1930 C. F. Martin 0-18K Natural Koa, Excellent, Original Soft, $5,500.00

SN: 42470. Hawaiian Koa back, sides, and top with a matte finish, twelve fret mahogany neck with slotted headstock, ebony fretboard and bridge. Multi-ply top binding and single ply back binding still rosewood. It’s hard to imagine the passion felt for Hawaiian music in the early 20th Century when Martin was using more Koa than rosewood. This one started life in 1930 set up for Hawaiian play with the flush frets, raised nut, and saddle. The conversion to standard play was just completed by Alan Perlman in San Francisco and the setup is fantastic with exact repro belly bridge, compensated saddle, and bar frets. The condition of the guitar is exceptionally fine. The original owner apparently was more a lover of Hawaiian music than player. There are two or three scratches on the entire guitar. That’s it. Everything is original with the exception of the duplicate bridge. Koa is nicely figured, not the plain Jane boards usually found on the 18s. The tone is not as brassy as some but more refined. Big nut 1 7/8” and 2 3/8” string spacing at the bridge. Not for the small of hand but for a capable fingerpicker the note separation doesn’t get much better than this. Comes with a very clean original softshell case (though the handle has pulled away in one spot).