Steve Swan Guitars Swan

Vintage Martin - Other size

I seek out strong examples of Pre-1970 Martin guitars from many sources. With their light build, Adirondack Spruce tops, and scalloped brace voicing, I am strongly interested in all models from the classic late 1920s through 1944 period. I like to have good sounding examples of the larger OOO and Dreadnought sizes in the postwar tapered brace voicing period of 1945 through 1948 with Adirondack Spruce tops ending for all models by late 1946 and Sitka Spruce tops being used exclusively in 1947-48. The beefier build style starting in 1948 progressing up through the mid-1960s produced some really great Dreadnoughts for Bluegrass and other heavier playing styles where volume and clarity are important. Scattered throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, but most notably in the 1952-53 period Martin used light, but strong Engelmann Spruce tops on some of their guitars. Many dealers currently mistake and misname this lighter colored top wood as Adirondack Spruce. I'll also have smaller model sizes represented in this 1948-1969 group if they are responsive and demonstrate a lot of character in their voice.

Coming Soon: 1928 OO-40H conversion

For further descriptions please email steve_swan@earthlink.net or call (650) 515-1014

1954 OO-18 (139844)                 An exceptionally responsive mid-1950s OO-18. I'm more used to this kind of tone and response from something in the 1947-48 era. Mahogany back and sides, Fine grain Sitka Spruce top, Original Kluson tuners with octagon tuners and plastic buttons, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, Original ivory nut, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dots, Tortoiseshell binding, Ivoroid and black purflings, Brazilian Rosewood bridge, Replacement bone saddle, Original dark red turtle-oid pickguard, Brazilian Rosewood heelcap, Replacement endpin. OLD REPAIRS include: Glued repair of three 3.5-5" back cracks, Glued repair of outside edge pickguard crack. RECENT REPAIRS by Alan Perlman include and neck reset with fingerboard extension wedge and refret. The top finish is crazed and has light pickwear around the side and bottom of the pickguard. The back and sides are less crazed and have assorted light dings and scratches. The neck has capo wear behind frets 1, 2, 3, and 5. This is a very satisfying guitar to play, with a much richer and more responsive voice than I usually find from this era. With hardshell case.              
$3500.00
March Sale Price
$3150.00

1939 OOO-18 (72581)           A strong and balanced sounding wide neck OOO-18 with some repairs that keep the price down to an affordable range. Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, Grover G-93 tuners, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay wih gold "C.F. Martin" decal, Original Ivory nut, 1 3/4" nut width, Replacement Ebony fingerboard with snail shell dots, Tortoise body binding, Black butt wedge, Black and white top purfling, Replacement Ebony bridge with long saddle and 2 5/16" string spread, Original turtle-oid pickguard, Replacement endpin and bridge pins. OLD REPAIRS include: Replacement of interior flat brace, bridge plate,  fingerboard and bridge, Mahogany neck patch in the area of a neck heel break, Top repair under the fingerboard extension, Repaired bass side crack extending from neck to near he waist with refinishing in that area, One long repaired bass-side waist area back crack, Three mismatched replacement tuner bushings. RECENT REPAIRS by Alan Perlman include: Neck reset and fret mill. There is significant finish wear on the top and back, less so on the sides and back of neck. The original tuners work well and the guitar is in fine repair now. This guitar speaks with a complete and forceful voice. It's a very fun and responsive instrument. With hardshell case.
     $9950.00

1937 OOO-18 (66171)                 A really clean and fine sounding example from what many consider to be Martin's finest period for OOO size guitars. Mahogany, Adirondack Spruce top, Grover G-93 tuners, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, 1 3/4" nut width, Original ivory nut, Ebony fingerboard with snail shell dots, Tortoiseshell body binding and butt wedge, Standard top and soundhole purfling, Ebony bridge with 2 5/16" string spread, Original endpin and bridge pins, Turtle-oid pickguard. REPAIRS include: Neck reset, Refret, Reglue bridge, New bridge saddle, Repair two low humidity cracks near the center line between the bridge and tail. There is very little wear or pick marks, most visibly some wear on the treble side of the fingerboard extension. This guitar is both responsive and authoritative in its voice, with a beautifully detailed tone. A real joy to play. With  TKL hardshell case.                     $22,500.00


