Merrill OM-18 Burst

By Jim Merrill, a highly skilled builder from the east coast of Virginia who is dedicated to building strictly accurate and great sounding vintage Martins. On this one he cheated in one small way: it has herringbone purfling. It is true to the 1930 style 18, with banjo tuners (the new Ricard 10:1 tuners), no logo on the peghead - just his stamp on the back of the peghead, Adirondack top and mahogany back and sides, string spacing of 1 ¾" nut and 2 ⅜" at the bridge and a gorgeous shade top burst. The construction is very light and thus the sound explodes with the lightest touch. It lives in a Collings vintage style hard case, no longer available and now fetching some giant prices. There is one repair, a side crack by the rear strap button that has been repaired to near invisibility.