C. F. Martin 0-17 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947)
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C. F. Martin 0-17 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1947), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 98994, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, brown chipboard case.
This is a superb playing just post-war Martin 0-17, showing not too much wear for its age with a powerful sound for a small body all-mahogany guitar. This 0-17 was built in early 1947 by which time it had already proved a very popular design, having made a major contribution to Martin's bottom line during the depression.
Exactly 600 of these little mahogany wonders were shipped out this still heavily rationed year; with a further 75 in 1948. That year it was officially discontinued in favor of the 0-15, the same guitar with a less polished finish which allowed Martin to lower the production cost just a bit. With WWII only just in the rearview mirror inexpensive instruments continued to be important to Martin's bottom line. Listing for the now seemingly inconsequential sum of $40.00 in 1947, the 0-17 still represented an expensive proposition for many Americans at the time. At the time you could get a guitar from Sears for $3.98!
While the 0-17 is plain looking and stood close to the bottom of Martin's guitar line, it is still built of high-grade materials to the company's traditional exemplary standards. Designed to offer a reliable, great sounding instrument at the lowest price Martin could manage, the Style 17 instruments are a study in elegant minimalism. The body is all mahogany, with no ornament except for the soundhole ring and headstock decal.
The neck has a chunkier carve then some, with a very subtle "V" feel. The unbound, dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard has an ebony nut. The individual thin-gear riveted tuners with white plastic buttons are a leftover from the wartime production, when metals were stringently rationed. Then as now 0-17 is a fully professional-quality instrument, extremely responsive with a rich, singing tone. This is one of the nicer examples from the 0-17's final early post-war incarnation we have had, a great player and wonderful instrument in every way.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall, this Martin has been kept in very solid shape over the last 75+ years. The original lacquer finish has seen some honest wear over the neck and body but shows no sign of refinishing or overspray. The only visible crack is located along the bass side of the lower bout, where a very small pair of tight grain splits were likely caused by an impact to the side. They are solidly sealed showing no signs of movement or growth.
This 0-17 has had a neck reset as well as a fairly recent refret with fret wire comparable to the period, if a bit taller. A repro ebony nut has been added as well. The back of the neck has a couple of feelable capo wear dinks right where you'd expect them, behind the 3rd, 5th and 7th frets.
Internally, all of the original braces and bridgeplate have remained untouched. The original rosewood bridge has been previously reglued, and a new bone saddle neatly installed. The original pickguard has remained in perfect shape, with a minimal amount of strum wear along the bottom of the pickguard and the soundhole rim. The tuners are the original wartime units This Martin plays perfectly and has a huge sound for a small mahogany guitar; it is housed in a 60's chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a superb playing just post-war Martin 0-17, showing not too much wear for its age with a powerful sound for a small body all-mahogany guitar. This 0-17 was built in early 1947 by which time it had already proved a very popular design, having made a major contribution to Martin's bottom line during the depression.
Exactly 600 of these little mahogany wonders were shipped out this still heavily rationed year; with a further 75 in 1948. That year it was officially discontinued in favor of the 0-15, the same guitar with a less polished finish which allowed Martin to lower the production cost just a bit. With WWII only just in the rearview mirror inexpensive instruments continued to be important to Martin's bottom line. Listing for the now seemingly inconsequential sum of $40.00 in 1947, the 0-17 still represented an expensive proposition for many Americans at the time. At the time you could get a guitar from Sears for $3.98!
While the 0-17 is plain looking and stood close to the bottom of Martin's guitar line, it is still built of high-grade materials to the company's traditional exemplary standards. Designed to offer a reliable, great sounding instrument at the lowest price Martin could manage, the Style 17 instruments are a study in elegant minimalism. The body is all mahogany, with no ornament except for the soundhole ring and headstock decal.
The neck has a chunkier carve then some, with a very subtle "V" feel. The unbound, dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard has an ebony nut. The individual thin-gear riveted tuners with white plastic buttons are a leftover from the wartime production, when metals were stringently rationed. Then as now 0-17 is a fully professional-quality instrument, extremely responsive with a rich, singing tone. This is one of the nicer examples from the 0-17's final early post-war incarnation we have had, a great player and wonderful instrument in every way.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall, this Martin has been kept in very solid shape over the last 75+ years. The original lacquer finish has seen some honest wear over the neck and body but shows no sign of refinishing or overspray. The only visible crack is located along the bass side of the lower bout, where a very small pair of tight grain splits were likely caused by an impact to the side. They are solidly sealed showing no signs of movement or growth.
This 0-17 has had a neck reset as well as a fairly recent refret with fret wire comparable to the period, if a bit taller. A repro ebony nut has been added as well. The back of the neck has a couple of feelable capo wear dinks right where you'd expect them, behind the 3rd, 5th and 7th frets.
Internally, all of the original braces and bridgeplate have remained untouched. The original rosewood bridge has been previously reglued, and a new bone saddle neatly installed. The original pickguard has remained in perfect shape, with a minimal amount of strum wear along the bottom of the pickguard and the soundhole rim. The tuners are the original wartime units This Martin plays perfectly and has a huge sound for a small mahogany guitar; it is housed in a 60's chipboard case. Overall Excellent - Condition.