C. F. Martin 5-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1960), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 174777, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, original grey chipboard case.
The model 5-18 is Martin's entry into the all-time cutest guitar sweepstakes, and a very playable and good-sounding professional quality instrument despite its diminutive size. The "modern" 5-18 is built from the company's 19th century terz guitar patterns, with an 11" body and short scale just over 21". With appeal beyond its obvious suitability for young students, the 5-18 was steadily produced -- albeit in small numbers -- for much of the 20th century. The guitar was a surprisingly solid seller through the 1950s, averaging over 100 units per year; in 1960 126 were shipped out at a list price of an even $100, plus case.
The small spruce-topped mahogany body carries traditional Martin features including the tortoise celluloid binding and pickguard, long-saddle Brazilian rosewood bridge and a nicely ambered nitrocellulose lacquer finish. The slim mahogany neck has a noticeable soft "V" contour with an unbound rosewood fingerboard with only three single pearl dots. The peghead corners are the rounded style typical of the period, with the face adorned with the "CF Martin" gold decal on the face and Grover openback Sta-Tite tuners with hexagonal bushings.
With a sparkling sound and unmatched portability, this littlest Martin remains a well-regarded instrument today for travel, recording, and even live use. Dolly Parton has been a longtime fan, seen numerous times with a 5-18 over the years. Marty Robbins was particularly fond of this model in the late 1950s and was often seen with one, sometimes strumming and sometimes paddling up an imaginary stream! This 1960 5-18 is much worn and just a lovely original little guitar.
Overall length is 33 3/8 in. (84.8 cm.), 11 1/4 in. (28.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 21 3/8 in. (543 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is a fine playing and lovely original example of this delightful miniature Martin, showing only light wear and no major repair; it simply appears not much used over the last nearly 75 years. The all-original finish has some small checking and scattered dings, scrapes and chips but no large areas of wear. There are a couple of deeper scrapes on the lower edge of the top, but nothing to conspicuous.
Structurally the guitar is excellent with a couple of minor brace reglues; the top edge of the pickguard has a couple of tiny grain pulls but these have never opened fully into cracks. The back has very neatly cleated grain crack along upper bout on the bass side. If there was a neck reset it was a very clean job; the original rosewood bridge may have been ever so slightly been cut down on the treble side and neatly reglued. The original frets show minimal wear and this is a sweet but punchy sounding example of this diminutive gem, one of the nicest we have had complete in its original mottled grey chipboard case. Excellent - Condition.
