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1886 Martin 0-28
No serial # (Martin began numbering their instruments in 1898, after an estimated 8000 instruments had been completed). The venerable Style 28 made its first appearance in Martin's 1874 catalog, twelve years prior to this guitar's completion. The 0-28 became a successful model and the company soon expanded the Style 28 line to include the new 00 size - the largest guitar the company had yet built in the late 1870's. Because C.F. Martin & Co. (then run by C.F. Martin Jr.) was not yet recording serial numbers at the time this 0-28 was built, it is not known how many - or how few - similar guitars were built. What we can say with absolute certainty is that very few have survived in such fine condition to this day. We are pleased to offer to you this fine Martin 0-28.

Figured Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Red spruce top, Spanish cedar neck with rosewood headstock overlay, ebony fingerboard and original full height pyramid bridge. Ivory bindings, herringbone top purfling, multicolored back strip, typical Style 28 rosette in a 5-9-5 pattern but with ivory center-rings. Original ivory nut, saddle, pearl-inlaid bridge pins, and end-graft. Original German-made engraved brass tuning machines with ivory buttons, and original endpin. Scalloped braces and original maple bridge plate, original French-polish shellac finish throughout. 0-size body measures 13.5" wide at lower bout, and 4.25" deep at the endpin. 24.9" scale length, 1-7/8" wide nut, soft-V neck profile.

This guitar is in excellent condition and is completely original. The top's center seam has been reglued, but there are otherwise no cracks anywhere on the instrument. The guitar arrived to us with a small section of binding and purfling missing from the lower back/side margin, which we have seamlessly repaired (see photo). We don't often toot our own horn, so to speak, about the quality of our restoration work, but this repair is second to none. You would be hard-pressed to notice that anything had been done to this guitar. The purfling material we spliced in was custom cut to match the original, as was the ivory we selected for the binding. We have a big box of antique piano keys that we painstakingly sorted through to find a piece of ivory that was of the same hue and opacity as the original Martin stock! The French-polish finish touch-up does not extend on the back beyond 1/4" from the edge. In addition, we've dressed the original bar frets, installed a new compensated bone saddle (the original full height ivory saddle will accompany the guitar), and have set up the instrument with Silk and Steel strings and a comfortable fingerstyle action. The guitar is feather-light, weighing in at 3 pounds, and has oodles of rich, open, vintage tone. Its treble strings are fat and round, and its wound strings have that poppy, almost classical attack that comes from a lightly built top. The instrument is breathy and airy, with woody and complex overtones and endless sustain. Defined basses, and balanced string to string volumes make this instrument one of the loveliest fingerstyle guitars you'll have the chance to play.

Due to the nature of the instrument, its value, and the unpredictable climate, we will only ship this guitar with Overnight service (about $300).

TKL Deluxe fitted hardshell case included
On Consignment
SOLD

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1957 Martin 000-18
Serial # 158449 In close to perfect condition and 100% original and unmodified, this 1957 000-18 is truly a collector's item. No cracks, no wear, and only minor dings near the pickguard and to the back of the neck - you'd be hard pressed to find one much nicer than this. Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoiseshell celluloid bindings and pickguard, ivory nut and saddle. 1-11/16" nut, 24.9" scale neck with soft V 50's profile. The action measures a very comfortable 5 to 8 64ths at the 12th fret despite not yet having a neck reset; however, the saddle has been lowered to its minimum, and without shaving the guitar's full height bridge the action is not lowerable any further. It's a particularly fine sounding 1950's 000, with nice woodiness and a warm ring - and fingers or flatpick coax out the best this guitar has to offer.
With original soft-shell case
On Consignment
SOLD


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1930 c. Martin Style 1-T Uke
No serial number. As the ukulele fad of the 1920's grew in scale, the Martin Company expanded its line of ukes from to include Concert, Tenor, and Baritone sized instruments. The Style 1-T was introduced soon after the second round of renovations at the company's North St. location in the late 1920's, and this instrument likely dates soon after that. A simply appointed instrument, the Style 1-T has a mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, rosewood binding (with maple top purfling), ebony nut, friction tuning machines, and black bridge-pins. The bone saddle is new, but the instrument is otherwise original. Bar-frets and C.F. Martin stamp on the back of the headstock date the instrument to before 1934. The are a few hairline cracks on the instrument's top and back which we have repaired, along with an older nicely repaired crack on the treble side. No finish touchup was done, and none is needed. Nicely setup, the instrument plays easily and without buzz. 17" scale length, 1-3/8" nut width. Fine sound.
With softshell case
SOLD

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1962 Martin 000-28C
Serial # 186981. Built at the height of the Folk boom of the early 1960's, the 000-28 was the largest and most expensive gut-string guitar Martin would ever offer. Only 560 of these guitars were built in total, and today the 000-28C (or earlier G) are the most collectable post-war gut-strung Martins (and the only 12-fret 000 size production instruments of the era). This guitar is in extra-fine condition, with very little signs of use. It has a repaired 3" long crack on the back, and a small finish chip in front of the bridge from an earlier reglue. The action and set up are very nice, and the guitar plays quite comfortably. As the only 12 fret 000-size postwar Martins, it is not uncommon to see these instruments converted into steel string guitars. This unconverted example has a lovely intimate tone and a soft touch.
With its original hard shell case
SOLD

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1938 Martin 000-18
Serial # 71207. A one owner triple O from just before the start of WWII. The guitar is in top shape, after a neck reset, refret, and re-bridge in our shop. Adirondack top, quartered mahogany back and sides; ebony fingerboard and bridge. Original Grover tuning machines, ivory nut, end pin and bridge pins. Like pretty much all pre-war 14 fret 000-18's this guitar has a huge voice, with very well developed trebles and loud but succinct basses. For a fan of Mahogany instruments, this is the consummate fingerstyle guitar. 1-3/4" nut width, 24.9" scale, comfortable soft V neck profile, and forward positioned X bracing. It is both responsive and subtle, and is a dream to play.
The original bridge was badly cracked and needed replacing, the replica we built is exact and would be difficult to distinguish as a replacement. The instrument is free of cracks, with the exception of a 1/2" crack on the bass side lower bout which was repaired long long ago. There is light overspray over the wound, and there are a number very small drops of finish on the top's lower bass side which measure about 1/32nd of an inch at most. They are difficult to photograph, but should be somewhat visible on the front detail photo provided. This guitar is in otherwise excellent condition. We have the action set to please the fingerstyle crowd (read: low), and thanks to the new frets this guitar plays slinky-fast without buzzing. Included with the instrument is its original strap, and a couple original black and white photos of the original owner playing his guitar back in the day.
With new TKL deluxe hard shell case
SOLD

