1953 Martin 000-21 Sunburst, Excellent, Hard, $6,995.00

This is a most unusual Martin, and a fabulous one too. The 000-21 model was a slightly sleeker version of the 000-28, a fabulous fingerpicking guitar in the Auditorium size, with rosewood back and sides and with rosewood fingerboard and bridge rather than ebony, and slightly more conservative decorative appointments. Being a 1950s Martin, this one of course has Brazilian rosewood all around. We’ve gotten it all set up and gone over and its action is just great, at a perfect height. The volume and tone are as bold and bright and clear as can only come from Brazilian rosewood back and sides in a 60+ year-old 000-size Martin. There are elements of the finish on this guitar that have probably been redone, some of it original, hard to say about the mix though it’s all very professional and very old and extremely cool. Difficult to say about the sunburst; the specific coloration, which is terrific and I love it, is something I’ve seen only from Martin, and it may have been done by them at a later date. We’ve found evidence of some internal work down at the lower bout which is nearly impossible to detect. Overall, this is one heck of a solid Martin 000-21, an extremely rare model, even rarer with a sunburst finish, but the best part is that it’s a fabulous guitar, sounds like all the best of them you’ve ever heard and plays fabulously too thanks to our own workshop; this kind of performance cannot be achieved in a new guitar, not even a hugely expensive custom shop one. My own personal instrument is a 1953 Martin 000-21, have had it for over forty years and have held onto it ever since, will love it to the end of time, and this one is so close that I just had to get it for our store. A great opportunity for terrific traditional tone and volume at a terrific price; Brazilian Rosewood Martin 000-21 guitars like this just do not come along anymore. $6995 w/hsc