1947 Martin 00-18

With recent quality shop work done. EX-. Fresh neck set. Refretted (not freshly) yet no dings or grooves in the frets. Martin’s made between 1945 and 1947 have thinner braces than those made in the 1950s. Not scalloped, just thinner than those manufactured in the following decade. They made on 600 of this model, the 00-18, in 1947. Old-growth Honduran mahogany, aged nearly 80 years after the guitar was built. Wide-grained Sitka spruce top. Nitro binding and rosette. Five layers on top binding, single layer on back. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and headstock face plate. The neck has a slight “v” shape and there are capo marks on the back of the neck. 1 & 11/16” nut width, a full-feeling neck. Five original tuners, one later double-line Kluson Deluxe (same holes.) The top has dings and scratches, one small (repaired) crack between the pickguard and the bridge. There are also scratches and dings on the back and sides (hey, it’s 79 years old after all) but no cracks on the back or sides and no strap button added. There is an odd aluminum strap button on the butt which we decided to leave. A nice honest ‘40s Martin with an outstanding tone. Long sustain and surprisingly full-bodied. Investment-worthy. Anyone who watches the guitar market in the last 20 years knows where Martins from the 1940s are headed. Comes with original case that is functional but some of the stitching has come undone. Any and all needed repairs have been done.