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1947 Martin 000-28G
Serial # 100322. With only 17 ever made, the 000-28G is among the rarest of all catalogued Martin guitar models. The G series guitars were the first instruments built by Martin to specifically interest players of Spanish style guitar. The instrument pictured here (one of only four built in 1947), has a 000-28 body, but with a fan-braced spruce top, and a 12 fret classical-style neck that has a nut width of close to 2 inches. The appointments are typical of Style 28 guitars from 1947 onward, and the Brazilian rosewood used to build this instrument is pretty much as perfect as one could ask for - quarter sawn, with rich deep red and brown hues. The guitar is completely original and in excellent condition. There are, however, three older repaired back cracks, as is common to find on Brazilian Martins. Some might prefer to convert this guitar into an OM-28, others would leave the instrument intact, preserving it as a specimen of an ultra rare Martin instrument. Should you choose to play the instrument, you will find that this guitar has a warm and intimate nylon-string voice. There is more bass response than you'd otherwise expect in a classical, thanks to this 000's large body size.
On consignment with newer case
SOLD


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1997 Martin HD-28V
Serial # 599755. A 10 year old Vintage series Herringbone D-28 in excellent condition. Indian rosewood back and sides, perfect Sitka top, ebony through-saddle bridge and diamond-inlaid fingerboard. One-piece mahogany neck with vintage style logo and open-geared tuners. Heringbone top trim, zig-zag back strip, tortoise-shell celluloid pickguard, red-eye bridge pins. Scalloped, forward shifted top bracing, Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Boomy and loud, the HD-28V is Martin's consummate bluegrass flatpicker - and this guitar does it well. Lots of headroom, nice big basses with open and woody mids. Well set up and in excellent condition, with only very minor finish blemishes.
Original hard shell case included
On Consignment
SOLD

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1957 Martin D-21
Serial # 154328. We'll probably be kicking ourselves in a few years for putting this guitar up for sale, as D-21's are among the best investments in the vintage guitar world; and they don't come much more perfect than this guitar. But, alas, we're in the business of selling guitars - not keeping them. The '57 D-21 pictured here is the cleanest 50 year old Martin dreadnought you're likely to find. It's one repair - a small binding reglue and 1/8 splice- was done exceptionally well and is largely invisible. There are no cracks anywhere on the instrument, and no neck work has ever been done to the guitar. No neck reset, no shaved bridge, no fretwork. The ivory nut and saddle are original, the tuners are original, the bridge pins are original, the finish is original... you get the idea here folks. With action of 5 to 8 64ths the guitar is eminently playable, and with some saddle height left above the bridge the action is lowerable further. This fifty year old Martin doesn't need a neck reset. With guitars this perfect tone is often an afterthought, but that is not the case with this D-21. It's a fifty year old Brazilian rosewood dreadnought. It sounds huge. A marvelous flat picker. Oh, and it has an Adirondack Spruce top, too. I almost forgot to mention that... Spidery Brazilian and Adirondack; not a bad thing, really.
The guitar is very expensive, and it is worth every penny of the price.
With a new Martin Geib-style case
SOLD

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1957 Martin 000-18
Serial # 158254. In our minds, primo vintage guitars should either be in near-mint condition, or have enough mojo to make Muddy Waters shudder. Either way, you need to be able to play the thing, so proper action and set up are especially important, as is an instrument's structural integrity. All that being said, you can imagine our delight when this crack-free fifty year old hobo of a guitar showed up at our door. This guitar really, really, really looks like a vintage instrument. Its finish is worn spectacularly well - from the arm wear on the top's lower bass bout to the pickwear around the soundhole and pickgaurd. Its smooth and bare mahogany neck is testament to the countless hours someone spent honing their skills and howling at the moon. It amazes me to think that a guitar with this kind of play wear can survive the years without damage. The guitar's bridgeplate, and braces are all original and intact, and with the exception of a small unrepaired crack at the inner margin of the pickguard there are no cracks - past or present - on this one. We've just completed a neck-reset and refret, and made a brazilian rosewood replica bridge to replace the original that was shaved too low to use. The guitar had been previously refretted, so our frets are likely the guitar's third set. Its ivory nut, Grover G-98 tuners, bridge pins, end pin, pickguard, and all finish are all original. Typical of 50's 000-18's it has a smallish neck, with a nut width of 1-5/8" and a soft-v carve; a very comfortable fit. Naturally, the guitar sounds amazing. It would be hard for it not to, really, after having being played so much over a span of fifty years. It's not the loudest guitar in the shop, but is has warmth and subtlety, and lots of that dry woody openness we look for in a vintage mahogany instrument. Set up with standard 5 to 7 64ths action, this 000-18 is well suited for most any style of playing.
With non-original hard shell case
SOLD

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1964 Martin 0-16NY
Serial # 194388. The New Yorker Martins were built in response to the folk revival of the 1950's and early 1960's. People were looking for old 12 fret "New York" made Martins on which to play the roots and traditional tunes that were popular in the day. Although designed for nylon (classical) strings or light gauge steel strings, these instruments sound remarkably better with steels strings, and were built more lightly than most other Martins of the era. The result is an instrument with a wide open voice, lots of harmonic overtones and good volume. 1 7/8" nut width, slotted headstock and rectangular bridge add to the vintage vibe of this instrument. This early 1963 example has had a professional neck reset not too long ago, and has just been refretted and set up in our shop. It is completely original with the exception of the frets, saddle, and one bridge-pin and is in near-mint condition. No cracks or finish wear, and only a few small dings here and there to mention. Original ivory nut, Waverly tuners, and full-height Brazilian rosewood bridge. Mahogany back and sides, Sitka spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and headstock overlay. Style 18 rosette and top bindings and purflings, unbound back., and satin lacquer finish. A wonderful fingerstyle instrument, we have the action set at a slinky 4 to 5 64ths.
With period / original hard shell case
SOLD

