C. F. Martin 00-18E Model Flat Top Acoustic-Electric Guitar (1959), made in Nazareth, PA, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck; spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
A really nice and very early example of Martin's earliest attempt at an electric guitar, from the introductory year of 1959. The 00-18E is essentially a regular mahogany-bodied grand concert guitar with a magnetic DeArmond pickup added. Unlike the electric Dreadhought Martins from the same era and the similar Gibson J-160E, the Martin is still a solid top X-braced guitar and has a surprisingly good acoustic sound.
The guitar sports standard period 00-18 features with the chrome DeArmond mounted at the end of the fingerboard and cool ivoroid radio-style tone and volume knobs with metal indicia plates underneath them. This is an in interesting and unusual guitar; not one of Martin's greatest successes perhaps, but a cool period piece with some uncommon sonic possibilities�it does a fabulous Elmore James impression, for one!
Overall length is 39 1/2 in. (100.3 cm.), 14 5/16 in. (36.4 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
Completely original (including even the bridgepins) and with only minor wear; sealed pickguard crack, otherwise no repairs at all. Excellent + Condition.