1940
O-17 (75003)
This is almost the same year of the same model that got me playing old Martin guitars more than 35 years ago. Mahogany back, sides, and top, Replacement Stewart-MacDonald vintage style strip tuners, Tortoiseshell headstock overlay with "C.F. Martin" decal, 1 11/16" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with ivoroid dots, Nice full neck profile, No body binding, Black and white soundhole purfling, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with replacement vinater style unslotted pins, Turtle-oid pickguard, Replacement black endpin. No crack repairs anywhere. Good neck angle. Great tone and response.                    
$2950.00
March Sale Price $2650.00


1930
2-17 (41866)
A great sounding example of Martin's first model dedicated to use with steel strings. Mahogany top, back, and sides, Slotted headstock, Original unplated strip tuners with black buttons, "C.F. Martin" stamp on back of headstock, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay, 1 13/16" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerbaord wtih ivoroid dots, No body binding, black and white soundhole purfling, Brazilian Rsoewood bridge with original black pins, Replace endpin. The back has a 4" repaired crack at the end of the bass side lower bout and there is a repaired partial fracture on the back around the outline of the tail block. There are no other cracks anywhere else on the guitar. The neck angle is good and the voice is nice and bold. A great little guitar from Martin's golden age of steel string 12 fret models. With chipboard case.        
$1495.00
March Sale Price $1350.00


1945
OOO-28 (99524)
This mid-November 1945 guitar has A Sitka Spruce top, which Martin started using in November of that year. It is an astounding sounding example of this just postwar configuration. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Tight grain Sitka Spruce top, Replacement Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay, 1 11/16" nut width, Ivory nut, Ebony fingerbaord with pearl dots, Ivoroid binding and heelcap, Herringobne top purfling, Replacement pickguard, Replacement ebony bridge with long saddle, Replacement redeye bridge pins and endpin, Zipper backstrip, Strap button added to treble side of neck heel. Top has been oversprayed.
Back, sides, and neck have been refinished. Top has 5 repaired cracks toward the tail. Bass side has 4 repaired cracks. Treble side has 2 repaired cracks. Butt area has finish disruptions from repair. Back has 4 repaired cracks at the tail and 1 small repaired crack in the widest part of the bass-side upper bout. The headstock has had Grover Rotomatic holes plugged and redrilled for the Waverly tuners. The neck was recently reset. Most recently, the fingerboard was refretted to perfection by the great Alan Perlman. This guitar is magical to play. The notes are very toneful, rich and ringing. It has a very even response from nut to the top of the fingerboard. An exceptionally good sounding and playing old Martin. With recent hardshell case.
$10,500.00


Mid-1934
long scale OOO-18 (57073)
Recently restored by Chris Berkov, this guitar is responsive, tonally complex, volume to spare. It's just not very pretty! Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top (wide grain at center), Replacement Waverly G-98 style tuners, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, Nearly obliterated "C.F. Martin" stamp on rear of headstock, Replacement bone nut, Relacement ebony fingerboard with proper size snail shell dots, Black body binding, Black and white top purfling and rosette, Replacement bridge with long saddle and 2 3/8" string spread, Replacement pickguard, Replacement endpin and bridge pins, 25 3/8" string scale (OM scale). REPAIRS INCLUDE: Overspray and areas of refinish, Replacemnt tuners, Replacement fingerboard, Replacement bridge, Replacement pickguard, Replacement bridge plate, Repaired top cracks and tears, Repaired side and back cracks, Reglued loose braces. Chris Berkov did a great job in bringing this guitar back to solid structural integrity and great playability. A remnant of 1930s strap atttachment style, ther are plugged screw holes between the tuners on the rear of the headstock where the loop type neck cord attachment bracket used to live. This guitar has a large, even voice and is a joy to play fingerstyle. I have left the saddle height high for blues style playing, but it could be brought lower for modern styles of play. With hardshell case. $9500.00


