1944 C. F. Martin 00-18 Natural, Very Good, Hard, $4,500.00

SN: 91574. Here is a perfect little living room player with just enough honest wear to remind us of how much pleasure she’s given to others without impeding our own. The Adirondack two-piece top veritably glows in the right light offset by understated black-white-black-white binding, similar rosette, and faux tortoise pick guard. Mahogany sides and two piece unbound back with moderate buckle and button rash. The neck is 1 11/16” at the nut and has some heft to it – very comfortable. The back of the neck is smooth with no capo disturbances. Tuners are the original flat back Klusons with no ferrules and work very well indeed. Ebony nut looks like a well-disguised replacement. So many are replaced with bone or ivory which disturb the subtle balance of the tone. Bridge and fretboard of Brazilian rosewood are original and full height. Probable neck reset and, now that I look closely, just maybe an exact replacement bridge – forgery quality perfectly aged to match the fretboard. There’s playwear north of the guard and the east side of the sound hole, a few scratches here and there. This one has just eluded the scalloped brace era but is the poster child for tapered bracing, an innovative top-tuning idea that lasted until the mass production of the 50s. Wonderful voice with great character. On consignment. Email for more photos or questions.