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1968 (circa) Martin "Employee" 00-28 LEFTY
Yes, it's factory left handed; yes it has Brazilian Rosewood back and sides; and - yes - it was built in the Martin factory, but like all "Employee-built" Martin guitars this instrument does not have a Martin serial number or bear the familiar C.F. Martin & Co. logo on its headstock. Back in the days of the 6-digit serial number, Martin employees were permitted to "build" instruments of their own design when off-shift. They would use Martin parts in the construction of these instruments, and the finished products would be - essentially - Martin guitars, but would generally differ from those instruments found in the Martin catalog. Such is the case with the particular lefty 00-sized guitar pictured here. It was built with three-piece back and sides of richly hued Brazilian rosewood; lefty-braced Sitka spruce top complete with small rosewood bridge-plate (a la 1968); a twelve-fret neck with 24.9" scale, chucky 1-7/8" width and slotted headstock, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and rectangular bridge. As far as appointments, this instrument is a hybrid of styles ranging from 16 to 45. The top's edge is bound with Style 21 5-ply purflings and black outer binding, and the abalone pearl rosette is Style 41 and higher. The three-piece back suggests Style 35, but its lack of binding is reminiscent of the Style 16 New Yorkers that were being built at the same time as this guitar. The fingerboard and dot pattern are Style 21, and the bridge was built for a Style 16 or 21 New Yorker. Finally, the bridge and end-pins are Style 21 (Black with white dots), and the end-graft is Style 28. So by now, I'm hoping that you're wondering why we've called the guitar a 00-28, if only the endgraft (that little wedge inlaid into the bottom of the guitar that the strap button sits in the center of) says Style 28. Well, it's because the fellow who built it wanted us to; he stamped the neck block 00-28! Inside, the guitar is initialed A.F.S. 6.2.71 and although we assume the guitar was completed June 2nd, 1971, we're still calling it a '68 as the materials used and the size/shape of the bridge plate are suggestive of that year. The headstock is inlaid with LMS in pearl, and we have been told these are the initials of the wife of the Martin Employee who built the instrument.

The instrument is in excellent condition. There are no cracks and no scratches in the finish. We have fitted a replacement tortoise-shell celluloid pickguard to the top, re-fretted and set up the instrument, complete with a new bone saddle. The action is fingerstyle-low, with a full-height bridge and enough saddle to lower the strings well into the buzz-zone. Original Grover tuners and original ivory nut. It's a very loud guitar, with big full trebles and piano-like resonance. It is, after all, a Martin.
With original chipboard case
On Consignment
SOLD

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1951 Martin D-18
Serial # 120509. Obviously not used very much throughout its life, this D-18 doesn't really look a third as old as it actually is. The story as we've heard it is that a pair of brothers from Tennessee bought a pair of D-18s to use with their band way back when, and ended up only using one of them. The second guitar (this one) lived a lonely life in its chipboard case at the back of a closet, only to be discovered some many years later. It dried out and formed a few cracks along the way, but it stayed in mostly excellent condition as a result. A while back the guitar was brought back to life with a professional neck-reset, a new bridge, and repairs to one top crack and four back cracks; it was played for about a decade and then finally made its way here last week. We've replaced the replacement bridge with a much more accurate Brazilian rosewood replica, repaired a pickguard crack, and set the instrument up with Martin Mediums. It now plays excellently, looks fabulous, and sounds - simply - quite wonderful. Original finish throughout, original Kluson tuners, replacement bone nut and saddle, new bridge pins, original endpin and pickguard. One very tight and nicely repaired top crack south of the bridge; the four back cracks are all located in the lower treble bout and are well glued. If not for the repaired cracks, this D-18 would be on our short list of the cleanest 50 year old guitars we've yet offered for sale. It's a good one, folks. It has a wide open voice, with a noticeable amount of that woody dryness you'll find in a good early 50's Martin. It's loud and resonant, and is definitely a flatpicker's instrument.
With a newer Calton hard shell case
SOLD


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1960 Martin D-28
Serial # 171802. Built in early 1960, and bought shortly thereafter by the fellow who brought it to us last week, this D-28 is a well cared for one-owner instrument. It is also the home of some of the most beautiful Brazilian rosewood you'll encounter on any Martin from any era. Pictures speak a thousand words, and I've not got space for that much text, so feast your eyes on that back detail shot we've provided. Moving on, this guitar is in quite fine condition overall. It has two very small repaired cracks: one at the pickguard margin under the B string, and the other on the treble side near the neck that has had a drop-fill touch-up. The top and braces are solid and issue-free, as are the sides, back, and their related braces. Nice small original bridge plate and no top deflection. The bridge is an ebony replacement made in our shop, and the bridge pins are the guitar's original red-eyes. It's had a professional neck reset and refret, and is set up with very comfortable action and medium strings. Original Grover pat. pend. USA Rotomatics, and original ivory nut (1-11/16"). Its lacquer finish is completely original; the back of the neck has a bit of wear, and the guitar has a few dings on the top, and a fair number of scratches on the back and sides. There is no pick rash or belt wear though, and the overall look of the guitar is quite clean. Typical of D-28's from the late 50's and early 1960's the guitar is quite loud and well balanced. It's obviously a great flatpicker, but would likely be a good fingerpicking candidate too.
With original hard shell case
SOLD

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1920's Martin Style 1K Uke
This one sings! That sweet loud voice of a very lightly built koa instrument just can't be beat. All-koa body and bridge, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with original bar frets, mahogany neck, Brazilian top and back binding, white and black wood top purfling, ebony nut and saddle, replaced tuners. This one would be a lot more money had it not lost a chunk out of the top by the soundhole. It is otherwise in highly desirable condition.
No case.
SOLD

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1981 Martin Model A Mandolin
Serial # 26174. Virtually unchanged in design from 1917 until its discontinuation in 1988, the 1981 Model A shown here is a 90 year old in the body of a 26 year old! It is truly fascinating that Martin offered their bent-top basic model mando as recently as George Michael's hit song "Faith", and the Bush Sr. Presidency!
The instrument is in just about mint condition, but does show some fret wear. Mahogany back and sides, bent Sitka spruce top, style 18 appointments. Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard; ebony bridge and nut, Kluson tuners (which Martin must have stockpiled in the late 1960's!), and clamshell tailpiece. 1-5/32" nut width, 13" scale, neck joins the body at the 10th fret. The mandolin is well set up and plays nicely.
With original hard shell case
On Consignment
SOLD

