C. F. Martin 000-18 Shade Top Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1941)
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Item #11684
C. F. Martin 000-18 Shade Top Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1941), made in Nazareth, PA, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black semi-hard case.
Hold the presses! It's not everyday in the 21st century something like this turns up anymore: a simply incredibly well preserved JUST pre-war 000-18, and in the very rare "Shade Top" sunburst finish to boot. In general the 000-18 may not be one of Martin's rarer creations, but an original 1941 "Shade Top" in this state of preservation is a highly unusual and delightful find, and also a spectacular playing and sounding guitar.
A "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 less subtle and the whole top had a darker look. This option was rarely ordered at the time, but likely inspired by some Martin customers and/or dealers and looking at Gibsons and wanting something with a similar look. The July 1941 catalog listing 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".
Although far from the peak of the pre-war line to many players and Martin fans the 000-18 constitutes one of the company's most beloved combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. The light mahogany body coupled with a delicately scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top makes for a superbly responsive guitar. The larger but narrow-waisted 000 size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound, with considerable power to the tone if driven harder. The Appalachian spruce top has a lovely tight-grain; the fingerboard and bridge are rosewood, then recently changed from the ebony used previously.
This example was built late in 1941, probably just around the time the bombs were falling on Pearl Harbor. It is one of 326 000-18s shipped that year, of which only a very small proportion were "Shade Tops"; according to recently published information, all of 6 were produced that year. While not a particularly expensive by Martin standards by late 1941 the price had recently been raised twice to $67.00 (plus case), the result of inflation in the run-up to war. While a nominal amount today this still represented a substantial investment to many players at the time.
Compared to many contemporary competitors in this price range this is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multiply soundhole ring. Even the top shading has a stately look; in classic Martin style, 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 WWII, Martins of this era have become the benchmark for all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. This scallop-braced 000-18 is an extremely versatile instrument; it can be used effectively in virtually any style of music. Both as a creative tool and as an object of beauty and grace, this amazingly well preserved instrument is an amazing survivor of pre-war times, a distinctive and wonderful example of Martin's contribution to the art of the American guitar.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) width, 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 is really an exceptional specimen, absolutely original and simply one of the most perfectly preserved pre-war Martins we have ever seen. Apart from a few very small isolated tiny scuffs and dings here and there this guitar does not exhibit much evidence of having spent 80+ years on Earth. Whoever ordered this "Shade Top" in 1941 apparently got hardly any use out of it; perhaps they went off to war and never returned.
In the time since the guitar has been immaculately cared for. There is no detectable post-facto finish work at all. There are some TINY dinks to the top, no pickwear at all, some scuffing to the headstock rear and one visible small scratch on the back. Overall the finish is FAR cleaner than the overwhelming majority of instruments dating to this era, and the sunburst top is not faded at all.
There has been an almost unbelievably clean professional neck set leaving virtually no trace; the rosewood bridge is a perfect replica replacement showing no distress around the perimeter at all. All work is by Bryan Galloup and is perfectly done. Internally the beautiful original scalloped bracing and small maple bridgeplate are completely intact and unaltered. There are no cracks or other repairs detectable. The tuners are original Kluson flat-plate individual units with metal buttons, intact and working well.
The action is currently 3/32" on treble side and 4/32" on the bass side at the 12th fret. This gives a good reserve of tonal power but there is plenty of room to lower the saddle if desired for a more delicate playing style. The original small frets show virtually no wear. Although this guitar appears to have had very little play time the sound is fabulous; both precise and expansive, with a wonderful combination of clarity and depth. The mahogany 000 excels as both a finger- or flatpicked instrument; it will only get better if played (carefully!) and is perfectly suited to a wide range of musical applications.
This is an exceptionally fine pre-war package for the Martin player or collector; there are simply not many guitars of this age and quality left on the planet in the 2020s. It lives as it has for 80+ years in an amazingly well preserved original heavy semi-hard case with the "Protex" pocket lock noted by a banner on the box lid. The original paper handle has been over-wrapped for preservation. A later HSC is also provided for carrying and shipping. Excellent + Condition.
