C. F. Martin 00-18E Flat Top Acoustic-Electric Guitar (1963)
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Item # 10722
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C. F. Martin 00-18E Model Flat Top Acoustic-Electric Guitar (1963), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 188044, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
The 00-18E is one of Martin's earliest attempts at an electric guitar design, using a familiar flat-top as the starting point. This model was introduced at the end of the 1950s when the Martin company first dipped their toes in the amplified market. It is essentially just a standard 00-18 flat top with a magnetic DeArmond pickup and controls added. Unlike the similar Gibson J-160E and Martin's contemporary Dreadnought electrics the 00-18E is a solid top X-braced guitar that retains a surprisingly good acoustic sound. This one has typical period 00-18 features: mahogany body and neck, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoise celluloid binding and pickguard. One difference is Martin fitted a heavier bridgeplate and for some reason, two pearl dot capped screws through the bridge, as Gibson often did.
The DeArmond pickup is the same unit fitted to 1950's Gretsch guitars and early 1960's Guilds but with an altered coverplate and mounted in a flush-fitting chrome ring. The tone and volume knobs are clear gold-tinted plastic with a numbered indicator plate mounted below. After a decent start in 1959 sales for this electrified flat top peaked early. This example was made in 1963, the next-to-last year for the model with only 50 shipped. Martin then tried some more dedicated thinline electric guitar before giving up the idea in the late '60s.
All things considered this is an interesting and fairly unusual guitar, with a useful sound both plugged and unplugged. While not remembered as one of Martin's greatest aesthetic successes it remains a cool period piece, with some uncommon sonic possibilities...it does a fabulous Elmore James impression, for one! These guitars horrified Martin purists when new but 60 or so years on have developed a small but dedicated cult following, partially due to Kurt Cobain's use of the sister model D-18E in the late days of Nirvana. This is as nice an example of this engaging hybrid as we have had.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This 00-18E is in very nice shape overall, an excellent player showing a few fairly minor repairs. The original lacquer finish is in great shape overall, with a some light dings, nicks and scratches over the body but no heavy wear. There is a fair amount of strum wear on the rosette between the soundhole and pickguard, but besides this there are only a few scratches along the bass side of the fingerboard extension.
The only cracks are on the sides; one running along the treble side of lower bout below the output jack, the other along the waist of the bass side. Both have been sealed solidly if not perfectly neatly but at least without notable overspray, and show no signs of growth.
The neck has been neatly reset with a small shim added under the fingerboard extension. The guitar has also had a refret with wire comparable to original 60's specification. The bridge has been neatly reglued, and a new bone saddle was also added. All hardware is original, the plates under the knobs show some corrosion. All of the internal braces and bridgeplate remain intact and untouched. This unique hybrid Martin is currently set up with bronze strings, optimizing the acoustic tone but is also suitable for nickel wrapped strings, which would liven up the electric tone. It is housed in a period correct but not Martin-issue hardshell case, still including the original hang tag. Excellent - Condition.
The 00-18E is one of Martin's earliest attempts at an electric guitar design, using a familiar flat-top as the starting point. This model was introduced at the end of the 1950s when the Martin company first dipped their toes in the amplified market. It is essentially just a standard 00-18 flat top with a magnetic DeArmond pickup and controls added. Unlike the similar Gibson J-160E and Martin's contemporary Dreadnought electrics the 00-18E is a solid top X-braced guitar that retains a surprisingly good acoustic sound. This one has typical period 00-18 features: mahogany body and neck, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoise celluloid binding and pickguard. One difference is Martin fitted a heavier bridgeplate and for some reason, two pearl dot capped screws through the bridge, as Gibson often did.
The DeArmond pickup is the same unit fitted to 1950's Gretsch guitars and early 1960's Guilds but with an altered coverplate and mounted in a flush-fitting chrome ring. The tone and volume knobs are clear gold-tinted plastic with a numbered indicator plate mounted below. After a decent start in 1959 sales for this electrified flat top peaked early. This example was made in 1963, the next-to-last year for the model with only 50 shipped. Martin then tried some more dedicated thinline electric guitar before giving up the idea in the late '60s.
All things considered this is an interesting and fairly unusual guitar, with a useful sound both plugged and unplugged. While not remembered as one of Martin's greatest aesthetic successes it remains a cool period piece, with some uncommon sonic possibilities...it does a fabulous Elmore James impression, for one! These guitars horrified Martin purists when new but 60 or so years on have developed a small but dedicated cult following, partially due to Kurt Cobain's use of the sister model D-18E in the late days of Nirvana. This is as nice an example of this engaging hybrid as we have had.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/4 in. (44 mm.).
This 00-18E is in very nice shape overall, an excellent player showing a few fairly minor repairs. The original lacquer finish is in great shape overall, with a some light dings, nicks and scratches over the body but no heavy wear. There is a fair amount of strum wear on the rosette between the soundhole and pickguard, but besides this there are only a few scratches along the bass side of the fingerboard extension.
The only cracks are on the sides; one running along the treble side of lower bout below the output jack, the other along the waist of the bass side. Both have been sealed solidly if not perfectly neatly but at least without notable overspray, and show no signs of growth.
The neck has been neatly reset with a small shim added under the fingerboard extension. The guitar has also had a refret with wire comparable to original 60's specification. The bridge has been neatly reglued, and a new bone saddle was also added. All hardware is original, the plates under the knobs show some corrosion. All of the internal braces and bridgeplate remain intact and untouched. This unique hybrid Martin is currently set up with bronze strings, optimizing the acoustic tone but is also suitable for nickel wrapped strings, which would liven up the electric tone. It is housed in a period correct but not Martin-issue hardshell case, still including the original hang tag. Excellent - Condition.