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1969 Martin D-28
Serial # 242519. The last Brazilian rosewood D-28's left the factory in late 1969, some 11500 guitars after this early 1969 model was finished. Today, as you most likely well know, the instruments built prior to a certain D-21 numbered 254498, are prized for their tone and looks; and command premium prices on the vintage guitar market as compared to their Indian rosewood counterparts. The D-28 pictured here was built with very attractive straight-grained old-growth Brazilian, and a Sitka top. The guitar doesn't look its age, and at 38 years old shows no signs of growing old. It's completely crack free, and has nearly perfect finish. It has been professionally neck-setted and set up, and plays very nicely as well. It has a very well made repro pickguard, newer nut and saddle, and a small bridge plate patch, but is otherwise completely original. We've got the action set at 5 to 7 64ths with medium strings. There is a lot of room on the saddle to bring the action down, should you desire. Tonally, it is very rich and articulate - classic late 60's D-28.
With new top-of-the-line Martin hard shell case
On Consignment
SOLD


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1980 Martin HD-28
Serial # 423459. Between 1969 and 1985 all Martin dreadnoughts were built with extra-large rosewood bridgeplates which didn't exactly help tone. Thankfully, in 1976, C.F. Martin & Co. realized that there might be a reason their then-new guitars didn't quite match up to the older instruments so many musicians favored. They rediscovered small maple bridge plates and scalloped braces, and they re-introduced their now venerable herringbone purflings on the HD-28. It's now widely agreed upon that the best sounding Martin guitars built during those years were those with HD-28 stamped on their neck-blocks, just like the one pictured here.
With its rosewood back and sides and scalloped-braced Stika spruce top this is a loud guitar. It's big and it's got no shortage of bass response either - Bluegrassers of the world unite! No cracks, and not much wear, this guitar is in excellent condition. It is completely original, too - right down to the bridge pins. Excellent set up and playability; we've set the action at just shy of 5 to 7 64ths with mediums. In 1980 Martin was still glueing pickguards to their tops prior to applying finish, and this one has not curled up or created a crack in the top as so many do. Additionally, adjustable truss-rods weren't introduced until '85, so this guitar is equipped with the hollow square steel reinforcement used from '67 on, making the neck nice and stiff. In short, it's a killer guitar.
With original hard shell case
SOLD

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1958 Martin 00-18
Serial #160030. A really nice condition '50s Martin that's still affordable with your summer job! It's all-original with a Brazilian rosewood board and bridge, ivory nut and saddle, nice even-grained spruce top and quartersawn mahogany body with tortoise binding and pickguard. It's in nice playing order with almost no fret-wear, 5 to 7 sixty-fourths action with a sixteenth inch of saddle still showing. Light wear over the body, no abuse or repairs. A strap pin was once improperly installed on the bass side of the heel and later moved to the right location with a plug but no finish touch-up. It has the standard Martin pickguard crack on the outer edge of the guard, one inch long. A fine warm sound with a big punch, this is a loud guitar and fun to play. This one is priced to sell fast.
On consignment in a more modern thermoplastic case.
SOLD

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1966 Martin 000-18
Have a peek at this knockout triple O. It's about the cleanest vintage Martin we've ever seen. It came through the store this week only needing its pickguard reglued; it didn't even need a neck reset. Amazing.
NOT FOR SALE

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1956 Martin 000-18
Serial #149024. Fresh out of our shop after a neck reset, refret, and set-up, this mid-1950's 000-18 is a very fine instrument in all three major categories: tone, playability, and looks. No cracks, and no real wear - just a few dings here and there as are evident in the photos provided. No repairs and completely original (except for the bone saddle we installed, and the new frets), this guitar is ready to play. This is a nice package, with its original hard-shell case, strap, and some case goodies. It's a one owner instrument, and a very well cared for one at that. We've set the guitar up with a slinky fingerstyle action (4 to just shy of 6 64ths and just a hair of relief), with 12-54's. Sitka top, Mahogany back and sides, Brazilian rosewood board and full height bridge. Original tuners, ivory nut, and bridge/end pins. 24.9" scale length, 1-11/16" nut width. Fine 50's tone.
SOLD

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1956 D-28 in Mint Condition!
We can't offer this one to you for sale, but we can show it to you! This '56 D-28 just came through our shop where it received at neck reset, a refret, and a new bridge. It's orginal bridge was bolted down, and a pair of holes in the top were repaired as well. It's always a little nerveracking to work on guitars that are this clean, but we love doing it! Check out the Brazilian rosewood on this guitar - you couldn't ask for more perfect wood!
NOT FOR SALE

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1947 Martin 000-18
100525. A very lightly built early post-war 000-18 in excellent condition; you'd be hard pressed to find a late '40's 000 anywhere near as nice as this one. Essentially crack-free (there is a small 1" side crack) this guitar is well-preserved and has evidently been well cared for throughout its life. We have neck-setted and refretted the guitar as we always do, and offer it to you in ready-to-play condition; the set up is for fingerstyle playing. Sitka top, Mahogany sides and back. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoise-shell celluloid binding, original bridge and end pins and open-geared Kluson tuners. Original ivory nut (1-11/16" wide) and new bone saddle. Very little finish wear except on the instrument's back where some minor surficial belt scratching can be seen. The instrument has the snap and dryness that good 000-18's are famous for, with fine balance and rich harmonic overtones. A lovely instrument.
With 1940's Epiphone-branded Lifton HSC
SOLD

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1955 Martin 000-18
A grand old lady from Martin's most consistent period. This guitar has recently received a neck reset, new frets and a new exact replica Brazilian rosewood bridge in our shop. It plays perfectly, and is currently set up for fingerstyle playing. A very balanced tone, articulate, clean and dry, with full trebles and even basses. It features some honest playwear on the top, and has a standard pickguard crack and a couple of other cracks that were well repaired long ago. The back has two tight repaired cracks about 4" in length and there is one small ding on the side under the player's right arm which has been filled with lacquer. The appearance of the guitar is very good and the guitar has never been abused. It has the original tuners, which work nicely and look great, and an original ivory nut. 24.9" scale length, 1-21-32" nut width.
On Consignment, with newer Deluxe TKL hard case.
SOLD

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1926 Martin 00-18
Serial # 25891. This steel-string braced 00-18 is among the finer sounding pre-1929 mahogany Martins you're likely to find. Martin's first steel sting guitars were built very lightly with finely scalloped braces and thin tops and backs, resulting in instruments which respond hugely to a light touch. There are really no other guitars out there - old or new - that do what these guitars do. Beguiling to pickup, inspiring to play, and impossible to put down, this guitar will surely coax the best your fingers have to offer. This 00-18 went back to Martin in the late 80's for a neck reset, refret, re-bridge, and a new bridge plate. The top is without cracks, but does have significant pick-wear. The back has one repaired crack, and there are two well repaired side cracks. Martin's repairs are well done, the new bar frets are nice and tall, and the bridge plate is only slightly oversized. The somewhat oversized pyramid bridge didn't look great when the guitar came in, so we re-profiled it here in shop and fitted a new bone saddle and vintage-correct bridge-pins to it. The set up on this guitar is slinky-low (4 to 5 64ths), and plays very easily with light gauge strings - it's definitely a fingerstyle set up. With no further repairs needed, this guitar is ready to play and enjoy.
On consignment with soft-shell case
SOLD

