C. F. Martin 0-17T Flat Top Tenor Guitar (1956)
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Item # 9286
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C. F. Martin 0-17T Model Flat Top Tenor Guitar (1956), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 148353, natural lacquer finish, mahogany top, back and neck; rosewood fingerboard, original tan chipboard case.
The Martin 0-17T is one of the more popular tenor guitars ever made, in production from 1932 right up into the early 1960s. This lovely example was made in early 1956, a few years before Martin's 4-string sales got a boost from the "folk" era due to the influence of the Kingston Trio. All of 75 of these all mahogany tenors were sold that year, down from around 100 a year over the decade before. Despite often being considered somewhat unfashionable tenor guitars continued to be made at Martin after most other manufacturers had given up on them.
The 0-17T is a study in careful economy, the standard Martin appointments are reduced to the minimum. There is no trim on the body besides a W/B/W sound hole ring and tortoise celluloid pickguard. The top, back, sides, and neck are all made of mahogany with a rosewood bridge and fingerboard on the 23" scale neck. The Brazilian rosewood-faced headstock has a small "C. F. Martin" decal logo and open back Waverly tuners with plastic buttons.
While designed in the late 1920s for tenor banjoists getting pushed out of work by the preference for the guitar's mellower tone, tenor guitars have a range of possibilities still not fully explored even in the 21st century. Rabon Delmore used small tenor Martin models to play the deftly picked leads that characterize the Delmore Brothers' music, and many others have explored them since. The Martin tenor has always been the best available and even an economy model like the 0-17T has very few peers for 4-string flat-top sonics.
Overall length is 35 1/4 in. (89.5 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 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 23 in. (584 mm.).
This is a lovely original example showing only some very light wear. There no cracks anywhere, and the finish shows some small dings, dents, and scrapes but no appreciable play wear. The saddle has been lowered but the bridge has never been cut down; the frets show virtually no wear. Even the bridgepins and endpin are original. Sixty-five year old guitars don't generally come much cleaner than this! This is also a good player with a surprisingly powerful sound, complete in the original chipboard case. Excellent Condition.
The Martin 0-17T is one of the more popular tenor guitars ever made, in production from 1932 right up into the early 1960s. This lovely example was made in early 1956, a few years before Martin's 4-string sales got a boost from the "folk" era due to the influence of the Kingston Trio. All of 75 of these all mahogany tenors were sold that year, down from around 100 a year over the decade before. Despite often being considered somewhat unfashionable tenor guitars continued to be made at Martin after most other manufacturers had given up on them.
The 0-17T is a study in careful economy, the standard Martin appointments are reduced to the minimum. There is no trim on the body besides a W/B/W sound hole ring and tortoise celluloid pickguard. The top, back, sides, and neck are all made of mahogany with a rosewood bridge and fingerboard on the 23" scale neck. The Brazilian rosewood-faced headstock has a small "C. F. Martin" decal logo and open back Waverly tuners with plastic buttons.
While designed in the late 1920s for tenor banjoists getting pushed out of work by the preference for the guitar's mellower tone, tenor guitars have a range of possibilities still not fully explored even in the 21st century. Rabon Delmore used small tenor Martin models to play the deftly picked leads that characterize the Delmore Brothers' music, and many others have explored them since. The Martin tenor has always been the best available and even an economy model like the 0-17T has very few peers for 4-string flat-top sonics.
Overall length is 35 1/4 in. (89.5 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 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 23 in. (584 mm.).
This is a lovely original example showing only some very light wear. There no cracks anywhere, and the finish shows some small dings, dents, and scrapes but no appreciable play wear. The saddle has been lowered but the bridge has never been cut down; the frets show virtually no wear. Even the bridgepins and endpin are original. Sixty-five year old guitars don't generally come much cleaner than this! This is also a good player with a surprisingly powerful sound, complete in the original chipboard case. Excellent Condition.