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1947 Martin 000-18 Vintage Acoustic Guitar Adirondack Spruce & Mahogany w/ Case
Estimated price for orientation: 5 549 $
Category: Acoustic Guitars
Class:
Description Dexterity: Right-Handed Exact Year: 1947 String Configuration: 6 String MPN: Does Not Apply Brand: Martin Country/Region of Manufacture: United States Model: 000-18 Soundboard Style: Flat Top Items Included: Case UPC: Does not apply
Up for sale, a 1947 Martin 000-18 in excellent condition. This two-owner guitar has been well cared for and received all the attention that a vintage Martin warrants. This includes a professional neck reset and refret with proper sized fretwire by Mark Tossman, one of the world's leading luthiers for vintage Martin repair work. We're very lucky to have Tossman practically next door to us here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar in Seattle. This is also one of the very last Martins of the 1940s produced with an Adirondack spruce top!The tone is everything you'd expect from an auditorium sized Martin flattop that was produced right after the end of WWII, with an openness, projection and rich tone that only comes from an instrument that's been lovingly played for nearly 70 years. There's a bell-like top end to the soundtone, with just the right amount of midrange presence and low end that has the signature Martin richness without the "boomy" quality of some dreadnoughts. The tonal balance is exceptional and fingerpicked chords come through with a piano-like clarity. The mahogany back and sides provide their expected warmth, but with more focus and projection than the vast majority of Martins on the market. The tapered braces and solid Adirondack spruce top definitely factor heavily into the qualities of the tone, and while Martin had stopped using scalloped braces by this time, the tapered design lasted until roughly 1949. This allows for greater resonance of the top, while still being more robustly braced to handle the increasingly heavy steel strings that began to be the norm through the 1950s. And while Adirondack was phased out due to lack of supply on many models in 1945-46, the remaining stock was used on the smaller 0, 00 and 000 sized Martins and is widely considered to be the optimal tone wood for the top of any flattop acoustic guitar!This guitar has had only two owners since it was purchased new in '47, the first being a lady who never ventured much further than the fifth fret and played gospel on this guitar until she passed away. The guitar was purchased directly from the original owner's family and has lived in the care of the second owner's vast collection here in Seattle ever since.The neck has a comfortable medium C profile that borders on the chunky side and increases in girth as you move up the fretboard. The aforementioned refret happened within the last few years and as such, the current fretwire shows virtually no wear. There are a few light spots of wear into the Brazilian rosewood fretboard on the first four frets from the first owner, but they are not quite shallow and nearly impossible to capture with a camera lens. The face of the headstock with original Martin logo is very clean, showing only a few very tiny nicks around the "Mart" part of the logo when in direct light. The stock wartime tuning machines with their original buttons are intact, turn smoothly and hold pitch well. The neck reset was expertly done, with almost no evidence that the neck was ever removed for restoration. While there are a few nicks and spots of wear through the finish on the back of the neck, there is nothing that impedes playability in any way.The body has zero cracks and all of the braces are solid. The bridge was reglued and a new bone saddle cut as part of the neck reset process, but as with all of Mark Tossman's restoration work, you wouldn't know it unless someone told you any work had been performed. He's just that good! The original tortoise shell pickguard is intact and quite clean, sitting flush on the top with no lifting edges. There is some expected wear in the pickpath that extends beyond the pickguard, and while this does go through the finish, it only barely wears into the actual top. There are various nicks, dings and finish scratches on the instrument, mostly relegated to the back and sides, but this honest playwear is to be expected with virtually any Martin of this vintage. The nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch up or overspray. There are no cracks, breaks or structural issues of any kind on the instrument, and this is a positively lovely example of early post-war Martin craftsmanship.A modern hardshell case is included.
Please check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar" on the web, and feel free to call us directly with any questions at 206.399.8518.Shipping in the continental USA will be $80, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.
International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!
