|
| 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 |
|
|
| 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. |
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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.
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|

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. |
|

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. |
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