as the early shade tops all do and is an excellent player. It is housed in the even rarer original HSC, few of which have survived into the 21st century. This carries the Wilco Loft markings on the tail end and a "Wilco" brand Herco style nylon pick (very clever that!) is in the case pocket. Overall Very Good + Condition.