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Hold the presses! It's not everyday in the 21st century something like this turns up anymore: a simply incredibly well preserved JUST pre-war 000-18, and in the very rare "Shade Top" sunburst finish to boot. In general the 000-18 may not be one of Martin's rarer creations, but an original 1941 "Shade Top" in this state of preservation is a highly unusual and delightful find, and also a spectacular playing and sounding guitar.
A "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 less subtle and the whole top had a darker look. This option was rarely ordered at the time, but likely inspired by some Martin customers and/or dealers and looking at Gibsons and wanting something with a similar look. The July 1941 catalog listing 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".
Although far from the peak of the pre-war line to many players and Martin fans the 000-18 constitutes one of the company's most beloved combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. The light mahogany body coupled with a delicately scallop-braced Adirondack spruce top makes for a superbly responsive guitar. The larger but narrow-waisted 000 size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound, with considerable power to the tone if driven harder. The Appalachian spruce top has a lovely tight-grain; the fingerboard and bridge are rosewood, then recently changed from the ebony used previously.
This example was built late in 1941, probably just around the time the bombs were falling on Pearl Harbor. It is one of 326 000-18s shipped that year, of which only a very small proportion were "Shade Tops"; according to recently published information, all of 6 were produced that year. While not a particularly expensive by Martin standards by late 1941 the price had recently been raised twice to $67.00 (plus case), the result of inflation in the run-up to war. While a nominal amount today this still represented a substantial investment to many players at the time.
Compared to many contemporary competitors in this price range this is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with tortoise celluloid on the body edges and a simple multiply soundhole ring. Even the top shading has a stately look; in classic Martin style, 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 WWII, Martins of this era have become the benchmark for all subsequent acoustic guitar designs. This scallop-braced 000-18 is an extremely versatile instrument; it can be used effectively in virtually any style of music. Both as a creative tool and as an object of beauty and grace, this amazingly well preserved instrument is an amazing survivor of pre-war times, a distinctive and wonderful example of Martin's contribution to the art of the American guitar.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) width, 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 is really an exceptional specimen, absolutely original and simply one of the most perfectly preserved pre-war Martins we have ever seen. Apart from a few very small isolated tiny scuffs and dings here and there this guitar does not exhibit much evidence of having spent 80+ years on Earth. Whoever ordered this "Shade Top" in 1941 apparently got hardly any use out of it; perhaps they went off to war and never returned.
In the time since the guitar has been immaculately cared for. There is no detectable post-facto finish work at all. There are some TINY dinks to the top, no pickwear at all, some scuffing to the headstock rear and one visible small scratch on the back. Overall the finish is FAR cleaner than the overwhelming majority of instruments dating to this era, and the sunburst top is not faded at all.
There has been an almost unbelievably clean professional neck set leaving virtually no trace; the rosewood bridge is a perfect replica replacement showing no distress around the perimeter at all. All work is by Bryan Galloup and is perfectly done. Internally the beautiful original scalloped bracing and small maple bridgeplate are completely intact and unaltered. There are no cracks or other repairs detectable. The tuners are original Kluson flat-plate individual units with metal buttons, intact and working well.
The action is currently 3/32" on treble side and 4/32" on the bass side at the 12th fret. This gives a good reserve of tonal power but there is plenty of room to lower the saddle if desired for a more delicate playing style. The original small frets show virtually no wear. Although this guitar appears to have had very little play time the sound is fabulous; both precise and expansive, with a wonderful combination of clarity and depth. The mahogany 000 excels as both a finger- or flatpicked instrument; it will only get better if played (carefully!) and is perfectly suited to a wide range of musical applications.
This is an exceptionally fine pre-war package for the Martin player or collector; there are simply not many guitars of this age and quality left on the planet in the 2020s. It lives as it has for 80+ years in an amazingly well preserved original heavy semi-hard case with the "Protex" pocket lock noted by a banner on the box lid. The original paper handle has been over-wrapped for preservation. A later HSC is also provided for carrying and shipping. Excellent + Condition.