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1958 Martin 00-18
Serial # 165337. This guitar is a real beauty. Although it's creeping up on 50 years old it doesn't look have that age. It is in excellent condition and is without cracks. The finish looks great, too - with only slight crazing, no belt or pick wear, and just a few small dings here and there. Internally, there are no issues either; its small maple bridge plate and braces are in perfect shape and glued well. It's a big sounding guitar with lots of volume and headroom to dig in and play hard should you choose. The bridge has been lowered a little bit but looks good and offers enough saddle height to lower the action if desired, even though this guitar's neck has never been reset. The action at the 12th fret currently measures 5 to 7 64ths. The tuners are newer replacements which look right from the front, but evidence of older incorrect replacements is slightly visible on the headstock face, and under the Kluson bodies. Original ivory nut, new bone saddle (by us), original bridge and end pins. 24.9" scale, 1-11/16" nut width, comfortable neck. A very enticing 00-18.
With newer hard shell case
SOLD

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1954 Martin 00-17
Another near-mint mahogany Martin! This time it's a 00-17 model built in 1954. The only work this guitar has ever had done to it is a new saddle and set-up - no neck reset or fretwork, nothing to reglue, to cracks to fix. The tuners have no wiggle or wear, the finish has just about no blemishes - just the odd scratch here and there. Oh, and it sounds good, too! 24.9" scale, 1-11/16" ebony nut, Brazilian rosewood bridge and fingerboard, solid mahogany top, sides, and back. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll quit typing and let you explore this guitar.
With original chipboard case
SOLD

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1958 Martin 0-15
A beautifully preserved 50's Martin, and a great sounding instrument to boot. In truly collectable condition, this 0-15 has seen very little playtime over its life and has virtually no wear to its frets or finish. Its bridge was lifting when it arrived, and it developed a crack at the inner margin of the pickguard, but both of these issues have been seamlessly attended to in our repair shop. A fresh set up and new bone saddle have made it a very playable instrument as well. It has surprisingly well developed basses for an instrument in such unused condition, and good volume. The 0 body size is ridiculously comfortable to play, but its slightly deeper body depth make it sound like a larger bodied guitar than it is. Original Kluson tuners, original bridge and end pins, and original soft shell case.
SOLD

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1963 Martin D-21
Serial # 193087. What a phenomenal guitar and a Flatpicker's dream of an instrument. This D-21 has an awesome punch in the mids that makes lead runs explode out of the soundhole, and a volume that will make you wonder why they bothered inventing acoustic pickups! It has great balance, with robust single notes all over the fingerboard.
The guitar has just emerged from our repairshop where it had its neck reset, saddle and frets replaced and pickguard crack fixed up. There are otherwise no cracks in the instrument, and just about none of the fine scratches and nicks we tend to find on guitars of this age. This D-21 features back and sides of quartersawn Brazilian rosewood and a bearclaw-figured Sitka spruce top with tortoise celluloid body bindings and pickguard. The board and original (full height) bridge are Brazilian rosewood as well, with attractive figure and rich color. The instrument has its original Kluson Deluxe tuning machines - the cleanest we've ever seen, its original bridge and end pins, and ivory nut. Internally, the instrument is perfect, too. Its braces are all tight, and the holes in its small maple bridge plate are in top shape. The guitar appears to have been played very little over its life; but hopefully that will change as soon as someone - possibly you - takes it home! There is an impression of a treble clef on the pickguard left by a sticker from years past; we left it on the guitar, but we can easily rub / buff this off should you desire. A period Ess & Ess hard case accompanies this fine instrument.
SOLD

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1959 Martin D-28
Serial #170742. Looking for an exceptionally loud and powerful dreadnought? Want a guitar that you can hear above the banjo and mandolin you've been jamming with? How about a guitar whose treble notes are as fat as its basses - all the way up the neck? It's going to cost you a bit to get it, but here is that guitar. Among the most powerful D-28's we've encountered, there is nothing about this guitar that is going to let you down. Let's start with the tone woods: Quartersawn, figured, deep and richly hued Brazilian Rosewood back and sides - the kind you simply can't get any more - matched with and Adirondack (yes, it really is Adirondack) Red Spruce top. Martin built guitars with Adirondack tops sporadically throughout the 1950s; the wood is unmistakable, both in looks and in tone. There are no cracks on this guitar, except those at the margins of the pickguard (which have been repaired). The action is perfect, thanks to an older very professionally done neck reset, and a set up and fret-dressing in our shop. The bridge and bridge-plate are correct replacements built by us - you'd be hard pressed to tell they were not original. The Grover Rotomatic tuners are original, as is the ivory nut. The Pickguard is gorgeous, with its unmistakingly late 50's shape and red-brown tortoise-shell celluloid, and the original bridge and endpins -with their 'red-eyes' of matching celluloid - offer a classic vintage Style 28 touch to finish off the instrument. The neck has a 50's soft V profile with a 1-11/16" nut. Set up with Medium strings, the action is a perfect 5 to 7 64ths, with enough saddle above the bridge to lower it significantly, should you desire. This D-28 is sold with its original Lifton hard shell case, which too is in excellent condition.
SOLD

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1933 Martin 0-17
Serial # 54671. After the OM, introduced in '29, the 0-17 and 0-18 were the next flat-tops in line to be offered with the company's new 14 fret neck. The guitar pictured here was built in 1933, during an era of great transition for C.F. Martin's instruments and exactly one hundred years after the birth of the company. The now-famous C.F. Martin & Co. logo, introduced in 1932, was originally monochrome gold (as it is on this guitar), its black outline would follow a few years later. On the back of the headstock is the Martin stamp familiar to us from older instruments, but discontinued a year or so after this particular guitar was built. The V-profile neck features a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, bar frets and a 1-3/4" ebony nut; 14 frets clear of the body, and simple ivoroid fretboard and side position markers. The neck re-enforcement is an ebony insert, although Martin would shift to the "T-bar" steel insert in '35. As a result of the lack of steel in the neck, this guitar is incredibly light, weighing in at a meager 3 pounds! The unbound body is solid Mahogany throughout, with a bookmatched back and a single piece top. The braces are all finely scalloped, and the maple bridge plate is tiny. A guitar this lightly built and so finely braced can only sound great, and this instrument steps right up to the plate in this regard. Very loud and punchy with the dry sparkle of a mahogany topped guitar, this 0-17 excels at bluesy or ragtime fingerstyle, or would make a great songwriting companion.

