1949 C. F. Martin 000-21 Natural
Description
SN: 108589. A wonderful-sounding—and equally wonderful-playing—post-war example of Martin’s “other” Brazilian rosewood auditorium-sized guitar, the 000-21. Sharing the same tonewoods and core construction as the 000-28, this model delivers much of the same clarity, crispness, and punch as its more expensive sibling, with a slightly more understated aesthetic. It is equally at home under the fingers or a flatpick, and feels immediately familiar in the hands.
This one-owner example plays with notable ease thanks to a recent neck reset and refret by Mark Tossman, one of the most respected and in-demand luthiers on the West Coast. Structurally—and sonically—the guitar really shines. It is crack-free and largely original, with the only changes being a new saddle and frets. The neck angle and overall geometry are exactly where you’d want them.
Cosmetically, it shows a life well lived. The Sitka spruce top has darkened over time to a warm, honeyed hue and displays honest playwear, most notably along both sides of the fingerboard, the treble side of the soundhole, and some buckle rash on the back. Light washboarding around the fingerboard was carefully sealed to protect the wood, as were a couple of larger areas of buckle rash. A former jack hole was expertly filled with rosewood and minimally touched up.
Inside, the guitar remains clean and tight, with the original bridge plate and non-scalloped bracing intact. The bridge, tuners, pickguard, and pins are all original.
Ships in a nearly new, high-quality Harptone case equipped with TKL’s “Safe & Sound” monitoring system.
SPECS:
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Bridge & Fretboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Appointments: 18-style with herringbone back strip.
Nut width: 1-11/16”
String spacing: 2-1/8”
Body width: 15-1/4”
Depth: 4-1/8”
Scale length: 24.9”
Case: HSC
This one-owner example plays with notable ease thanks to a recent neck reset and refret by Mark Tossman, one of the most respected and in-demand luthiers on the West Coast. Structurally—and sonically—the guitar really shines. It is crack-free and largely original, with the only changes being a new saddle and frets. The neck angle and overall geometry are exactly where you’d want them.
Cosmetically, it shows a life well lived. The Sitka spruce top has darkened over time to a warm, honeyed hue and displays honest playwear, most notably along both sides of the fingerboard, the treble side of the soundhole, and some buckle rash on the back. Light washboarding around the fingerboard was carefully sealed to protect the wood, as were a couple of larger areas of buckle rash. A former jack hole was expertly filled with rosewood and minimally touched up.
Inside, the guitar remains clean and tight, with the original bridge plate and non-scalloped bracing intact. The bridge, tuners, pickguard, and pins are all original.
Ships in a nearly new, high-quality Harptone case equipped with TKL’s “Safe & Sound” monitoring system.
SPECS:
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Bridge & Fretboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Appointments: 18-style with herringbone back strip.
Nut width: 1-11/16”
String spacing: 2-1/8”
Body width: 15-1/4”
Depth: 4-1/8”
Scale length: 24.9”
Case: HSC