1936 C. F. Martin 000-18 Natural
SN 63900. This fine 1936 Martin 000-18 is one serial number away from Woody Guthrie’s (63899). Woodrow Wilson Guthrie has a strong connection to the State of Washington. His song “Roll On Columbia” is our state folk song and though he spent only a month in Washington and Oregon, he was transformed by the experience. He wrote 26 songs while here. I like to think of these two guitars sharing a workbench together in 1936 Nazareth, PA, one traveling through Eastern Washington, one staying in Eastern PA and now living 1.4 miles from each other. I am right of the hill from Paul Allen’s MoPop where Woody’s old ’36 resides.
She has all the coveted features of a prewar style 18 – Honduran mahogany back and sides, Adirondack spruce top, forward-X scalloped bracing, wide neck and string spacing, ebony bridge and fingerboard and Grover G-98 tuners. It is one of 277 produced that year, stamped on July 16 and cleared final inspection on October 30. The 000-18 is not Martin’s scarcest models but one of the most beloved. This nearly 90 year old guitar has an open, woody and balanced tone. The comfortable size and easy playing 24.9” scale make is a great solution for a variety of acoustic musical puzzles. It’s no wonder that the players who own these “golden era” gems hang onto them.
This is an excellent playing example with some honest playwear. It’s gone through the required maintenance to return it to its original playing specs. In 2020, Dennis Berck replaced an oversized bridge with a perfect replica from ebony. The shadow is carefully touched up with amber lacquer. An oversized bridge plate was removed and a perfect maple replica of the original was installed. It appears Dennis was able to tuck the bridge plate under the X-brace. The neck was reset and the entire neck refretted. There is one 3.5” crack in the rim that was earlier expertly repaired. The top and back are crack free. Hot hide glue was used in all repairs. As Dennis mentions in his comments, “the oversized bridge and plate were slowing the top down. Now that is has been freed up, it just sings.”
Ships in a nearly new Hisox case.
SPECS:
Top:Adirondack Spruce
Back & Sides:Honduran Mahogany
Bridge & Fretboard:Ebony
Appointments:Dot position markers, b/w trim and rosette
Nut width:1-3/4”
String spacing: 2-3/8”
Body width: 15-1/8”
Depth:4-1/8”
Scale length:24.9”
Case: HSC
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We represent the instruments as accurately as we can. All instruments are shipped on 48-hour approval. If there is damage as a result of the shipping, please contact us immediately and we will deal with the insurance company. If the instrument is damaged in transit from you to me, then you are responsible for dealing with the damage and insurance. For refunds, all instruments must be returned in the same condition as we shipped them in.
All instruments are shipped on 48-hour approval. If there is damage as a result of the shipping, please contact us immediately and we will deal with the insurance company. If the instrument is damaged in transit from you to me, then you are responsible for dealing with the damage and insurance. For refunds, all instruments must be returned in the same condition as we shipped them in.