The guitar's condition is excellent and completely original throughout. From Grover tuning machines to the ivory saddle there have been no modifications to the instrument. In our repair-shop we reset the neck, re-fretted (with the original frets) the fingerboard, and adjusted the action. There is a very small and insignificant finish touch up on the heel of the neck where the finish chipped away during the neck removal process. There are no cracks, and no areas of excessive finish wear anywhere on the guitar. The case, too, is original and in excellent condition. An investment-grade vintage guitar all in all.
SOLD

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1948 Martin D-18
Serial # 106270. We've offered a number of fine D-18's over the last few months, but there's no such thing as too many! So, here is a 1948 model for you to oogle over. The late 1940's brought about some design changes to the Martin dreadnought; scalloped braces were replaced by straight braces, and Sitka Spruce replaced Adirondack Red Spruce. A few years later, Kluson enclosed tuners would replace the open-geared machines used up to that point on Style 18 guitars. In the early post-war years, the quality of the guitars that C.F. Martin & Co was building was very much consistent with that from a few years earlier, but the aforementioned design changes brought a different tonality to the instruments. Today, guitars from this era are revered for their powerful voices and balanced response.

This particular instrument is in remarkable condition at nearly sixty years old. With the exception of a well-repaired pickguard crack there are no cracks or separations anywhere on the guitar. There is no excessive pick or buckle wear, and the original tuners work very well. A few years back this guitar had its neck reset and refretted in our shop, and today plays with excellent action. I had forgotten until I looked back at my repair notes that we had replaced the bridge as well. The one we made fooled me upon examining the guitar this week - I thought it was an original! The ivory nut is original, as is the bridgeplate, pickguard, all finish, and the endpin. The bridge pins and bone saddle are replacements, and there is a strap button in the usual spot. The tone of this guitar is rich and warm, with a nice mahogany sparkle, and a very open bass. It is a woody guitar and will give you all the vintage overtones that you'd expect to find in a 60 year old guitar.
On consignment with newer hard shell case
SOLD

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1953 Martin D-18
Serial # 129624. A very loud and well balanced early fifties dreadnought. A flat-picking machine that's right up there with the best of them, this D-18 is a great choice for someone looking for the power that early 1950's Martin's are famous for, and the brightness and snap that only old dry Mahogany offers. Rhythm chops and G chord turnarounds are punctuated and succinct on this guitar, and lead breaks up the neck cut though nicely. It's a guitar that anyone who plays in front of a microphone - on stage, or in the studio - will die for.
Sitka Spruce and South American Mahogany, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Tortoise-shell celluloid bindings and pickguard, Original Kluson tuners. Original small maple bridge plate, full height bridge, new bone compensated saddle and original ivory nut. An older professional neck reset and refret (done very cleanly) sets the action at a fast 5 to 7 64ths, with lots of saddle left to go lower. An older repaired crack at the pickguard, and another small one that we fixed (near invisibly) on flat part the treble side; where all D-18s tend to crack. A Strap pin was added to the heal, and the endpin is replaced with a pickup out-put jack - although there is currently no pickup in the guitar. The finish is in great shape everywhere, although there is a small area of pickwear by the 'guard. The long and short of it is that this is a wonderful 50+ year old dreadnought; in nearly crack-free original condition, that plays great and sounds awesome. They don't come around like this one too much any more.
With non-original hard case
SOLD

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1912 Martin Style 00 Mandolin
Serial #3508. How I wish all 94 year old Martins were in this kind of condition! This Mandolin is nearly perfect, with only the slightest signs of wear to the finish. Better still, it is perfectly playable! 9 Brazilian rosewood ribs, spruce top, bar-fretted ebony fingerboard with simple pearl dot inlays, original nickel-silver tuning machines and tailpiece, ebony bridge, and inlaid tortoise-shell pickguard. An understated but classy instrument. It is very playable with low action, and good fretwork, and sounds quite lovely. 13" scale, 1-1/8" nut.
On consignment without case.
SOLD

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1956 Martin 00-17
Serial # 151849. Built until 1960, the 00-17 was the largest all-mahogany guitar that martin built in regular numbers until the reintroduction of the 15 series in the 1990's. The mahogany-topped 15 and 17 series instruments occupied the low-end of the martin line-up and featured very simple appointments and an absence of body bindings in order to keep the prices down. In 1956, this 00-17 sold for $95, $20 less than a 00-18, and half the price of a 000-21. Regardless, on the inside, you'd be hard-pressed to see any difference between this instrument and Martin's most expensive instruments. Martin built all its guitars the same - well - and the differences between expensive and inexpensive instruments were for the most part found only in the trim and appointment details of the guitar. Today, these largest-of-the-mahogany-bodied-Martins are sought after for their combination of a snappy and dry mahogany-top tone and the bigger bass response offered by the 00 body size.

The instrument pictured here is a well maintained and all-original guitar. There are no cracks or areas of significant scratch wear, and the frets are in fine condition thanks likely to a fairly recent fret-dress. The tuning machines, nut, saddle and bridge-pins are all original, and the instrument shows no signs of any repairs. The tone is wonderfully well suited to a raggy-blues fingerstyle touch with mids that jump out of the bass lines, and fat melodic trebles. A bit of finish crazing on the headstock face, and two small areas of vinyl-strap syndrome on the back are all that detract from this instrument to our eyes. The action is currently set to a comfortable 6 to 8 64ths but cannot be lowered any further. The bridge is full height and it would be shameful to shave it down on a guitar in this fine and original condition. The guitar is sold with a recent hard shell case.
On consignment
SOLD

