C. F. Martin 0-17 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1931)
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Item # 11086
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C. F. Martin 0-17 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1931), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 47766, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, original black chipboard case.
This is a truly superb example of a transitional Depression-era Martin 0-17 in very fine condition for its age. Not only does this guitar show only light wear but it is also a wonderful player with a surprisingly powerful voice for a small all-mahogany guitar. This 0-17 was built in mid-1931, as the clock was ticking for the switch to a "modern" fourteen fret design. At the time the Depression was hitting its worst point and this small, affordable guitar was unsurprisingly one of Martin's best sellers. This model may well have had a major role in keeping the company in business that year.
This 0-17 is a direct descendant of Martin's first 12 fret, 2-17 steel string budget guitars of the early 1920's, which were a novel idea for the company at the time. Designed to offer a reliable, great sounding instrument at the lowest price Martin could possibly manage, these Style 17 instruments were a study in elegant minimalism. The body is all mahogany, with no ornament except for the 5-ply soundhole ring and tortoise celluloid pickguard, a new fitting at the time.
The top is very delicately scallop braced, but fully designed for steel strings. The neck has a shallow very soft "V" profile with an unbound, tiny-dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The ebony nut is wider than later models at 1 13/16". The traditional Martin bar frets were retained until early 1934, then supplanted by modern tang fretwire. The tuners are unplated brass strips with black plastic buttons.
While plain in appearance and at the bottom of the Martin guitar line, The 0-17 is still built of high-grade materials to the company's lofty standards. Decent guitars could be had at the time much cheaper from the likes of Harmony, Regal or the Sears catalog, but none came close to the sonic value of this instrument. All of 353 of these little mahogany wonders were shipped in 1931, a large number for the company at that time and an indication of how their dealers must have been clamoring for an affordable Martin guitar. While the original price of $30.00 may seem laughable today, in 1931 this was still a fairly expensive proposition for many Americans struggling to make ends meet.
Then as now 0-17 is a fully professional-quality guitar, extremely responsive with a rich, singing tone that belies its small size and humble appearance. This final 12-fret version with a pickguard is a fairly rare variation of the model and a true treat for the Martin connoisseur as well as the casual strummer. As a bonus this guitar includes the original chipboard case and some period instructional materials.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 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 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This is one of the better preserved early depression-era mahogany Martins we have seen in some time, showing signs of use but really amazingly clean and solid for being over 90 years old. The finish is completely original showing only small dings, dents and scrapes, with little of the common pick wear on the top. There is one deeper ding near the curve of the lower treble bout.
This Martin has survived the past 90 years with only a few notable minor repairs that mostly appear impact related. There is one short grain split along the waist of the bass side, fairly inconspicuous. On the turn of the lower bout of the treble side near the back seam is a more visible split, sealed solidly but not as neatly. The back has an impact mark on the center of the lower bass bout, with several small spider cracks sealed up but plainly visible. None of these have been touched up.
The original brass strip tuners with black buttons have been neatly reinstalled, leaving no visible trace of a previous more modern set. The original pickguard and ebony nut remain virtually untouched, as well as all of the delicate internal bracing and very small maple bridgeplate. The original bar frets have a fresh grind and polish and are in superb shape with plenty of life left, the neck has been neatly reset and the rosewood bridge is a replacement matching the original footprint but somewhat lower with a low bone saddle. The original non-slotted black plastic bridgepins are still present.
This depression-era 0-17 is really a lovely find with a huge shimmering sound for a small mahogany guitar, one of the nicest examples of this rare transitional version of the instrument we have ever had. It is still housed in the original chipboard case, which includes a couple vintage instruction booklets and other case candy including a vintage embroidered cummerbund! This Martin is a lovely sounding instrument combining the 1920s 12-fret body with the slightly sturdier depression-era construction, a real gem for a variety of musical styles. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a truly superb example of a transitional Depression-era Martin 0-17 in very fine condition for its age. Not only does this guitar show only light wear but it is also a wonderful player with a surprisingly powerful voice for a small all-mahogany guitar. This 0-17 was built in mid-1931, as the clock was ticking for the switch to a "modern" fourteen fret design. At the time the Depression was hitting its worst point and this small, affordable guitar was unsurprisingly one of Martin's best sellers. This model may well have had a major role in keeping the company in business that year.
This 0-17 is a direct descendant of Martin's first 12 fret, 2-17 steel string budget guitars of the early 1920's, which were a novel idea for the company at the time. Designed to offer a reliable, great sounding instrument at the lowest price Martin could possibly manage, these Style 17 instruments were a study in elegant minimalism. The body is all mahogany, with no ornament except for the 5-ply soundhole ring and tortoise celluloid pickguard, a new fitting at the time.
The top is very delicately scallop braced, but fully designed for steel strings. The neck has a shallow very soft "V" profile with an unbound, tiny-dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The ebony nut is wider than later models at 1 13/16". The traditional Martin bar frets were retained until early 1934, then supplanted by modern tang fretwire. The tuners are unplated brass strips with black plastic buttons.
While plain in appearance and at the bottom of the Martin guitar line, The 0-17 is still built of high-grade materials to the company's lofty standards. Decent guitars could be had at the time much cheaper from the likes of Harmony, Regal or the Sears catalog, but none came close to the sonic value of this instrument. All of 353 of these little mahogany wonders were shipped in 1931, a large number for the company at that time and an indication of how their dealers must have been clamoring for an affordable Martin guitar. While the original price of $30.00 may seem laughable today, in 1931 this was still a fairly expensive proposition for many Americans struggling to make ends meet.
Then as now 0-17 is a fully professional-quality guitar, extremely responsive with a rich, singing tone that belies its small size and humble appearance. This final 12-fret version with a pickguard is a fairly rare variation of the model and a true treat for the Martin connoisseur as well as the casual strummer. As a bonus this guitar includes the original chipboard case and some period instructional materials.
Overall length is 38 in. (96.5 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 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 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
This is one of the better preserved early depression-era mahogany Martins we have seen in some time, showing signs of use but really amazingly clean and solid for being over 90 years old. The finish is completely original showing only small dings, dents and scrapes, with little of the common pick wear on the top. There is one deeper ding near the curve of the lower treble bout.
This Martin has survived the past 90 years with only a few notable minor repairs that mostly appear impact related. There is one short grain split along the waist of the bass side, fairly inconspicuous. On the turn of the lower bout of the treble side near the back seam is a more visible split, sealed solidly but not as neatly. The back has an impact mark on the center of the lower bass bout, with several small spider cracks sealed up but plainly visible. None of these have been touched up.
The original brass strip tuners with black buttons have been neatly reinstalled, leaving no visible trace of a previous more modern set. The original pickguard and ebony nut remain virtually untouched, as well as all of the delicate internal bracing and very small maple bridgeplate. The original bar frets have a fresh grind and polish and are in superb shape with plenty of life left, the neck has been neatly reset and the rosewood bridge is a replacement matching the original footprint but somewhat lower with a low bone saddle. The original non-slotted black plastic bridgepins are still present.
This depression-era 0-17 is really a lovely find with a huge shimmering sound for a small mahogany guitar, one of the nicest examples of this rare transitional version of the instrument we have ever had. It is still housed in the original chipboard case, which includes a couple vintage instruction booklets and other case candy including a vintage embroidered cummerbund! This Martin is a lovely sounding instrument combining the 1920s 12-fret body with the slightly sturdier depression-era construction, a real gem for a variety of musical styles. Overall Excellent Condition.