C. F. Martin 00-18 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950)
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 9325
Prices subject to change without notice.
C. F. Martin 00-18 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1950), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 115840, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This relatively clean 70+ year old Martin 00 is one of the nicer ones we have seen in some time. While the post WWII 00-18 is not one of Martin's rarer creations, to many players and Martin fans the model constitutes one of the company's most beloved combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. This mahogany Grand Concert model is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with binding on the body edges and a simple multiply soundhole ring. In typical Martin style, the elegant understatement and classic lines speak for themselves.
This 00-18 was built in mid-1950, one of a total of 525 shipped that year just as the Korean War began. The list price was $80, up to $90 by the end of the year as another round of wartime inflation set in. It has typical period features with the tortoise celluloid outer binding and pickguard setting off the nicely ambered top finish. The tuners are openback Kluson individual units with metal buttons. The neck profile is just a bit bigger than the slim WWII standard, with the hint of a vestigial "V" along the rounded spine. The 14 1/4" light mahogany body makes for a very responsive guitar, with a nice mix of depth and clarity to the sound.
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 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 is a relatively clean guitar in general with some wear and typical maintenance repairs, but nothing too serious. The finish has light checking and its share of dings, dents and scrapes overall. There is some random pickwear to the top, with one deep spot into the wood off the lower pickguard corner, and some deep pick wear into the lower soundhole edge. The back/side edge has a deep scrape on the upper bass bout.
The only notable crack is a typical grain split off the bottom edge of the pickguard, sealed and cleated but quite visible. A *tiny* spruce grain crack is just noticeable off the top edge as well, these are due to the celluloid guard shrinking and pulling up the grain and were never structural issues. The rest of the guitar is crack free, and the top is in excellent shape as well with no bulge distortion.
The neck has been neatly reset, the original rosewood bridge and small maple bridgeplate are intact and unaltered, the bridge has been neatly reglued. The back of the neck has only some small dings and the original frets have seen some work and still have plenty of life left in them. This is a great playing instrument with a vibrant, dry and woody tone far superior to examples from later years, which are noticeably more heavily built. It still resides in the very fine and rare original green-lined HSC, something many buyers in 1950 would not have elected to purchase as it was quite an expensive add-on at the time. Excellent Condition.
This relatively clean 70+ year old Martin 00 is one of the nicer ones we have seen in some time. While the post WWII 00-18 is not one of Martin's rarer creations, to many players and Martin fans the model constitutes one of the company's most beloved combinations of wood, wire and inspiration. This mahogany Grand Concert model is not a flashy guitar; the trim is discreet with binding on the body edges and a simple multiply soundhole ring. In typical Martin style, the elegant understatement and classic lines speak for themselves.
This 00-18 was built in mid-1950, one of a total of 525 shipped that year just as the Korean War began. The list price was $80, up to $90 by the end of the year as another round of wartime inflation set in. It has typical period features with the tortoise celluloid outer binding and pickguard setting off the nicely ambered top finish. The tuners are openback Kluson individual units with metal buttons. The neck profile is just a bit bigger than the slim WWII standard, with the hint of a vestigial "V" along the rounded spine. The 14 1/4" light mahogany body makes for a very responsive guitar, with a nice mix of depth and clarity to the sound.
Overall length is 39 1/4 in. (99.7 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 is a relatively clean guitar in general with some wear and typical maintenance repairs, but nothing too serious. The finish has light checking and its share of dings, dents and scrapes overall. There is some random pickwear to the top, with one deep spot into the wood off the lower pickguard corner, and some deep pick wear into the lower soundhole edge. The back/side edge has a deep scrape on the upper bass bout.
The only notable crack is a typical grain split off the bottom edge of the pickguard, sealed and cleated but quite visible. A *tiny* spruce grain crack is just noticeable off the top edge as well, these are due to the celluloid guard shrinking and pulling up the grain and were never structural issues. The rest of the guitar is crack free, and the top is in excellent shape as well with no bulge distortion.
The neck has been neatly reset, the original rosewood bridge and small maple bridgeplate are intact and unaltered, the bridge has been neatly reglued. The back of the neck has only some small dings and the original frets have seen some work and still have plenty of life left in them. This is a great playing instrument with a vibrant, dry and woody tone far superior to examples from later years, which are noticeably more heavily built. It still resides in the very fine and rare original green-lined HSC, something many buyers in 1950 would not have elected to purchase as it was quite an expensive add-on at the time. Excellent Condition.