C. F. Martin 5-16 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1962)

C. F. Martin  5-16 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar  (1962)
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$5,500.00 + shipping
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Item # 10715
Prices subject to change without notice.
C. F. Martin 5-16 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1962), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 183895, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top; Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black tolex hard shell case.

The model 5-16 is a vary rare (and quite obscure) mini-Martin, a short-lived variation that temporarily replaced the Model 5-18, Nazareth's more familiar entry into the all-time cutest guitar sweepstakes. This first-year 5-16 is structurally the same just with a lighter matte finish, designed to lower (just a bit) the price of what was increasingly considered a student instrument. Like its slightly upscale 5-18 sister this is a very playable and good-sounding professional quality instrument despite its diminutive size.

The "modern" size 5 models were 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 "regular" 5-18 was produced -- albeit in small numbers -- for much of the 20th century. The guitar was a solid seller throughout the 1950s, averaging well over 100 units per year. In 1962 when this spinoff 5-16 was introduced in its place sales had been seriously declining; more people were looking for bigger guitars it seems. The experiment seems to have failed; a paltry 77 5-16s shipped out that first year, and a further 50 the next year constitute ALL that were ever produced. A couple of years later the 5-18 returned to the catalog in its place.

With a sparkling sound and unmatched portability, this littlest of Martins remains a well-regarded instrument today for travel, recording, and even live use. This is a very rare guitar, one of only 127 EVER made. It also remains in superb original condition, a fine sounding and playing example, and yes still awful durn cute!
 
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 guitar shows very little wear and remains beautifully original and an excellent player. Structurally this is a superb example showing no real cracks anywhere, just a bit of open grain to the spruce where the lower edge of the pickguard has shrunk up just a bit. The all-original finish shows a very small amount of checking, with some very minor dings and nicks.

The original rosewood bridge, bone nut, and saddle still remain; it appears that the bridge had been neatly reglued at some point. This 5-16 has had a very clean neck set and refret making for a very good-playing and sweet sounding example of this rare diminutive gem. This mini-Martin lives in a well-fitted black tolex hardshell case, quite hard to find for this model. Excellent + Condition.