{"product_id":"c-f-martin-000-21-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1945-10407","title":"C. F. Martin 000-21 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1945)","description":"C. F. Martin 000-21 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1945), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 92324, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black chipboard case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis wonderful Auditorium-size Martin is a 000-21 made in the second half of 1945, probably not long after the national sigh of relief that was V-J day. This *JUST* postwar guitar still features the herringbone soundhole ring and backstrip which would be discontinued in 1947. Herringbone trim is a part of the Martin legend, and this guitar has some of the last of the original stash! This was also the first full year for the then-new tapered bracing pattern. While the braces under the top were no longer scalloped, they were tapered towards the ends, more lightly carved than those that emerged in the later 1940's and 50's. The transitional Martin guitars of this era have their own sound that has recently become better appreciated.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe mid-priced 000-21 was listed at $95 in 1945, without a case; it would go up over $100 the next year. It was never a common guitar; this was actually the highest production year to date for the model with all of 127 built. A Style 21 has the same design and materials as the more celebrated Style 28, just plainer trim. Features include a Brazilian rosewood body with one of the last Adirondack red spruce tops, pearl dot inlay rosewood fingerboard, multiple top and back binding with a rosewood outer layer, a herringbone soundhole ring and a tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard. The neck profile is just slightly thicker than some previous thin wartime necks, with a comfortable mostly round contour showing a subtle hint of a soft \"V\" as it moves towards the body. This is a great sounding and playing guitar equally at home with finger- or flatpicking styles and in virtually any genre of music.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1\/4 in. (38.7 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.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis lovely just post-war Martin shows signs of use through the years, but for the most part has survived in excellent playing condition. The finish shows checking, dings and dents overall with the most notable marks being pick wear to the top, mostly around the soundhole rim, the treble side next to the fingerboard extension and just below the pickguard. There is a typical pickguard crack under the \"B\" string and a pair of pickguard cracks, a tiny one just at the waist and another extending about 1 1\/2\" backwards off of the bottom edge of the guard. The pickguard itself is original to the guitar but shows slight signs of having been carefully lifted and reglued. The back of the neck has some lacquer worn off the edges and the spine mostly at the first position and a few feelable dings and dents there. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe bridge and saddle have been cleanly replaced with an excellent reproduction that matches the footprint and contours of the original and a correct style bone \"through\" saddle. The guitar retains its original small maple bridge plate. The neck has been carefully reset and the fingerboard has had an older refret with correctly sized fretwire. There are some subsequent signs of wear to the frets but they still have plenty of life left and play fine. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe only really noticeable damage to the instrument is a repaired crunch to the treble side rim just below the end block. This resulted in several cracks, all realigned and glued within a confined area. Two of the cracks are four inches long extending from the endblock and there are several short cracks in the same area. The interior shows signs of gluing this area, but no added cleats. This repair is visible and feelable but not overly conspicuous. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe guitar remains otherwise nicely original; the tuners are the original wartime flat plate Kluson Deluxe and are very clean and fully functional. With the neck reset, refret and new bridge all finely accomplished this is a truly excellent player, with a superb and very even sound that is brighter than some rosewood Martin. It is housed in a newer HSC. Excellent - Condition.","brand":"C. F. Martin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46853407604876,"sku":"10407","price":18500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_871323dd-af6b-4fa5-9641-5033ef658d33.jpg?v=1774337864","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/c-f-martin-000-21-flat-top-acoustic-guitar-1945-10407","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}