Early 1934
long scale OOO-18 (55637)
A great sounding player condition example of the early 1934 OM 25 3/8 " scale version of the OOO-18. Mahogany back and sides, Replacement 1980s era Grover Sta-Tite tuners, Brazilian Rosewood overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, "C. F. martin & Co." stamp on rear of headstock, Very old (original?) ivory nut with shim, 1 3/4" nut width, Ebony fingerboard with bar frets and snail shell inlay, Black body binding, Black and white purfling, Replacement Ebony bridge with long saddle and replacement bridge pins, Replacement pickguard, Ebony heelcap, Brazilian Rosewood butt wedge, Replacement endpin. OLD REPAIRS include: Replacement tuners, Neck reset by Frank Ford, Refret by Chris Berkov, Six small repaired side cracks, Twelve repaired top cracks opf various sizes, Flat brace underneath fingerboard installed by Frank Ford, Bridge and bridge plate replacement, Top refinish with minal loss of top thickness, overspray on areas of the back, sides, and neck heel. The various repairs have left us with a very healthy and very strong sounding long scale OOO-18 at a very affordable price. With recent Martin hardshell case.
$9950.00


1932
C-1 archtop (50015)
This model is the most basic of Martin's OOO size archtop models, made early enough that it has the round soundhole rather than F-holes. Mahogany back and sides with back arched under brace tension, Carved Adirondack Spruce top, Original clipped plate Grover tuners with rivets and seamed buttons, "C.F. Martin" stamp on rear of headstock, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with vertical pearl "C. F. Martin" inlay, 1 3/4" nut width, V-shape neck profile, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with snail shell dots and bar frets, Black body binding with black and white edge purfling and rosette, Light 18 style top shading color treatment, Original tailpiece and pickguard, New Brazilian Rosewood bridge with bone saddle, Ebony heelcap, Brazilian Rosewood butt wedge. Repair work performed by David Musselwhite includes: Four back crack repairs near center seam, One treble side crack repair, One bass side crack repair and neighboring side tear repair, Replacement bridge, New gear and post rivet on low E string tuner, New bar frets. The guitar plays very easily and frets true to the end of the fingerboard. The replacement non-adjustable Brazilian Rosewood bridge give the guitar a clear, incisive tone. A lighter adjustable bridge gives more warmth to the midrange and bass. It is nice to have in a C-1 that retains the original tuners, pickguard, and tailpiece. Much of the time these have been scavanged off for use on other instruments. With hardshell case.
On Hold


Late 1927
O-18 (34241)
A fairly clean, strong-sounding 12 fret example made well into the classic Martin build period for steel strings. Mahogany back and sides, Heavily bearclaw figured Adirondack Spruce top, Slotted head with Brazilian Rosewood overlay and "C.F. Martin" stamp at rear, Original brass Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony nut, 1 7/8" nut width, V-shape neck profile, Ebony fingerboard with snail shell dots at frets 5, 7, and 9, Bar frets, Brazilian Rosewood body binding and butt wedge, Wood line purfling, New ebony bridge with drop-in saddle and original bridge pins, Ebony heelcap, Replacement ebony endpin. OLD REPAIRS: Neck reset and refret, plug strap button hold at center of neck heel, Bad reglue of bass-side side crack, bridge shave, light applicastion of fench polish over the few pick marks and scrapes on the top to seal them against oils and dirt. NEW REPAIRS: Alan Perlman reopened the misaligned side crack and removed its funky reinforcemnts on the inside. He realigned the crack and installed new reinforcements using hide glue. Only the area directly over the crack got a little finish touchup. Alan replaced the badly shaved bridge with one that has a drop-in saddle and bridge pins angled into the original holes of the bridge plate to allow a properly intonated saddle position farther back than the original. A small bridge plate cap was added to give good seating to the string balls that had worn away parts of the face of the original plate. The frets were levelled and crowned, giving a clean, clear voice end to end. This little guitar combines some of the delicacy of the mid-1920s voicing with the strength and clarity of the late 1920s build. It's a fun and very satisfying guiar to play at a price that reflects its repairs. With your choice of either a beefy Harptone hardshell case or the original brown alligator chipboard case.
$3950.00
 