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1957 Martin D-18
Serial # 150364. For the guitarist who is most concerned with vintage tone we offer this 1957 Martin D-18. 50's Martins are widely considered to be consistently some of the best guitars Martin ever built, and this guitar certainly fits the description well. A very wide open and woody dreadnought, with powerful trebles and a succinct basses, this instrument does what D-18s are famous for.
Overall in excellent condition, this guitar has been played and shows a fair number of dings, scratches and dents. There are no top cracks or loose or cracked braces, and the original bridge and bridge plate are in excellent condition. The back has a repaired 3 inch crack, and the treble side has an old and long-ago repaired crack that follows the grain from the upper bout to the heel of the neck. The neck-heel is crack-free. The neck has been professionally reset, and the frets dressed some time back. The action is perfect, and the guitar plays without buzz. There is plenty of room on the saddle to lower the action further should you desire. Original tuners, nut, bridge-pins, endpin, and all finish. A great instrument.
Sold with non-original hard case
SOLD

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1946 Martin 0-17
Here's a very clean and very lightweight all-mahogany 0-17. It is a particularly interesting instrument in that it displays certain rare features most likely due to the immediate post-war economic situation in the USA. Among these are brass frets, individual open-gear Kluson tuners with plastic buttons, Ebony nut; and perhaps most striking - a Gibson-sized large round neck. The neck reinforcement is the typical steel "T" bar, but this neck was likely built during the war when Martin was using an ebony insert for neck reinforcement as steel was in very short supply. In any case, it is a very comfortable guitar to play, and a beautiful guitar to listen too. The action is perfect, with a full-height bridge and a low-ish saddle. It's not had a neck set, but can easily go without one for some time to come. It has one repaired seam separation but is otherwise in crack-free excellent condition.
Older chip-board case included
On Consignment
SOLD

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1939 D-18 Restoration
This 39 D-18 came to us a while back in sad shape. It was very badly and unprofessionally refinished, had an ugly oversized bridge with incorrect bridge pin spacing, a replacement fingerboard with style 45 hexagonal abalone inlays, a 1970's - like huge rosewood bridgeplate, numerous cracks and old repairs, Grover tuners, and poorly fit nut. Additionally, the neck face under the fingerboard was badly damaged from the previous original fingerboard removal. So here's what we did:
  • Removed the neck
  • Removed the non-original fingerboard, and added a wedge-shape splice of matching mahogany to the face of the neck.
  • Replaced the fingerboard and carved the vintage edge profile back into the neck. Installed vintage-accurate position dots on the face and side of the fingerboard
  • Chipped away all the non-original finish (yes, chipped... it was that bad)
  • Removed the oversized bridgeplate and bridge
  • Fixed all the cracks and replaced the bridge plate with an accurately dimensioned new one of maple
  • Clean-sanded the entire instrument, except the peg-head face which was original
  • Stained and lacquered the guitar to have the right color and patina
  • Made a new bridge that was as close to vintage specs as possible. Due to the numerous other oversized bridges that were on this guitar over time we were unable to put an accurate foot-print bridge on the guitar. In the end, the bridge used was roughly the same outline as a contemporary Martin bridge. We chose to not cover all the damage adjacent to the bridge with a large oversized bridge.
  • Reset the neck
  • Refretted the guitar
  • Carved new bone nut and saddle
  • Installed vintage replacement Gotoh tuners
The instrument turned out great, and the owner was (needless to say) ecstatic about his new old Martin.
SOLD

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1966 Martin GS-70L Lefty!
Serial #214400. Talk about rare! Martin electrics are not easy to come by, and Vintage Martin lefties are scarcer still; so you can imagine our surprise when this original left-handed Martin GT-70L walked into the shop! Martin records indicate that a grand total of 1 lefty GT-70 was ever made; and here it is. The instrument features a full-hollow laminate maple body, DeArmond pickups, bolt-on neck with a Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, trapeze tailpiece, and Kluson individual tuners. White body fingerboard and headstock bindings, aluminum bridge base, non-original tunematic bridge top, black plastic skirted knobs (which go to 9), and no pickguard (it's missing). The guitar has been set up in our shop, and plays quite well. It has a compressed Gretsch like tone, thanks to the combination of De Armonds and hollow body, and excels at country and funk styles. It's a pretty cool thing...
With new hard shell case
SOLD

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1956 Martin 000-18
Serial # 147427. One of the first instruments completed in '56. A wonderfully well preserved guitar, with no cracks or significant wear; and completely original with the exception of the bone saddle, and frets 12 though 20. Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and headstock overlay. Gorgeous light-brown tortoiseshell celluloid bindings and pickguard. Original tuners, ivory nut and black bridge pins. We have just completed a neck reset, fret dress (and partial upper refret, and built a new full-height aged bone saddle for this instrument. We've also cleated the underside of the pickguard's margin where the slightest hint of a crack was developing. This instrument's only flaw is an output jack hole in the usual spot, which we've opted to leave untouched. This 000-18 plays perfectly with very easy action and a comfortable mid-50's neck profile. A fingerstylist's delight, there are few overtones to muddy up the lows, and it sings with exceptional balance, volume, and clarity. 24.9" scale, 1 11/16" nut.
With original soft-shell case.
On Consignment
SOLD

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1956 Martin D-21
Serial # 150871. It's a rare pleasure to present to you such a well-preserved 50 year old Martin dreadnought. This D-21 was built in mid-1956, the model's first true production year (Martin only built 6 D-21s in '55). If features the type of Brazilian Rosewood Martin is famous for: Straight grained, perfectly quarter-sawn, and richly hued; and has top of Sitka spruce. The instrument is in perfect condition, with no cracks (except for a pickguard crack repaired by us), very little finish wear and no belt rash. The Brazilian Rosewood bridge is full height, and is fitted with original bridge pins. The tuners are original and in perfect working order with no corrosion or wear. The instrument has just had its neck reset and refretted in our shop. The ivory nut is original, the aged bone saddle was installed at the same time the work was done. This instrument arrived with its original hard shell case (as pictured) that is in astonishingly fine condition. Inside the case you will find the guitar's original hang tags, bill of sale (for $180 in March of 1957), and a business card from "The Violin House of Weaver" where it was originally purchased. The guitar sounds particularly fine -it is very loud, and very balanced. A good choice to take to a jam where there might be a banjo or two! It is a stellar example of a 50's Martin Brazilian dreadnought in every way.
SOLD

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1938 Martin 000-28
We sold this instrument this past summer, and were excited to have it back in the shop for a neck reset and refret. Here are some fresh photos of the guitar after the work was completed. Our original description of the guitar was as follows:

