C. F. Martin 0-17T Flat Top Tenor Guitar (1936)
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Item # 9628
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C. F. Martin 0-17T Model Flat Top Tenor Guitar (1936), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 62414, natural lacquer finish, mahogany top, back and neck; rosewood fingerboard, black chipboard case.
The Martin 0-17T is one of the more popular tenor guitars ever made, in production at Nazareth from 1932 right up into the early 1960s. This lovely pre-war example was made in early 1936, when this 14-fret model was still a relatively new design. A fairly low total of 75 of these all mahogany tenors were sold that year, not a lot for a budget instrument. 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.
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 like this 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.).
Although it has had some repair work over the years, this 0-17T still has all of the playability and tone that one would expect from a 1930s Martin. The original finish has remained in good shape on the top, back and neck, with minor nicks and dings on the top and some scratches and several areas of noticeable "strap burn" on the back. Both sides have been completely refinished, likely around the time a repair was made to the bottom of the guitar. A decent size impact area to the lower side below the endpin was sealed shut, leaving a small patch of discoloration where the crack had been touched up.
The original neck finish shows very little wear, the neck was reset at some point in the past. A shim was neatly added under the fingerboard extension, and the original bar frets leveled. The original bridge has been reglued, and the original small maple bridgeplate has remained intact. Internally, the bass side of the transverse brace on the top has been reglued. There is also a top crack off the treble side of the lower bout, below the bridge, that was previously sealed as well.
The original Grover tuners have been replaced with new open back Waverlys, which are a very close approximation of the originals down to the dark plastic buttons! The guitar resides in a correct but later style Martin chipboard case, dating to around the early 1960s. Overall this 0-17T is a really excellent player with a very rich tone and great projection for a small-bodied mahogany guitar. For 85+ years old, this 0-17T may have suffered some indignity long ago but been very well preserved where it counts! Overall Very Good + Condition.
The Martin 0-17T is one of the more popular tenor guitars ever made, in production at Nazareth from 1932 right up into the early 1960s. This lovely pre-war example was made in early 1936, when this 14-fret model was still a relatively new design. A fairly low total of 75 of these all mahogany tenors were sold that year, not a lot for a budget instrument. 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.
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 like this 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.).
Although it has had some repair work over the years, this 0-17T still has all of the playability and tone that one would expect from a 1930s Martin. The original finish has remained in good shape on the top, back and neck, with minor nicks and dings on the top and some scratches and several areas of noticeable "strap burn" on the back. Both sides have been completely refinished, likely around the time a repair was made to the bottom of the guitar. A decent size impact area to the lower side below the endpin was sealed shut, leaving a small patch of discoloration where the crack had been touched up.
The original neck finish shows very little wear, the neck was reset at some point in the past. A shim was neatly added under the fingerboard extension, and the original bar frets leveled. The original bridge has been reglued, and the original small maple bridgeplate has remained intact. Internally, the bass side of the transverse brace on the top has been reglued. There is also a top crack off the treble side of the lower bout, below the bridge, that was previously sealed as well.
The original Grover tuners have been replaced with new open back Waverlys, which are a very close approximation of the originals down to the dark plastic buttons! The guitar resides in a correct but later style Martin chipboard case, dating to around the early 1960s. Overall this 0-17T is a really excellent player with a very rich tone and great projection for a small-bodied mahogany guitar. For 85+ years old, this 0-17T may have suffered some indignity long ago but been very well preserved where it counts! Overall Very Good + Condition.