C. F. Martin 00-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1964)
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C. F. Martin 00-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1964), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 194641, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black hard shell case.
This is a somewhat played-in but original early 1964 00-18, a typical "Folk Era" grand concert model built in the last few months before Martin's move to a new larger factory led to a host of production changes. The old North Street shop in Nazareth had been overwhelmed by increasing demand for the company's products, especially after the runaway success of the Kingston Trio. The new modern facility opened in mid-1964 allowed them to ramp up production dramatically, but the guitars were no longer built in quite the same way as they had been for the previous 100+ years.
This first-quarter-1964 00-18 retains all the older style features including the "long saddle" rosewood bridge and the tortoise celluloid outer binding and pickguard. The mahogany neck is slim and comfortable, round-backed in the lower positions but with the hint of a 'V' contour as it moves towards the body. The tuners are individual Grover Sta-Tites mounted on the typically rounded-edge headstock which features a figured rosewood overlay. Overall the guitar is more lightly constructed than late '60s examples and has a very lively sound.
A total of 551 00-18s were shipped in 1964, priced at $164.50, plus case. At the time the large Dreadnought guitars were becoming ever more popular, already starting to eclipse these smaller-bodied flat tops in sales. These days the smaller Martins are once again more appreciated, and have experienced a renaissance among players of many styles. This mahogany 00 is one of Martin's most versatile designs, equally at home fingerpicking ragtime and blues, as a strummer's songwriting and recording mainstay, leading a band onstage with a pickup added or just the perfect couch guitar.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This 61 year old Martin 00 shows some wear but nothing to serious. The original thin lacquer finish has dings, dents and scuffs overall with some light scattered strum wear south of pickguard and the lower soundhole rim, with small nicks and dents scattered behind the bridge. The back has some fairly heavy vinyl strap burn along the center seam but not much buckle wear. The back of the neck has some small dinks but no heavy wear.
The only notable structural repair is to an impact spot on the side along the curve of the lower bout on the treble side. This also caused a crack at the top/side joint alongside the binding. This area has been sealed and touched up but the repairs are plainly visible. The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard trued and refretted with appropriate wire. There are no top cracks and all original braces and the small maple bridgeplate are intact; one finger brace on bass side was previously reglued. The original bridge is intact, lowered slightly and reglued with a new bone saddle.
The original Grover machines are intact and fully functional. This is a neat little player, one of the last to come out of the storied old red-brick Martin factory. It has a strong but sweet bright midrangey voice and with care will still be singing for many decades to come. It is housed in a later HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a somewhat played-in but original early 1964 00-18, a typical "Folk Era" grand concert model built in the last few months before Martin's move to a new larger factory led to a host of production changes. The old North Street shop in Nazareth had been overwhelmed by increasing demand for the company's products, especially after the runaway success of the Kingston Trio. The new modern facility opened in mid-1964 allowed them to ramp up production dramatically, but the guitars were no longer built in quite the same way as they had been for the previous 100+ years.
This first-quarter-1964 00-18 retains all the older style features including the "long saddle" rosewood bridge and the tortoise celluloid outer binding and pickguard. The mahogany neck is slim and comfortable, round-backed in the lower positions but with the hint of a 'V' contour as it moves towards the body. The tuners are individual Grover Sta-Tites mounted on the typically rounded-edge headstock which features a figured rosewood overlay. Overall the guitar is more lightly constructed than late '60s examples and has a very lively sound.
A total of 551 00-18s were shipped in 1964, priced at $164.50, plus case. At the time the large Dreadnought guitars were becoming ever more popular, already starting to eclipse these smaller-bodied flat tops in sales. These days the smaller Martins are once again more appreciated, and have experienced a renaissance among players of many styles. This mahogany 00 is one of Martin's most versatile designs, equally at home fingerpicking ragtime and blues, as a strummer's songwriting and recording mainstay, leading a band onstage with a pickup added or just the perfect couch guitar.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 14 3/8 in. (36.5 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This 61 year old Martin 00 shows some wear but nothing to serious. The original thin lacquer finish has dings, dents and scuffs overall with some light scattered strum wear south of pickguard and the lower soundhole rim, with small nicks and dents scattered behind the bridge. The back has some fairly heavy vinyl strap burn along the center seam but not much buckle wear. The back of the neck has some small dinks but no heavy wear.
The only notable structural repair is to an impact spot on the side along the curve of the lower bout on the treble side. This also caused a crack at the top/side joint alongside the binding. This area has been sealed and touched up but the repairs are plainly visible. The neck has been neatly reset and the fingerboard trued and refretted with appropriate wire. There are no top cracks and all original braces and the small maple bridgeplate are intact; one finger brace on bass side was previously reglued. The original bridge is intact, lowered slightly and reglued with a new bone saddle.
The original Grover machines are intact and fully functional. This is a neat little player, one of the last to come out of the storied old red-brick Martin factory. It has a strong but sweet bright midrangey voice and with care will still be singing for many decades to come. It is housed in a later HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.