March Sale Price
$3500.00

Previous offerings


1928 OO-40H conversion (35798) A wonderfully responsive well-done conversion from the original hawaiian configuration. Verttical grain Brazilian Rosewood back, sides, and headstock overlay, Fine grain Adirondack Spruce top, Mahogany neck, Slotted headstock with the original strip tuners, "C.F. Martin" stamp on rear of headstock, 1 7/8" nut width, 40 style snowflake shell fingerboard inlay, Ivoroid body binding and purfled butt wedge, Abalone top edge and soundhole purfling, Replacement Ebony belly bridge, Original bridge pins, replacment end pin. The conversion to reglular playing setup involved a neck reset, slight radiusing of the fingerboard, installation of bar frets, and the compensated saddle brdige replacement. OTHER OLD REPAIRS include: Some french polishing and refinishing to top, back, sides, and neck heel area, repair of neck heel crack during the neck reset, glued center seam sparation below the bridge, replacement bone nut. There are no body cracks and all interior bracing is original and in fine condition. This is a wonderful fingerstyle instrument from the golden age of Martins small body production. With recent Martin hardshell case.                      


Ca. 1870s
1-21 (nsn)
This is the most common size and model for 19th cenutry martins that I've encountered. There is no date on the inside of the guitar or the case. The owner believes that the guitar is from the U.S. Civil War era, but I'll be more conservative and say the 1870s. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, Solid peghead with "C.F. Martin New York" stamp at rear, Ivory Friction pegs, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with mysterious "The Martin" silkscreened in faint black block letters, 2-piece Cedar neck, 1 7/8" nut width, Ebony fignerbaord with no fret markers of any kind, Bar frets, Brazilian Rosewood binding line purfling and heringbone rosette (the greens in some of the line purfling is still faintly visisble), Replacement Ebony bridge with bone saddle and gurian ebony pins, Multicolored non-herringbone backstrip purfling, Original Ebony ribbon (strap) buttons with pearl insets at butt wedge and rear of headstock. Other than two small repaired top cracks at the bass-side waist and treble side lower bout and a repaired slightly opened center seam behind the bridge, the only other structural repair is a maple bridge plate cap to more firmly seat the string ends. The top has been french polished and/ or buffed out to a much higher gloss than any other part of the guitar. This replacement bridge had been made with a slanted saddle for extra light guage steel strings, but Alan Perlman has filled that slot and made a new parallel bone saddle for its current nylon strings. A well preserved guitar that really sings with nylon strings, this instrument is a joy to play. with the original black Martin coffin case.


Early 1927
O-18 (29390)
A much more lightly built example than the late 1927 O-18 also currently in stock. Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, Slottted headstock with "C.F. Martin" stamp on rear and plain Brazilian Rosewood overlay on front, Original brass Waverly strip tuners, 1 7/8" nut width, Ebony fingerboard with 3 snail shell dots, Brazilian Rosewood body binding, Wood purflings, Replacement ebony bridge with long saddle and replacement pins by Gryphon's Frank Ford, No pickguard, Maple bridge plate cap, Strap button added at neck heel, Replacement endpin. OLD REPAIRS include: Long repaired side cracks with inner cleats, Neck reset and refret with bar frets, New bridge, Bridge plate cap, Refinish of areas of the sides and overspray of body. This guitar spent the last 4-5 years as a rhythm guitar in jug bands and oldtime string bands. Strung with light guage strings, the guitar had a very bass-heavy tone and too much rotation of the bridge. Currently string with .011" - .049" silk & steel strings, the guitar sings with a much more free and complete voice. The same tension and a brighter, harder tone could be achieved with extra light guage (.010" - .047") steel strings. A heavier tone could be had with custom lights (.011" - .050") steel strings. This guitar should never be used with light guage strings. With recent Martin hardshell case.


