C. F. Martin 00-18H Shade Top Conversion Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1938)
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Item # 12055
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C. F. Martin 00-18H Shade Top Conversion Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1938), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 70503, sunburst top, natural back and sides finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top and ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This lovely 1938 Martin 00-18H with a custom-ordered shaded top finish has had a superb professional conversion from the original Hawaiian mode including a neck reset, fretwork with Martin-style bar frets and a repro bridge. The result is a superb playing and sounding instrument, a rare guitar with a distinct character.
The Hawaiian guitar was well on the march to electrification in 1938, so the market was starting to fade for acoustic flat tops built specifically for lap players. This one dates to the middle of the year, one of only 75 sold that year at a list price of $50 (plus case). All of 255 00-18Hs were built in total, and many would have featured a natural top finish instead of the deep sunburst seen here. By this time the "regular" 00-18 was a 14-fret model, this Hawaiian variant was the only 12-fret version available.
The 00-18H is a fairly modest instrument, the only mahogany Hawaiian model in the company's mid-30's line. It was primarily intended for students; teaching the Hawaiian guitar was still big business in the 1930s. Like all Style 18 models it is built with mahogany back and sides and a spruce top but maintaining the same workmanship standards as the highest-grade instruments.
The "Shaded" or "Dark" top catalog option for certain Martin models first appeared in the early 1930's. Originally a fairly subtle amber tone darkening around the edges, by the time this guitar was made the shading was deeper and bolder giving the whole top a darker look. This option was likely originally inspired by Martin customers and/or dealers and looking at Gibsons and wanting a similar look. Period catalog listings for the Style 18 noted "This style will be furnished with a shaded dark top instead of natural finish on request at no extra charge" but few were actually ordered.
Apart from the sunburst top the trim is simple with tortoise celluloid binding on the body, multiple W/B/W soundhole rings and graduated pearl dot inlay on the unbound ebony fingerboard. The guitar has "modern'' features like the belly bridge and tortoise celluloid pickguard not seen on 1920s 12-fret guitars. The tuners are older strip units with ivoroid buttons that look a bit old for this era; Martin was likely using up old stock on these now "outdated" slotted headstocks.
Martin's pre-war Hawaiian guitars were braced just *slightly* heavier than other models, but still scalloped to prewar standards. They tops are sturdier than their 1920's ancestors and of course designed for steel strings. They tend to have somewhat more punch than their 14-fret 1930s Spanish cousins when driven hard, but are still quite responsive. This is a great playing, super sharp-looking prewar Martin in spectacular condition, distinctive both visually and sonically.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 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 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
This 85+ year old 00-18H looks and sounds fabulous, a truly stellar example. Overall it is very well preserved, showing only light wear and a conversion from Hawaiian to standard play that was very professionally completed. The original lacquer finish has been kept in excellent shape with only some light scratches, dings and dents. The top has is one noticeable chip down to the wood in the lower bout which has been neatly touched up. There are no cracks anywhere, which is fantastic for a Martin of this vintage.
The original straight-saddle ebony bridge has been replaced with a modern repro ebony bridge and bone saddle. Internally, all of the original braces and maple bridge plate remain intact. The bridge pin holes on the low E and A string have been neatly plugged and redrilled to prevent further deterioration to the bridge plate. As part of the conversion the neck has been neatly reset, with an ebony shim discreetly added under the fingerboard extension. The guitar has been expertly fretted with earlier '30s style bar frets; there are some very minor divots along the high E and B string.
This distinctive Martin not only looks spectacular but has a lovely sound, very deep and punchy for a mahogany 00 sized guitar. It remains quite responsive but more capable of forcing than many earlier 12-fret 00's, thanks to the slightly stiffer Hawaiian bracing. This is as nice an example of this fairly rare model as we have ever seen, housed in a modern hardshell TKL case. Overall Excellent Condition.
This lovely 1938 Martin 00-18H with a custom-ordered shaded top finish has had a superb professional conversion from the original Hawaiian mode including a neck reset, fretwork with Martin-style bar frets and a repro bridge. The result is a superb playing and sounding instrument, a rare guitar with a distinct character.
The Hawaiian guitar was well on the march to electrification in 1938, so the market was starting to fade for acoustic flat tops built specifically for lap players. This one dates to the middle of the year, one of only 75 sold that year at a list price of $50 (plus case). All of 255 00-18Hs were built in total, and many would have featured a natural top finish instead of the deep sunburst seen here. By this time the "regular" 00-18 was a 14-fret model, this Hawaiian variant was the only 12-fret version available.
The 00-18H is a fairly modest instrument, the only mahogany Hawaiian model in the company's mid-30's line. It was primarily intended for students; teaching the Hawaiian guitar was still big business in the 1930s. Like all Style 18 models it is built with mahogany back and sides and a spruce top but maintaining the same workmanship standards as the highest-grade instruments.
The "Shaded" or "Dark" top catalog option for certain Martin models first appeared in the early 1930's. Originally a fairly subtle amber tone darkening around the edges, by the time this guitar was made the shading was deeper and bolder giving the whole top a darker look. This option was likely originally inspired by Martin customers and/or dealers and looking at Gibsons and wanting a similar look. Period catalog listings for the Style 18 noted "This style will be furnished with a shaded dark top instead of natural finish on request at no extra charge" but few were actually ordered.
Apart from the sunburst top the trim is simple with tortoise celluloid binding on the body, multiple W/B/W soundhole rings and graduated pearl dot inlay on the unbound ebony fingerboard. The guitar has "modern'' features like the belly bridge and tortoise celluloid pickguard not seen on 1920s 12-fret guitars. The tuners are older strip units with ivoroid buttons that look a bit old for this era; Martin was likely using up old stock on these now "outdated" slotted headstocks.
Martin's pre-war Hawaiian guitars were braced just *slightly* heavier than other models, but still scalloped to prewar standards. They tops are sturdier than their 1920's ancestors and of course designed for steel strings. They tend to have somewhat more punch than their 14-fret 1930s Spanish cousins when driven hard, but are still quite responsive. This is a great playing, super sharp-looking prewar Martin in spectacular condition, distinctive both visually and sonically.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 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 7/8 in. (48 mm.).
This 85+ year old 00-18H looks and sounds fabulous, a truly stellar example. Overall it is very well preserved, showing only light wear and a conversion from Hawaiian to standard play that was very professionally completed. The original lacquer finish has been kept in excellent shape with only some light scratches, dings and dents. The top has is one noticeable chip down to the wood in the lower bout which has been neatly touched up. There are no cracks anywhere, which is fantastic for a Martin of this vintage.
The original straight-saddle ebony bridge has been replaced with a modern repro ebony bridge and bone saddle. Internally, all of the original braces and maple bridge plate remain intact. The bridge pin holes on the low E and A string have been neatly plugged and redrilled to prevent further deterioration to the bridge plate. As part of the conversion the neck has been neatly reset, with an ebony shim discreetly added under the fingerboard extension. The guitar has been expertly fretted with earlier '30s style bar frets; there are some very minor divots along the high E and B string.
This distinctive Martin not only looks spectacular but has a lovely sound, very deep and punchy for a mahogany 00 sized guitar. It remains quite responsive but more capable of forcing than many earlier 12-fret 00's, thanks to the slightly stiffer Hawaiian bracing. This is as nice an example of this fairly rare model as we have ever seen, housed in a modern hardshell TKL case. Overall Excellent Condition.