C. F. Martin 000-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1964)
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C. F. Martin 000-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1964), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 198688, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, black hard shell case.
This is a great sounding 000-18 built in late 1964, just as the "guitar boom" era was approaching its peak. That year the C.F. Martin company had left their 130+ year old red brick factory to move "down the road" to their new modern plant. This 1964 model would be an early product of that newer factory but still retains the same look and feel as the older 1960's Martins. The spruce top has the traditional tortoise celluloid pickguard and binding, which would be replaced by black plastic a few years on. Other typical older-style features include the long-saddle rosewood bridge, individual Grover Sta-Tite tuners with hexagonal bushings and a typical '60's rounded-edge peghead.
To many players and Martin fans, the 000-18 has always been one of the company's most propitious and beloved combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration. The mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top makes for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The 1960s mahogany neck is fairly slim with the subtlest of rounded "V" profiles
The 000-18 was a fairly expensive guitar for the time listing at $189.50 (plus case) which was raised to an even $200 at the beginning of 1965. This represented a substantial investment to many folk and amateur players, especially as the increasingly popular D-18 could be had for only $50 more. This example was built around late 1964, when the new factory had been up and running for a few months. It is one of only 276 000-18's shipped that year, when the Dreadnought D-18 sold just over 1000 units making this mahogany 000 something of a rarity by comparison. With 55+ years of ageing behind it this is an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has plenty of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine, a lovely and versatile instrument.
Overall length is 39 7/8 in. (101.3 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This mahogany 000 remains nicely original and an excellent player, showing light wear and some relatively minor repairs. The original lacquer finish is nicely aged, finely checked and ambered but it does not show excessive wear. There are some dings, dents and light pick marks scattered around the top, most notable on the lower edge of the soundhole rim which has a few spots down into the wood.
The finish on the back and sides shows fairly light wear with some dings, dents and scratches, the back of the neck is mostly clean with a few tiny dings and dents. There is some repair work to the top, most notably a reseal to the center seam which involved adding a thin splice; this was topically touched up but is still visible. A small grain split in the common spot off the top edge of the pickguard has been sealed and cleated. The lower side has a long neatly repaired crack running from just below the endpin along the lower treble bout to the lower waist; this has been very neatly repaired and touched up and is inconspicuous, the internal cleating is nicely done as well.
The neck has been neatly reset. The original bracing and small maple bridgeplate are intact, and the original rosewood bridge was very slightly cut down but does not appear reglued. The original frets show some very little wear. Well past its 60th birthday this guitar feels and sounds even "older" than it actually is, with a nice punchy but still mellow ring. A sweet sounding and friendly playing Martin, it has been well repaired where it was needed and played in perfectly. It is housed in a later black Tolex HSC Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a great sounding 000-18 built in late 1964, just as the "guitar boom" era was approaching its peak. That year the C.F. Martin company had left their 130+ year old red brick factory to move "down the road" to their new modern plant. This 1964 model would be an early product of that newer factory but still retains the same look and feel as the older 1960's Martins. The spruce top has the traditional tortoise celluloid pickguard and binding, which would be replaced by black plastic a few years on. Other typical older-style features include the long-saddle rosewood bridge, individual Grover Sta-Tite tuners with hexagonal bushings and a typical '60's rounded-edge peghead.
To many players and Martin fans, the 000-18 has always been one of the company's most propitious and beloved combinations of wood, wire, and inspiration. The mahogany back and sides coupled with a spruce top makes for a transparent but warm and responsive guitar; the 15" wide narrow-waisted 000-size body contributes both depth and clarity to the sound. The 1960s mahogany neck is fairly slim with the subtlest of rounded "V" profiles
The 000-18 was a fairly expensive guitar for the time listing at $189.50 (plus case) which was raised to an even $200 at the beginning of 1965. This represented a substantial investment to many folk and amateur players, especially as the increasingly popular D-18 could be had for only $50 more. This example was built around late 1964, when the new factory had been up and running for a few months. It is one of only 276 000-18's shipped that year, when the Dreadnought D-18 sold just over 1000 units making this mahogany 000 something of a rarity by comparison. With 55+ years of ageing behind it this is an excellent fingerpicker's instrument but also has plenty of punch and clarity as a straight rhythm machine, a lovely and versatile instrument.
Overall length is 39 7/8 in. (101.3 cm.), 15 3/16 in. (38.6 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 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This mahogany 000 remains nicely original and an excellent player, showing light wear and some relatively minor repairs. The original lacquer finish is nicely aged, finely checked and ambered but it does not show excessive wear. There are some dings, dents and light pick marks scattered around the top, most notable on the lower edge of the soundhole rim which has a few spots down into the wood.
The finish on the back and sides shows fairly light wear with some dings, dents and scratches, the back of the neck is mostly clean with a few tiny dings and dents. There is some repair work to the top, most notably a reseal to the center seam which involved adding a thin splice; this was topically touched up but is still visible. A small grain split in the common spot off the top edge of the pickguard has been sealed and cleated. The lower side has a long neatly repaired crack running from just below the endpin along the lower treble bout to the lower waist; this has been very neatly repaired and touched up and is inconspicuous, the internal cleating is nicely done as well.
The neck has been neatly reset. The original bracing and small maple bridgeplate are intact, and the original rosewood bridge was very slightly cut down but does not appear reglued. The original frets show some very little wear. Well past its 60th birthday this guitar feels and sounds even "older" than it actually is, with a nice punchy but still mellow ring. A sweet sounding and friendly playing Martin, it has been well repaired where it was needed and played in perfectly. It is housed in a later black Tolex HSC Overall Very Good + Condition.