C. F. Martin 0-15 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1952)
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Item # 9549
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C. F. Martin 0-15 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1952), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 127844, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back and sides and top; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a moderately well-worn but nicely original, great playing and sounding 1952 0-15. This unassuming looking all-mahogany model was the lowest-ranked guitar model in Martin's postwar line. Even as the least expensive guitar they offered in 1952 it was still priced at $60.00 (without case) more than many flashier guitars from other builders.
While the 0-15 is a study in careful economy it is still built to the expected Martin factory standard of quality. The all-mahogany construction was a budget feature; the spruce top was omitted to lower the cost. The natural lacquer finish was specified as less polished out than the earlier 0-17, but structurally the guitars are the same. Decorative appointments are reduced to the minimum: there is no ornament besides a W/B/W sound hole ring, tortoise celluloid pickguard, and gold Martin logo decal. The tuners are the openback plastic-button Klisons specific to this period.
This small-bodied all-mahogany guitar has a surprisingly loud and rich voice, and sounds great finger or flat-picked. A total of 550 of these little mahogany marvels were shipped from Nazareth in 1952; this one has seen some use but still sings with a rich and surprisingly complex voice.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 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 Martin shows some evidence of its nearly 70 years on the planet but remains a very solid player, with a bit of a natural relic look to it. There is some moderately heavy finish checking overall, most notably on the top. There is less pick wear on the face than many old Martins show, just a small area down to the wood at the lower edge of the pickguard and finish loss to the lower soundhole rim. The finish shows dings, dents and scrapes overall, with typical wear to the unbound edges and some fairly deep dings on the top near the back rim.
The guitar shows no cracks or visible repairs, and the finish remains all original with no notable touch up or overspray. The back of the neck is relatively clean with minimal finish loss and mostly only small dings and dents so it is quite comfortable to play. There is one deep ding into the bass side edge just by the second fret. A strap button has been added at the side of the heel. There are new buttons on the original Kluson tuners, and a couple of the shafts are bent but still work fine.
The neck has been neatly reset and the original full-height bridge is still intact. There is some wear to the original frets and the fingerboard but playability remains excellent. This is also a very nice sounding guitar, built just a bit sturdier than its prewar ancestors with a deeper, mellower tone than some we have had. Very Good + Condition.
This is a moderately well-worn but nicely original, great playing and sounding 1952 0-15. This unassuming looking all-mahogany model was the lowest-ranked guitar model in Martin's postwar line. Even as the least expensive guitar they offered in 1952 it was still priced at $60.00 (without case) more than many flashier guitars from other builders.
While the 0-15 is a study in careful economy it is still built to the expected Martin factory standard of quality. The all-mahogany construction was a budget feature; the spruce top was omitted to lower the cost. The natural lacquer finish was specified as less polished out than the earlier 0-17, but structurally the guitars are the same. Decorative appointments are reduced to the minimum: there is no ornament besides a W/B/W sound hole ring, tortoise celluloid pickguard, and gold Martin logo decal. The tuners are the openback plastic-button Klisons specific to this period.
This small-bodied all-mahogany guitar has a surprisingly loud and rich voice, and sounds great finger or flat-picked. A total of 550 of these little mahogany marvels were shipped from Nazareth in 1952; this one has seen some use but still sings with a rich and surprisingly complex voice.
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 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 Martin shows some evidence of its nearly 70 years on the planet but remains a very solid player, with a bit of a natural relic look to it. There is some moderately heavy finish checking overall, most notably on the top. There is less pick wear on the face than many old Martins show, just a small area down to the wood at the lower edge of the pickguard and finish loss to the lower soundhole rim. The finish shows dings, dents and scrapes overall, with typical wear to the unbound edges and some fairly deep dings on the top near the back rim.
The guitar shows no cracks or visible repairs, and the finish remains all original with no notable touch up or overspray. The back of the neck is relatively clean with minimal finish loss and mostly only small dings and dents so it is quite comfortable to play. There is one deep ding into the bass side edge just by the second fret. A strap button has been added at the side of the heel. There are new buttons on the original Kluson tuners, and a couple of the shafts are bent but still work fine.
The neck has been neatly reset and the original full-height bridge is still intact. There is some wear to the original frets and the fingerboard but playability remains excellent. This is also a very nice sounding guitar, built just a bit sturdier than its prewar ancestors with a deeper, mellower tone than some we have had. Very Good + Condition.