1971 Martin 00-21
One of Martin's longest-running production models, the 00-21 was introduced in 1898 and has remained a 12-fretter with a slotted headstock for decades after most models were given 14-fret necks and solid headstocks. The Martin 00-21 has three important features that fingerstyle players really enjoy: the wider 1.78” nut width, the shorter 24.9” scale allowed by the 12 frets, and scalloped top bracing. In addition, on these small-bodied 12-fretters the small, rectangular rosewood bridge plate lets the top move a lot more. The 00-21 has a rich and fairly dark tone, excellent string-to-string balance, and very supportive mids with good strength. The lower registers have that familiar plumpness, the top end has a bell-like clarity and the separation throughout the tonal spectrum is excellent. For a fingerstyle and vocal accompaniment guitar, it works like gangbusters, but it's got plenty of meaty tone for old-time flatpicking as well.
Naturally, the body dimensions of the 00-21 are slightly smaller than those of dreadnoughts: it has a 12/19-fret rosewood fingerboard, an over-all length of 38 5/8”, a 9 7/8” upper bout, a waist of 8 ½”, a lower bout width of 14 5/16”, a depth of 4 1/8”, a body length of 18 7/8”, and a string spread at the rosewood bridge of 2 5/16”. The playing condition of this particular 00-21 is excellent, as you would expect of a Martin: straight mahogany neck, virtually no fret wear, solid bridge, tight tuners, and so on. The Martin hand-fitted dovetail neck joint and scalloped spruce X-bracing of the solid Sitka Spruce top combine with the great resonance of high quality East Indian Rosewood to produce the rich, bright sound characteristic of the 21 Series. The modified neck profile is a fast and comfortable "soft" V, which is good because you won’t want to put it down for hours.
Cosmetically, it’s also in excellent shape, considering that its serial number (280127) indicates it was made in 1971. Only a few small dings in its high gloss finish, a bit of pick guard shrinkage, a small dent in the back of the neck at about the 12th fret, and a small chip in the back of the headstock detract from its appearance. The dot inlays in the fingerboard, the rosewood peghead overlay, the 5-ply black bindings on the top edge and 2-ply black bindings on the back edge, the beautiful 3-on-a-plate pre-war style open-back tuners with cream buttons, and the original black pickguard are all intact and authentic. And all of this is topped off, of course, with the C. F. Martin name on the headstock, which says it all.
The blue hard shell Martin thermoplastic case is original, complete with the familiar Martin logo embossed on the top. In almost fifty years it has earned a few dings around the edges protecting this guitar. However, the hardware all works perfectly, the royal blue interior is in fine shape, and as one would expect of a Martin case, it is an ideal complement to this superb guitar.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55.00 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I believe that I have described this instrument fully and accurately. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions before offering to purchase it, as its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your interest in this fine vintage Martin guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.