1932 C. F. Martin OM-18 Shaded, Good, Original Hard, $14,500.00

SN 51340. SALE PENDING. Here is a shaded top OM-18 from the third year of production when only 225 were made and fewer still with the hard-to-find dark top option. A ground-breaking model in its day, it was the first 14-fret Martin in mahogany, coming on the heels of the OM-28. After four years of production and fewer than 800 made, it evolved into the 000-18 early in 1934 and later became the short scale version that we know today. It is in fine playing condition but cosmetically a bit rough. I’m told Ken Fallon is responsible for the neck reset and refret. The bar fret job is one of the best I’ve seen. The bridge is either a full height original or a very convincing forgery. The neck is straight and the action set to a medium low 6/64ths on the bass side and 4-5/64ths on the treble. Cosmetically there are some issues but no catastrophes or abuse. There are three circular areas of wear that I can only guess about – exposure to a light bulb or something liquid – plenty of play wear and buckle wear and one small area of impact in the side that has been very capably pushed flush, glued and disguised. One four inch crack on the back has been glued and touched and a key crack in the waist on the treble side that is about 3” glued. There is touchup on the wear under the strings. On the headstock is an aftermarket inlay with a folksy quality. Mostly it is great fun to play and sounds balanced, woody and resonant, a terrific fingerstyle or singer-songwriter guitar with mojo. It came with a late 20’s early 30’s case that I’ve seen with these before but is a little large.