C. F. Martin 000-21 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950)
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Item # 12832
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C. F. Martin 000-21 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 117093, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This wonderful Auditorium-size Brazilian rosewood Martin is a postwar 000-21 made in 1950. The 000-21 itself was never a particularly common guitar; as a higher midline instrument it fell between the pricing cracks somewhat and was never a particularly good seller. In 1950 only 97 of these were built (listing at $120) far fewer than the mahogany 000-18 (416) and even the fancier rosewood 000-28 (124). The model's sales continued to lag as the decade went on and it was officially discontinued in 1959.
The Style 21 has the same design and materials as the more celebrated Style 28, just with plainer trim. After the war use of the distinctive herringbone soundhole and backstrip trim was discontinued, leaving the Style 21 pretty much looking like a Style 18 visually. The main difference of course was the Brazilian rosewood body instead of mahogany used for the Style 18.
Other features include a nicely even grained spruce top, large pearl dot inlay on the rosewood fingerboard, multiple top and back binding with tortoise Celluloid outer layer, an ivory Celluloid soundhole ring and a tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard. The neck profile is fairly thin with a comfortable round-backed contour with the subtle a hint of a V in the middle. This is a great sounding guitar equally at home with for finger- or flatpicking in virtually any style of music, an often overlooked model but a real postwar gem.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 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 lovely early post-war Martin shows some signs of play through 75 years, but has generally survived in very nice condition. The original lacquer finish is intact with no overspray showing moderately light wear with checking and small dings, scratches and dents overall. The top has some strum wear to the wood above the soundhole, off the back edge of the pickguard and most heavily to the lower part of the soundhole rim. The rest of the body is fairly clean with light scratches on treble side of lower bout on the back and some deeper dings to the lower rim. The finish is lightly worn through on the back of the neck between the 1st and 3rd fret area.
There is one cleated top crack along the outside edge of the pickguard, the only visible crack on the guitar. It is fitted with a repro rosewood bridge and bone saddle, the top of the bridge appears to have been lightly sanded down after installation. Internally the original braces and small maple bridgeplate are all still intact. The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard trued and refretted with wire close to 1950's spec, the nut was replaced as well. The rosewood fingerboard shows some light divots between the 1st and 7th fret. A modern metal endpin has been fitted and a strap button installed long ago on the treble side of heel. There is a set of modern repro Kluson Deluxe tuners fitted.
Overall this is still a nicely original feeling guitar with a superb and very even sound that is brighter than some rosewood 000's we have had with a real sing to it. It resides in a later HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This wonderful Auditorium-size Brazilian rosewood Martin is a postwar 000-21 made in 1950. The 000-21 itself was never a particularly common guitar; as a higher midline instrument it fell between the pricing cracks somewhat and was never a particularly good seller. In 1950 only 97 of these were built (listing at $120) far fewer than the mahogany 000-18 (416) and even the fancier rosewood 000-28 (124). The model's sales continued to lag as the decade went on and it was officially discontinued in 1959.
The Style 21 has the same design and materials as the more celebrated Style 28, just with plainer trim. After the war use of the distinctive herringbone soundhole and backstrip trim was discontinued, leaving the Style 21 pretty much looking like a Style 18 visually. The main difference of course was the Brazilian rosewood body instead of mahogany used for the Style 18.
Other features include a nicely even grained spruce top, large pearl dot inlay on the rosewood fingerboard, multiple top and back binding with tortoise Celluloid outer layer, an ivory Celluloid soundhole ring and a tortoise pattern Celluloid pickguard. The neck profile is fairly thin with a comfortable round-backed contour with the subtle a hint of a V in the middle. This is a great sounding guitar equally at home with for finger- or flatpicking in virtually any style of music, an often overlooked model but a real postwar gem.
Overall length is 40 in. (101.6 cm.), 15 1/4 in. (38.7 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 lovely early post-war Martin shows some signs of play through 75 years, but has generally survived in very nice condition. The original lacquer finish is intact with no overspray showing moderately light wear with checking and small dings, scratches and dents overall. The top has some strum wear to the wood above the soundhole, off the back edge of the pickguard and most heavily to the lower part of the soundhole rim. The rest of the body is fairly clean with light scratches on treble side of lower bout on the back and some deeper dings to the lower rim. The finish is lightly worn through on the back of the neck between the 1st and 3rd fret area.
There is one cleated top crack along the outside edge of the pickguard, the only visible crack on the guitar. It is fitted with a repro rosewood bridge and bone saddle, the top of the bridge appears to have been lightly sanded down after installation. Internally the original braces and small maple bridgeplate are all still intact. The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard trued and refretted with wire close to 1950's spec, the nut was replaced as well. The rosewood fingerboard shows some light divots between the 1st and 7th fret. A modern metal endpin has been fitted and a strap button installed long ago on the treble side of heel. There is a set of modern repro Kluson Deluxe tuners fitted.
Overall this is still a nicely original feeling guitar with a superb and very even sound that is brighter than some rosewood 000's we have had with a real sing to it. It resides in a later HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.