1933
Martin O-18 (53810)

Made from the 2nd major production year of 14 fret O-18, this guitar retains a lot of the lightness of build and responsiveness of the sightly earlier 12 Fret O-18s. Mahogany, Adirondack Spruce, Solid headstock with Brazilian Rosewood (decals weren't used yet) and chip repair on back edge, Waverly tuners installed for ease of use, 1 3/4" nut width, Replacement bone nut, Ebony fingerboard wtih original snail shell dots, Converted to tang frets rather than troublesome bar stock frets, Black binding, Brazilian Rosewood butt wedge, Original ebony bridge with 2 3/8" string spread, Ebony hellcap, replacement bridge pins and endpin. Though originally without a pickguard, this guitar picked up a small ugly Kay shape pickguard (proabbly during the folk scare of the 1960s). Repair ace Alan Perlman had made a sightly larger replacement from vintage style plastic sheet stock that I got from Henry Stocek a few years ago. Other resotrations by Alan Perlman include: Neck reset and refret, closing top, side and back cracks, and a top splint at center line between bridge and tail. I've left a couple of thin fiberglass reinforcements from 1960s era side crack repairs in place. This guitar has a wonderful rich, smooth, and loud response. The treble strings really sing in the 9-14 fret area. This is a wonderfully versatile guitar available at a very affordable price due to the repairs. With recent reproduction vintage style case.


Early 1943
O-18 (83437)
My favorite sounding wartime O-18 ever in stock. Adirondack Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Replacement single unit Gotoh Kluson style tuners with white buttons, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with "C.F. Martin" decal, Ivory nut, 1 11/16" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with snail shell dots (replacement dot at 5th fret), Totoiseshell binding and butt wedge, Black and white line purfling and rosette, Replacement Brazilian Rosewood bridge with short saddle, Turtle-oid pickguard, Ebony heelcap, Black line backstrip, Replacement black endpin and bridge pins. When I traded for this guitar at a southern California guitar show, it was in rough shape, but I couldn't believe how great it sounded. The back was warped and the former owner had already pulled out two of the back braces in preparation for restoration. I had Alan Perlman pull the back off and remove the braces to straighten it as much as possible. Alan reinstalled the braces and had to make a new one closest to the neck block. He also installed some missing lining and remove filler from the old side repairs at the widest parts of the lower bout. I also had Alan perform a neck reset and refret, make the new bridge, and plug the worn bridgeplate holes. Alan filled and levelled the old side damage, removed some of the thick urethane repair finish in that area, and apply thin finish over selected areas of the side repairs. The restored guitar is quite solid and is my favorite wartime O-18 that I've ever had in the shop. The upper strings explode with dense, colorful harmonics and the guitar is both quick to respond and ringing with sustain. A magical small Martin from the golden period. With hardshell case.


1944
OO-18 (88433)
A nice, clean lightweight OO-18 from Martin's last year for scalloped brace voicing. Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, Replacement Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, Replacement fossilized ivory nut, 1 11/16" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with graduated pearl dots, Ebony neck reinforcement, Turtle-oid body binding, Black-white line type purfling, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with 2 1/8" string spread, Replacement Stew-Mac Ebony vintage style unslotted pins, Turtle-oid pickguard, Ebony heelcap, Replacement black plastic endpin, Black strap button in neck heel. A very clean guitar that came to the last owner from my pal, Eric Schoenberg. Except for some buffing to shine up the finish and a recent neck reset with fingerboard extension wedge, not much has been done to this guitar. I had Alan Perlman install a new higher saddle in the replacement Brazilian Rosewood bridge. Other photos can be seen in the gallery section of Schoenberg Guitar's website, OM28.com. With the slim wartime neck and light voicing, this guitar responds well to the lightest touch. A wonderful guitar for fingerstyle play or modern style flatpicking. With nearly new Cedar Creek hardshell case.