Description
| Dexterity: | Right-Handed | Exact Year: | 1947 |
| String Configuration: | 6 String | MPN: | Does Not Apply |
| Brand: | Martin | Country/Region of Manufacture: | United States |
| Model: | 000-18 | Soundboard Style: | Flat Top |
| Items Included: | Case | UPC: | Does not apply |
Up for sale, a 1947 Martin 000-18 in excellent condition. This two-owner guitar has been well cared for and received all the attention that a vintage Martin warrants. This includes a professional neck reset and refret with proper sized fretwire by Mark Tossman, one of the world's leading luthiers for vintage Martin repair work. We're very lucky to have Tossman practically next door to us here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar in Seattle. This is also one of the very last Martins of the 1940s produced with an Adirondack spruce top!The tone is everything you'd expect from an auditorium sized Martin flattop that was produced right after the end of WWII, with an openness, projection and rich tone that only comes from an instrument that's been lovingly played for nearly 70 years. There's a bell-like top end to the soundtone, with just the right amount of midrange presence and low end that has the signature Martin richness without the "boomy" quality of some dreadnoughts. The tonal balance is exceptional and fingerpicked chords come through with a piano-like clarity. The mahogany back and sides provide their expected warmth, but with more focus and projection than the vast majority of Martins on the market. The tapered braces and solid Adirondack spruce top definitely factor heavily into the qualities of the tone, and while Martin had stopped using scalloped braces by this time, the tapered design lasted until roughly 1949. This allows for greater resonance of the top, while still being more robustly braced to handle the increasingly heavy steel strings that began to be the norm through the 1950s. And while Adirondack was phased out due to lack of supply on many models in 1945-46, the remaining stock was used on the smaller 0, 00 and 000 sized Martins and is widely considered to be the optimal tone wood for the top of any flattop acoustic guitar!This guitar has had only two owners since it was purchased new in '47, the first being a lady who never ventured much further than the fifth fret and played gospel on this guitar until she passed away. The guitar was purchased directly from the original owner's family and has lived in the care of the second owner's vast collection here in Seattle ever since.The neck has a comfortable medium C profile that borders on the chunky side and increases in girth as you move up the fretboard. The aforementioned refret happened within the last few years and as such, the current fretwire shows virtually no wear. There are a few light spots of wear into the Brazilian rosewood fretboard on the first four frets from the first owner, but they are not quite shallow and nearly impossible to capture with a camera lens. The face of the headstock with original Martin logo is very clean, showing only a few very tiny nicks around the "Mart" part of the logo when in direct light. The stock wartime tuning machines with their original buttons are intact, turn smoothly and hold pitch well. The neck reset was expertly done, with almost no evidence that the neck was ever removed for restoration. While there are a few nicks and spots of wear through the finish on the back of the neck, there is nothing that impedes playability in any way.The body has zero cracks and all of the braces are solid. The bridge was reglued and a new bone saddle cut as part of the neck reset process, but as with all of Mark Tossman's restoration work, you wouldn't know it unless someone told you any work had been performed. He's just that good! The original tortoise shell pickguard is intact and quite clean, sitting flush on the top with no lifting edges. There is some expected wear in the pickpath that extends beyond the pickguard, and while this does go through the finish, it only barely wears into the actual top. There are various nicks, dings and finish scratches on the instrument, mostly relegated to the back and sides, but this honest playwear is to be expected with virtually any Martin of this vintage. The nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch up or overspray. There are no cracks, breaks or structural issues of any kind on the instrument, and this is a positively lovely example of early post-war Martin craftsmanship.A modern hardshell case is included.
Please check out our shop "Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar" on the web, and feel free to call us directly with any questions at 206.399.8518.Shipping in the continental USA will be $80, fully insured and shipped via FedEx Ground. Expedited shipping available for an additional fee at buyer's request. We will happily ship WORLDWIDE, but please contact us for an accurate international shipping quote before bidding or buying, as cost varies by buyer location.
International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!
International orders will be declared as “merchandise,” and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. No exceptions! The customer is responsible for all taxes and duty, which may be collected upon delivery, as well as any additional charges involved with import.We do our best to describe all items with honesty and accuracy, but to be sure, please contact us with any questions or concerns prior to bidding or buying. We require payment within 48 hours of auction end. In the unlikely event of a return, buyer pays all shipping costs. Your positive feedback and five star ratings are very important to us, and we appreciate your communication in resolving any issues!