1944 Martin 00-18
S/N 88198 Mahogany back, sides and neck, Adirondack spruce top, tortoise binding on the back and front with the added 2 ply black-white-black-white strip of binding on the top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, bridge and headstock overlay, comfortable soft V neck carve with the rare somewhat narrow 1-5/8” nut width, replaced aged bone nut and saddle, Willi Henkes Antique Acoustic authentic replacement bridge pins, original war time bushing-less tuners with the plastic buttons and a 24.9” scale. Action is set perfectly at a hair under 4-3.
The bridge plate is clean and original and unmolested as is the entire inside of this guitar. There is no evidence of any bracing repairs. There are a few repaired cracks on the backside lower bout and an ancient and stable not too noticeable short crack along the pick guard below the e string. Also, there are no impact or puncture wounds on the piece and the guitars original finish black lights well only showing the mentioned repairs. These cracks are not at all glaring in comparison to the over all look of this instrument. The guitar is solid.
The braces are 40s scalloped. Appears to have the ebony embedded truss rod as the neck does not attract a magnet.
This is one my personal guitars, one that I frequently go to. And it has a cool story…. I acquired it some years ago from the daughter of the long time owner who, when in the Navy stationed off Korea during that war, learned to play from the Ship’s Chaplain who owned it and then gave it to this lucky sailor who according to the daughter, “continued to play it every day for the rest of his life”. Some 45 years it was his go to guitar.
David Hatchard did an impeccable pro set up, re setting the neck, replacing some frets, nut and the saddle and filling a hole left over from a pick up knob with a piece of Adirondack. This guitar has been one of my true pleasures of guitar collecting and playing. And speaking of collecting, this really ain’t for just any collection, no no. This guitar must be played.
She is certainly not the prettiest girl at the dance, but I guarantee she IS the best dancer. The play wear you see on this guitar is honest LOVE and this thing has the sound. This is one of those Martins you can actually feel the body shimmer when you play it. This is a players guitar and players have been playing it for many years, non stop. So I’m planning to scrutinize whom ever approaches me for this one. I don’t want it going to just anybody. It will truly be missed.
Offered in a proper fitting vintage tweed style hard case, not new but in very good condition.
Year: 1944
Manufacturer: Martin
Model: 00-18
Case: Hard
Color: Natural
Condition: Players player