1938
OO-17 (69469)
An all-original time machine OO-17 from early 1938 that retains the desireable features of advanced X-brace position and wide neck dimensions of Martin's classic mid-1930s guitars. Mahogany neck, top, back, and sides, Original Grover tuners, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with "C.F. Martin" decal, 1 3/4 nut width, Ivory nut, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with small ivoroid dots, No body binding, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with 2 5/16" string spread, Dark reddish brown pickguard, Ebony heelcap, Black line backstrip and endstrip, Original bakelite endpin and bridge pins. The only repair that his guitar has needed or had done was a neck reset with fingerboard extension wedge and refret by Novato, California Martin restoration master, Chris Berkov. I bought this guitar from the son of the original owner. The guitar had not been played in 40 years and shows very little of the capo dings and nicks from home playing. The original battered chipboard case (which will receive a burial at sea) had ancient strings and two very old Elton capos (which should not EVER be actually used again) that I'll include as curiosities in the accessory pocket of the new black Cedar Creek case. My first Martin was a great 1943 O-17. Compared to that one the voice of this guitar is absolutely huge and the response is quite free. It is simply a joy to play and responds with a rich, midrange-laden voice. I often capo on the fifth fret and play out of Carter Family style C position for singing in the key of F. The melody voice of this guitar in that middle part of the neck is celestial. I don't expect to ever have another OO-17 that sounds this nice or is this clean and unmolested. A fantastic guitar. I apologize for the flash photos that wash out the dark brown color of the Mahogany.


1932
OM-28 (51961)
I haven't had an OM with this kind of sonic strength since a 1933 shaded top OM-18 came through almost 15 years ago! This guitar has been the workhorse for a recording studio for the last couple of decades. Quartersawn Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top with lots of cross-grain silking, Replacement Waverly G-98 style tuners with metal buttons, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with "C.F. Martin" decal, Martin stamp on back of headstock, 1 3/4" nut width, Very comfortable V-shape neck profile, Ebony fingerbaord with short pattern diamonds and squares inlay, Ivoroid body binding, butt wedge, and heelcap, Herringbone top purfling, Standard 28 rosette, Well-made replacement belly bridge with drop-in saddle, Replacment endpin and bridge pins, Original large turtle-oid pickguard, Zipper backstrip, scalloped brace vocing. REPAIRS include: Splinted top crack from treble bridge foot to tail, Glued center seam, Glued repair at treble side widest edge of top with a little overspray in that area to level finish, 2" treble side crack near waist, and 2" crack near top where impact occured, 12" of top binding from this point to tail has been replaced, Neck reset with good bar fret stock, Fingerboard worn and 3" Crack near end repaired, Finish is quite worn all over from use. A superbly balanced instrument with the strength of a dreadnought, this guitar was the workhorse instrument of its recording studio home for about 20 years. An exceedingly rewarding insturemnt to play in a variety of styles. With new Cedar Creek black vintage case with Nickel hardware and dark green interior.
   


1948
Martin O-18 (107952)
From the last year of regular production levels, this O-18 is from a period of time that the relative lightness of build still allowed a big resonant voice to come from a small guitar. Mahogany, Sitka Spruce, Original octagonal Kluson tuners, Brazilian rosewood headstock overlay, fingerboard, heelcap, and bridge, 1 11/16" nut width, Original ivory nut, Comfortable full V-shape neck profile, Tortoiseshell binding and butt wedge, Red tortoiseshell pickguard, Black plastic endpin and bridge pins, No strap button in neck heel, 2 1/8" string spacing at the bridge. Recent repairs performed by ace luthier Alan Perlman are: Neck reset and refret, Side crack repairs, Pickguard crack repair, and regluing the original bridge. This is a very healty guitar that will celebrate its 60th birthday in 2008. I really appreciate the responsiveness in the bass area and the clear, crisp and ringing quality that the trebles have. I have really enjoyed playing this guitar in duets with a mandolin player. New vintage style AVS (TKL) case is included.


