1939 C. F. Martin 00-18 Natural

SN: 72406. Prewar, scalloped bracing, Adirondack spruce top, 1-3/4” nut and wide string spacing; this one pushes all the golden era buttons without the big price. While the 00-18 is not one of Martin’s rarest models, the prewar 00-18s are one of the hardest to find – in any condition.

This one was purchased from Elderly some time ago with an oversized bridge and bridge plate and shipped immediately to Dennis Berck for rescue. Dennis performed his usual magic. The large bridge was replaced with a period correct belly bridge and some distress under the old bridge was repaired. The top still shows a light score line from the old bridge but it’s touched up about as well as can be expected. A couple of short older cracks are peeking out from beneath the bridge. They’ve been completely stabilized. Further, Dennis reset the neck and completely refretted the fingerboard. Just prior to my listing, Mark Tossman completely inspected the guitar and set it up for light strings.

Other than the distress around the bridge, the guitar is completely straight. There are no cracks other than the two shortys previously mentioned and there is, remarkably, no weird bulging or pulling of the top. There is the usual assortment of scratches, dings and playwear. The finish is original except for the touch-up around the bridge. The Grover G-98 12:1 tuners are also original and the bridge is fitted with Antique Acoustic pins.

It is a joy to play with a perfect feeling vintage neck and wide string spacing. It produces a robust tone with resonance, depth, overtones and sustain.

Comes with a nice newer hardshell case with stickers documenting all the festivals this little guitar has attended.

SPECS:

Top: Adirondack spruce
Band & Sides: Mahogany
Bridge & Fretboard: Ebony
Appointments: Small dots
Nut width: 1-3/4”
String spacing: 2-3/8”
Body width: 13-5/16”
Depth: 4-1/8”
Scale length: 24.9”
Case: HSC