C. F. Martin 000-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1942)
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Item #6979
C. F. Martin 000-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1942), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 81326, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top; rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
On the whole the 000-18 is not one of Martin's rarer creations, but to many players and Martin fans constitutes one of the company's most propitious and beloved combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. The light mahogany body coupled with a scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top makes for a very responsive guitar; the larger but narrow-waisted 000 size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound.
This example was built in the first half of 1942, one of a total of 225 000-18s shipped that initial year of the Second World War. Compared to Gibson, Martin managed well during the war years and maintained a surprisingly full production schedule. This 000 incorporates typical wartime features, most notably the ebony neck re-inforcement that began around this time due to restrictions on the civilian use of critical metals. The tuners are the last of the elegant pre-war flat-plate Klusons, soon replaced with the austere riveted-gear versions.
While not a particularly expensive guitar by 1940's standards, listing at $67.00 (plus case) the 000-18 still represented a substantial investment to most 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 lack of flash this was always a fully professional instrument popular with radio entertainers, most obviously the country acts common in the southeast.
In the years since, Martins of this era have become the benchmark for all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. The 000-18 is an extremely versatile instrument-this one can be used to play effectively in virtually any style of music. Both as a creative tool and as an object of beauty and grace, this is a wonderful example of Martin's contribution to the art of the American guitar-even in the dark days of 1942.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 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 11/16 in. (627 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). A very fine and original example of an early WWII era Martin; there is some wear overall but no major repairs or alterations. There is visible pickwear beneath the pickguard and by the sides of the fingerboard down to the wood, and some lighter pick marks over more of the face. On the whole the lacquer patina is very nice with fine and even checking and a well ambered tone. The neck is nice and straight and the guitar has had a very clean neckset and refret and plays perfectly. The original bridge has been taken down very slightly, the maple bridgeplate is unmodified. This is a superb, lightly built instrument with a lovely and expansive tone, excellent for both fingerpicked and flatpicked playing styles. Excellent Condition.
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On the whole the 000-18 is not one of Martin's rarer creations, but to many players and Martin fans constitutes one of the company's most propitious and beloved combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. The light mahogany body coupled with a scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top makes for a very responsive guitar; the larger but narrow-waisted 000 size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound.
This example was built in the first half of 1942, one of a total of 225 000-18s shipped that initial year of the Second World War. Compared to Gibson, Martin managed well during the war years and maintained a surprisingly full production schedule. This 000 incorporates typical wartime features, most notably the ebony neck re-inforcement that began around this time due to restrictions on the civilian use of critical metals. The tuners are the last of the elegant pre-war flat-plate Klusons, soon replaced with the austere riveted-gear versions.
While not a particularly expensive guitar by 1940's standards, listing at $67.00 (plus case) the 000-18 still represented a substantial investment to most 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 lack of flash this was always a fully professional instrument popular with radio entertainers, most obviously the country acts common in the southeast.
In the years since, Martins of this era have become the benchmark for all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. The 000-18 is an extremely versatile instrument-this one can be used to play effectively in virtually any style of music. Both as a creative tool and as an object of beauty and grace, this is a wonderful example of Martin's contribution to the art of the American guitar-even in the dark days of 1942.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 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 11/16 in. (627 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). A very fine and original example of an early WWII era Martin; there is some wear overall but no major repairs or alterations. There is visible pickwear beneath the pickguard and by the sides of the fingerboard down to the wood, and some lighter pick marks over more of the face. On the whole the lacquer patina is very nice with fine and even checking and a well ambered tone. The neck is nice and straight and the guitar has had a very clean neckset and refret and plays perfectly. The original bridge has been taken down very slightly, the maple bridgeplate is unmodified. This is a superb, lightly built instrument with a lovely and expansive tone, excellent for both fingerpicked and flatpicked playing styles. Excellent Condition.
