C. F. Martin 000-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1963), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 189952, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a great sounding 000-18, a bit worn but in peak playing condition. It was built in mid-1963, just as the "guitar boom" era was about to peak. The next year the C.F. Martin company would leave their 130+ year old red brick factory to move "down the road" to their new modern plant. A host of production changes would then begin to affect their guitars, but this 1963 model retains the same look, feel and sound as the older 1950's Martins. The spruce top has the traditional tortoise celluloid pickguard and binding, which would be replaced by black plastic a few years on. Other typical older-style features include the long-saddle rosewood bridge, individual Grover Sta-Tite tuners with hexagonal bushings and a typical '60's rounded-edge peghead.
To many players and Martin fans, the 000-18 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 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The 1960s mahogany neck is fairly slim with the subtlest of rounded "V" profiles
The 000-18 was a fairly expensive guitar for the time listing at $175 (plus case) in early 1963, raised to $189.50 in July. This represented a substantial investment to many folk and amateur players, especially as the increasingly popular D-18 could be had for only $35 more. This example was built around the middle that year, one of 401 000-18's shipped this last full "old factory" year. The Dreadnought D-18 sold over 800 units that same year, making this mahogany 000 something of a rarity by comparison. With nearly 60 years of ageing behind it this is an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has plenty of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine as well.
Overall length is 39 7/8 in. (101.3 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This mahogany 000 is nicely original and set for peak playability, including unobtrusive amplification equipment. It has had a very clean neck reset, new repro rosewood bridge with bone saddle and new frets in the correct 60's style. The original small maple bridgeplate is intact, with a 3-piont K&K contact pickup added wired to an endpin jack.
The finish has some noticeable wear but nothing tragic. The heaviest strum wear is into the wood on the lower soundhole rim, with areas on both sides of the pickguard, through the finish lightly into the wood near the bridge and below the fingerboard extension. The rest of the instrument is cleaner, with some nicks, dents and scratches on the body, and a couple of feelable dings to the back of the neck. The original finish has no notable touchup or overspray.
The only major alteration from stock is the endpin jack and K & K pickup installed under the bridgeplate, which is not permanent if one would choose to remove it. The only crack repair is a very discreet cleat that was placed under the top edge of the pickguard, under a sealed hairline crack forming from pickguard shrinkage. Other than that the guitar is crack free.
With a 60th birthday quickly approaching, this guitar feels and sounds even "older" than it actually is, with a nice dry, powerful but still mellow ring reminiscent of 1950's mahogany 000's. This is a super sweet guitar and extremely friendly playing Martin, worn a bit overall but played in perfectly. It is housed in a later black tolex HSC. Overall Excellent - Condition.
