1938 C. F. Martin 00-18 H Sunburst

70910 – The genesis of the “Hawaiian Invasion” in music is attributed to the 1915 Pan Pacific Exhibition in San Francisco where Hawaiian music was played, to the delight of millions of fair-goers, on multiple stages using traditional instruments. As early as 1916 Martin began filling custom orders for guitars made of Koa with raised nuts for Hawaiian style playing and by 1918 Martin ukuleles and Hawaiian guitars were in full production. The 00-18 H arrived relatively late in the Hawaiian craze and was produced in small numbers only between 1935 and 1941. To my knowledge, this was the only 12-fret model launched (not a reissue) after 1929 when Martin made a commitment to 14-fret necks. Introduced with flush frets and raised nut, they make wonderful players when properly converted to standard play with a full sound that belies its size. This one is no exception. Mark Tossman, master luthier, did everything right on the conversion; dead-on neck reset, proper radius on the fingerboard, new frets with NOS bar fret wire. A new bridge was required (old one had been ramped in lieu of a neck reset) properly intonated. The little guy was played a lot in its Hawaiian incarnation and has some wear on the top. Otherwise it is quite clean down to the crisply stamped model and serial number inside. It is crack and trauma free. IMHO there’s not much cooler than a small body Martin with a shaded top and vintage patina. And, though it has just returned from Mark’s workbench, the tone is already fulsome and opens up more every day. It comes with a later grade B hardshell case.

Specs

Status: Available
Builder: C. F. Martin
Year: 1938
Serial Number: 70910
Model: 00-18 H
Body Type: 00, 12-fret
Condition: Very Good +
Wood Back & Sides: Honduran Mahogany
Wood Top: Adirondack Spruce
Top Finish: Shaded Sunburst
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Modified V
Nut Width: 1 13/16
String Spacing: 2 5/16
Tuners:
Body Length: 19 3/8
Upper Bout Width: 9 7/8
Lower Bout Width: 14 3/16
Depth (at the end pin) 4 1/8
Scale length 24.9”