1943
O-18 Sunburst (83444)
A fantastic sounding scallop-voiced sunburst O-18 from one of Martin's most consistent years for great tone and volume. Mahogany back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, Replacement Gotoh Kluson tuners with the same base plate and screw pattern as the original Kluson gears, What look to be the original black slothead tuner screws, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, Old if not original ivory nut, 1 11/16" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with snail shell dots, Tortoiseshell body binding, Black and white line type purfling on top and rosette, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with long replacement bone saddle and 2 1/8" string spread, Red turtle-oid pickguard, Beautiful sunburst top finish that reminds me more of 1938 than 1943, Ebony heel cap, Black line backstrip, Black endpin and bridge pins. The repairs have been limited to a nice neck reset and refret with a wedge underneath the fingerboard extension and installation of the Gotoh gears. Voice is large and forceful. The medium neck profile is a joy to play. Heavy duty black vintage style AVS case with green interior.


1950
OO-21 (113087)
What a big-voiced, solid sounding, "little" guitar! Dark red Brazilian Rosewood back (with some very tight vertical grain at center) and sides, Dark red-brown Sitka Spruce top, Slotted headstock, Brazilian Rosewood overlay with "C.F. Martin" decal, Original open gear tuners, 1 7/8" nut width, Replacement bone nut, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with white pearl dots, 24 7/8" string scale, Wonderful V-shape neck profile (I'm going to have Roy McAlister copy this one for the Smeck style guitar that he's making for me.), Tortoiseshell body binding, Cream, black, and white top purfling and rosette, Replacement Brazilian Rosewood bridge, No pickguard, Chain link style backstrip, Black butt wedge, Black with white dot endpin and bridge pins. Pickmarks to bare wood where a pickguard would go and some stray pick marks on the bass side. Other dings on the top, back, sides and end of headstock. It's a small wonder that there are pickmarks as this guitar really rewarding to play and has a huge voice for a OO size guitar. Look out, Norman Blake! The wonderful shimmering, deep light reflective quality to the Rosewood body adds to the experience. A lucky find. With new Cedar Creek hardshell case.


1935
O-17
Martin's all-Mahogany depression era budget guitar. My first Martin was a 1943 version of this model. Mahogany neck, top, back, and sides, Original Grover single unit tuners with "gummy bear" rubbery tortoise colored buttons, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold "C.F. Martin" decal, Ebony nut, 1 3/4" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with small ivoroid dots, No body binding, Brazilian Rosewood bridge with 2 5/16" string spacing, Advanced X-brace position with scalloped voicing, Large pattern original pickguard, Replacement black endpin and bridge pins. Repairs include: Recent neck reset and refret, Crack repairs on treble and bass sides, Lifting and regluing the pickguard to relieve the shrinkage stress (no top cracks), Reglued back to tail block joint, Filled in areas of fingerboard wear in the first two frets, Black button replacement on the A tuner, No back cracks. There is significant finish wear on the neck and on the treble side of the otp above the pickguard. Numvberous little dings all over the guitar with buffing compound residue from a light buffout. The guitar plays beautifully and responds with a commanding, full voice. With recent hardshell case.


1963
OOO-18 (188354)
This is an especially powerful sounding example, helped by Mark Tossman's work. Mahogany, Sitka Spruce, Grover tuners, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with "C.F. Martin" decal, 1 11/16" nut width, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard with pearl dots, Tortoiseshell binding, butt wedge, and pickguard, Line type purfling, Replacement bridge with long saddle, Original endpin and bridge pins, Brazilian Rosewood heelcap, Black line backstrip. Washington's Mark Tossman performed a neck reset and refret, made the new bridge, pulled the pickguard and reglued it to eliminate the shrinkage tension, and repaired the two top cracks and single back crack. This guitar has a powerfully incisive voice with great suatain and complex harmonics. An very expressive instrument. With TKL hardshell case.


