C. F. Martin 00-17 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1956)
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Item # 8548
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C. F. Martin 00-17 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1956), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 147928, natural lacquer finish, Mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black rigid foam case.
This is a nicely preserved Martin 00-17 from early 1956, a few years on from its 60th birthday! The 00-17 was the largest and most expensive of the all-mahogany Martins of the 1950s, which were the company's budget offerings of the period. These Style 17 guitars were sold at a more modest price (list on this 00 was $95 in 1956) but still built to the same quality standards as other Martins. To achieve this economy, the company deleted the spruce top and used only the most minimal decoration: no binding anywhere and only small dot fingerboard inlay. Typical features for this year include openback Waverly tuning pegs with plastic buttons, a 5-ply sound hole ring, the small straight rosewood bridge, and a tortoise celluloid pickguard.
Vintage mahogany-top Martin guitars are known for their distinctive ringing tone, with a somewhat "tighter" detailed response on each note. They are generally considered excellent fingerpickers, especially suited to early blues and ragtime styles. The larger 00 body size gives the sound more depth than the smaller 0 size models and this is also a good general "strummer's" guitar. The 00-17 records and amplifies easily and also makes for an excellent singer-songwriter's instrument as well as a great all-around choice in a vintage Martin that won't break the bank.
Overall length is 38 13/16 in. (98.6 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 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 guitar is mostly very well-preserved; the finish shows some wear overall, but nothing excessive. There are small scrapes and dings, with an isolated area of pickwear into the lacquer on the upper treble bout in front of the pickguard. There are no cracks or notable repairs. The neck has recently been reset and refretted with period correct wire and playability is excellent. This is also an excellent-sounding example with a bigger tone than some '50s 00-17s we have had. Includes a modern hard foam carrying case. Excellent - Condition.
This is a nicely preserved Martin 00-17 from early 1956, a few years on from its 60th birthday! The 00-17 was the largest and most expensive of the all-mahogany Martins of the 1950s, which were the company's budget offerings of the period. These Style 17 guitars were sold at a more modest price (list on this 00 was $95 in 1956) but still built to the same quality standards as other Martins. To achieve this economy, the company deleted the spruce top and used only the most minimal decoration: no binding anywhere and only small dot fingerboard inlay. Typical features for this year include openback Waverly tuning pegs with plastic buttons, a 5-ply sound hole ring, the small straight rosewood bridge, and a tortoise celluloid pickguard.
Vintage mahogany-top Martin guitars are known for their distinctive ringing tone, with a somewhat "tighter" detailed response on each note. They are generally considered excellent fingerpickers, especially suited to early blues and ragtime styles. The larger 00 body size gives the sound more depth than the smaller 0 size models and this is also a good general "strummer's" guitar. The 00-17 records and amplifies easily and also makes for an excellent singer-songwriter's instrument as well as a great all-around choice in a vintage Martin that won't break the bank.
Overall length is 38 13/16 in. (98.6 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 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 guitar is mostly very well-preserved; the finish shows some wear overall, but nothing excessive. There are small scrapes and dings, with an isolated area of pickwear into the lacquer on the upper treble bout in front of the pickguard. There are no cracks or notable repairs. The neck has recently been reset and refretted with period correct wire and playability is excellent. This is also an excellent-sounding example with a bigger tone than some '50s 00-17s we have had. Includes a modern hard foam carrying case. Excellent - Condition.