C. F. Martin 000-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1961)

C. F. Martin  000-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar  (1961)
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Item # 11018
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C. F. Martin 000-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1961), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 181084, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black hard shell case.

This is a very clean and great sounding 000-18 built right at the end of 1961, just as the "folk era" era was about to peak. A couple of years later the C.F. Martin company would leave their 130+ year old red brick factory to move "down the road" to their new modern plant. A host of production changes would then begin to affect their guitars, but this 1961 model retains the look, feel and sound of the older 1950's Martins. The spruce top has the traditional tortoise celluloid pickguard and binding, which would be replaced by black plastic later in the '60s. Other typical older-style features include the long-saddle rosewood bridge, individual Grover Sta-Tite tuners with hexagonal bushings and a typical '60's rounded-edge peghead.

To many players and Martin fans, the 000-18 has always been one of the company's most propitious and beloved combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration. The mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top makes for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The mahogany neck is fairly slim with a rounded soft "V" profile.

The 000-18 was a fairly expensive guitar for the time listing at $160 (plus case) in early 1961, raised to $175 in mid-'62. This represented a substantial investment to many folk and amateur players, especially as the increasingly popular D-18 could be had for only $35 more. This example was built late in 1961, one of 351 000-18's shipped. The Dreadnought D-18 sold 675 units that same year, making this mahogany 000 somewhat rarer in comparison. With 55+ years of ageing behind it this is an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has plenty of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine as well.
 
Overall length is 39 7/8 in. (101.3 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 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.).
This 60+ year old mahogany 000 remains very well preserved, with only some light wear and very minor repair. The all-original lacquer finish has a handful of small nicks and scratches over the body and neck, but no notable heavy wear. There are a few deeper marks into the wood on the treble side of the lower bout, with some very minimal pick scratches along the length of the pickguard and upper bout. The soundhole edge (usually the first victim if pick attacks) has only a few tiny marks. The back of the neck has a few tiny dinks.

The only crack repair on this guitar is a small grain split at the apex of the bass side lower bout, sealed but with no finish added. There is also a very small area of just slightly grain pulled grain on the top along the outer edge of the pickguard, a very common occurrence from the celluloid shrinking.

The neck has been very neatly reset, the original bridge had been previously reglued and slightly lowered. The interior of the guitar is practically flawless. The original small maple bridge plate is untouched, as are all of the braces. The frets have been leveled, and appear to be original. Well past its 60th birthday this guitar feels and sounds even "older" than it actually is, with a nice dry but still mellow ring reminiscent of the 1950's mahogany 000's. This is a super sweet guitar and extremely friendly playing Martin, clean overall but played in just right. It is housed in a modern black tolex HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.