1959
OOO-28 (174986)
1950s era Martin Brazilian Rosewood was often pretty darn nice. This guitar features 100% perfectly straight quartersawn reddish brown Brazilian Rosewood, Tight grain Sitka Spruce with a little bearclaw figure (sometimes an indicator of extra stiffness), Grover Sta-Tite tuners, Brazailian Rosewood headstock overlay with gold Martin decal, Dart neck volute, V-shape neck profile, Ebony fingerboard withh pearl dots, White binding and butt wedge, Line style purfling and rosette, Ivoroid heelcap, Replacement Ebony bridge with drop-in saddle made by Alan Perlman, Red turtle-oid pickguard, Modern era 28 style backstrip[. The tuners were changed at some pont to Grover Rotomatics, so I had Alan Perlman re-install the appropriate style Grover Sta-Tite open back gears. Alan did a great refret, making the guitar play very easily. I specified the drop-in saddle for versatility in playing styles. There are dings on the back of the neck. The top shows a lot of pick marks and a few shallow dings. There is a small repaired crack on the back near the very edge of the bass-side lower bout. This is a strong-voiced guitar that would be appropriate for a lot of different flatpick and fingerstyle types of play. I like it a lot. With new TKL hardshell case.


1926
OO-28 (28016)
This guitar is from the period just before the change in bracing to accept steel string tension, so it is strung with silk and steel strings. Vertical grain Brazilian Rosewood, Adirondack Spruce top, Original strip tuners with engraved plates, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay, 1 7/8" nut width, diamonds and squares inlay, Ivoroid body binding and heelcap, Herringbone top purfling, Replacement ebony pyramid bridge, A new Martin style pickguard replaces the awful red firestripe Regal pickguard that was inappropriately applied in the bad old days, Zipper backstrip, New redeye endpn and bridge pins. Other old repairs include a neck reset, an internal spruce patch in the bridge plate area and new bridge plate, and an old crack repair at the lower bout area of the top. The entire guitar has been oversprayed. Alan Perlman reseated the bar frets and levelled them. Alan also repaired two back cracks. The guitar plays very well for fingerstyle play, Norman Blake style flatpicking, or Django swing playing. A nice player's guitar. With 1970s hardhsell case.


1929
Martin OOO-28 (38106)
To many this is the ultimate Martin fingerstyle guitar, a 12 Fret OOO braced for steel strings with rectangular bridge and no pickguard. Dead straight Brazilian Rosewood, Adirondack Spruce top, Slothead with engraved halfplate tuners, C.F. Martin stamp on rear of head, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay, Nut as been shimmed after refret, 1 7/8" nut width, Ebony fingerboard with short pattern diamonds and squares inlay, Ivoroid binding and heelcap, Thin herringbone top purfling, 2 5/16' string spread at bridge, Virtually unangled bridge saddle, Solid pins, Zipper backstrip. The repairs have been limited to a neck reset and refret by T.J Thompson and his judicious application of varnish to the wear at the rear of the neck between the nut and 4th fret. With original hardshell case. This is as fine sounding an original 12 Fret OOO as you are ever likely to play.

Photo
1935 Martin O-18
Mahogany, Adirondack Spruce top, Grover G-98 tuners, Brazilian Rosewood headstock overlay with Martin decal, 1 3/4" nut width, Snail shell dots inlay, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, 24 7/8" string scale, Tortoiseshell binding, Clean original finish, Original softshell case. This is a one-owner home played guitar. It is the cleanest prewar Martin that I've had in the shop. It had a big, clean sound or its size. It will be out on the shop floor soon with a fresh neck reset and refret.


Home