C. F. Martin 000-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1957), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 158451, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top; rosewood fingerboard, period black hard shell case.
To many players and Martin aficionados, the 000-18 has remained one of the company's most beloved combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration. The light mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top make for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The 14-fret 000-sized instrument was introduced as the OM-18 in 1930. After 1933 nearly all Martin guitars were built in this new "Orchestra Model" format, so the OM designation was dropped and the model simply called the 000-18, one of the company's mainstays ever since.
This well-worn example was built in late 1957, one of 450 shipped that year. While not a particularly expensive guitar by '50s Martin standards listing at $145.00 (plus case) in 1957 the 000-18 still represented a substantial investment to many players. This is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multi-ply sound hole 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.
This 000 incorporates typical post-war Martin style 18 features including lovely fine-grained mahogany for the back and sides, a straight-if somewhat wide-grained spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and tortoise celluloid pickguard and body binding. The neck is mahogany with a fairly slim very soft "V" profile; the fingerboard inlay is mixed size dots and the tuners are open back individual Waverly machines with metal buttons.
This 000 looks to have seen a lot of use over nearly seven decades but remains an excellent fingerpicker's instrument; it also has a lot of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine. This well loved old guitar has matured beautifully and will continue to provide exceptional sound as the years go on.
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 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is a genuine veteran guitar, showing wear and repair, worn but in excellent structural shape. The finish remains original except for a thin lacquer overspray to the back and back of the neck. There is general wear overall with dings, dents and scrapes and spots of deeper strum wear into the wood on the lower rim of the soundhole and off the back edge of the pickguard. The back of the neck has some light dings and dents but nothing too distracting.
There are a number of repairs from different times, some more cleanly done than others. The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard trued and beautifully refretted with no subsequent wear; a very nicely done bone nut was fitted as well. The original bridge was just slightly lowered and reglued, and is fitted with a newer bone saddle. Internally the bracing is unaltered (with some possible minor regluing) and the pin holes in the original small maple bridgeplate have been plugged and re-drilled. The original pickguard has been previously reglued along the top edge.
The most noticeable repair is a somewhat sloppily sealed spruce grain split in the "classic" spot along the upper edge of the pickguard; this was repaired probably long ago, cleated but not leveled as well as it might have been. There are three spruce grain splits to the top between the bridge and rear edge, one along the center seam, the other two along treble side of the lower bout, all much more neatly sealed and cleated. There are also bookmatched grain splits on the lower part of the back, again more neatly glued; the back center seam appears re-sealed as well.
The original tuners are still intact and fully functional; more modern bridgepins and endpin are fitted. While a bit scruffy looking overall this 000 remains an excellent playing and generally original example; it is very responsive to even a lighter touch, very good sounding in any mode and a real pleasure to play. It lives in a battered but serviceable older Martin HSC with a chunk missing from the front tip. Overall Very Good + Condition.