Serial number 69735. Straight-grained quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Adirondack Red Spruce top, herringbone top purfling, zigzag back strip, slotted diamond fingerboard inlays. 1 3/4" nut width, 24.9" scale. Scalloped top bracing. The bridge on this instrument is a non-original 60's footprint reproduction built and installed in our shop. We replaced a 60's martin replacement with as accurate a repro as was possible, given the slightly incorrect foot-print. Note that this bridge is not oversized, but simply differs in its footprint. The ivory saddle was reused from a 30's Martin 0-17. The instrument is otherwise original, and in crack-free condition. The action is on the high side, and we recommend a neck re-set to achieve optimal playability. We suspect that the guitar had had a refret in the 60's when the bridge was replaced, but it is possible that these are original frets - there is little evidence of any repair, and no thinning of the fingerboard. The tone is breathtakingly indescribable, as you would hope and expect, and this 000 will deeply inspire anyone who plays it. With original hard shell case (in similar condition) and 1960's fitted case cover.
On Consignment
SOLD

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1971 Martin D-28
Serial # 284795. A very well kept early 1970's D-28 with a well developed voice. Very rich across the strings with a lot of volume and nice warmth. Completely original and in wonderful condition. Low action of 4 to 7 64ths with room to further lower the saddle. The bridge has been shaved down somewhat to accommodate such comfortable action, but is not too thin so as to create structural problems. Very comfortable neck profile with a nut width of 1-11/16". A no-issues, very clean D-28.

With hard shell case
SOLD

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1934 Martin C-2
Serial # 56827. In 1934, the C-2 carved-top pictured here sold new for $125, twenty five dollars more than the D-28 would list for a few months later. This was a fancy guitar by Martin's standards, and at 15" wide was one of the company's big guitars. But not big enough. In '34 Gibson's L-5, 7, 10, and 12 grew to 17". That same year Martin's biggest competitor introduced Super 400 - an 18" wide monster that was louder than any production guitar yet. The battle for arch-top supremacy was forever lost. Decades later the C-2 and 3 archtops (along with the larger F size) would be rediscovered not by Jazz guitarists, but by folk musicians and fingersylists who realized that these instruments could be converted to flat-top "Orchestra Models" or OM's. Martin wasn't producing the OM at the time (just the short-scale 000), and the long scale necks, Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and 1-3/4" nut width made those old arch tops great candidates for conversion. The original OM model from the early 1930's was produced in very limited number, and was - as it is today - one of the most sought after Martin flat-tops ever. Well converted C-2's and 3's are now valued at three or four times as much as an unconverted example.
Which brings us to this guitar...
Why, then, is it not getting converted? Simple, it's just too nice to convert! This guitar is completely original, crack-free, unmolested, and completely playable. And to boot, it sounds fabulous. No, it's not a Super 400 or an L-5, but it is a loud guitar with a great cut. The Brazilian rosewood is some of the best you'll ever see - perfectly quartersawn and straight. The pearl inlays are classically Martin in their simplicity and tastefulness, and the neck is exceedingly comfortable. It's a great guitar.
SOLD

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1930 Martin 0-28k
Serial # 42260. Definitely one of those guitars I'd love to keep for myself. With its curly Koa tonewoods and herringbone purflings this 0-28k is one of the most attractive Martin guitars to ever grace our walls. Who's not a sucker for good looking Koa? And I'm sure not to many of you have anything against 30's herringbones! We certainly are... Braced for steel strings, this guitar sounds as fine as it looks. 1930 was one of the best years for anything Martin - and this particular instrument is a good example of this semi-well-known fact. The combination of scalloped Adirondack spruce braces and Hawaiian Koa tonewoods make for a loud, dry, and snappy voice. It's wide open and incredibly responsive with a sophisticated clarity and uncommon transparency.
There are no cracks anywhere on this guitar, and no old ugly repairs. We've neck setted it, leveled the original bar frets, patched the bridge-plate and built a spot-on perfect replacement bridge (but with an angled saddle for correct intonation - the original was straight for Hawaiian playing). We figured this guitar was a good candidate for our very best fossil ivory saddle material too. The ivory nut, engraved Waverly 3-on-a-strip tuners, bridge and end pins are all original; as is the hard shell case it will live in during those rare times when you're not playing this guitar. With the exception of some mild scratching on the back and the minor finish deterioration on the rear of the headstock, this guitar is in absolutely incredible condition. Scale length of 24.9", nut width of 1-7/8". By the way - 1930 was the first year for the belly bridge.
SOLD

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1924 Martin 0-42
The 0-42 was the fanciest, size 0 instrument Martin offered in 1924. The record books show that some 39 of these were built that year, making this pearl-bound guitar a particularly rare instrument. Its voice is beguiling, sure to muse your musical spirit - no matter what style you play. Red spruce and Brazilian rosewood, of course. 24.9" scale length, 1-7/8" nut. Action currently set to 9 to 9 64th, with room to come down a bit and a full height bridge. As it sits the playability is easy thanks to the low tension of the extra-light strings on it.

The bridge and bridgeplate are professional replacements. The bridge is slightly oversized, but a nicely made reproduction. The maple bridgeplate is slightly oversized as well; similar is dimension to slightly later instruments built by Martin and Co.. There are several well-repaired top cracks, all cleated, but no back or side cracks. The finish on the body is original rubbed shellac with localized areas of over-polish around the crack repairs. The soundhole has been restored very professionally; the wood and rings have been replaced inward from the inner white ring adjacent to the abalone - it's a slick repair job and not at all noticeable until you know it has been done. At the headstock end, a crack on the treble side has been repaired and there is a localized adjacent area of newer finish. The tuners are period correct replacements.

This guitar, while not in pristine condition, is still a wonderful instrument. Its light build has resulted - some 80 years later - in a guitar with great character and openness. Fingerstyle players will revel in the balance between its strings, singer-songwriters will dwell in the intimacy it delivers.

On consignment with non-original hard shell case.
SOLD

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1901 Martin 1-21
Serial # 9314. When was the last time you played a Martin with a 4 digit serial number? Martin Guitars finished off the year 2004 with # 1042558 (one million, forty two thousand, five hundred and fifty eight!) by comparison; and even the golden era guitars built in the 1930's have numbers in the 45000 to 70000 range! This is one OLD martin guitar; 104 years to be exact - but it can still run a marathon, so to speak.

This Style 1 measures 12 3/4" wide at the lower bout - a small guitar by today's standards, but at the turn of the century, this was Martin's third largest body! Martin made 31 1-21's in 1901, and sold them at a price of $35 (or 1/2 of the price tag of a 1-42). The instrument features a Red Spruce top, 6-ply top purflings, and a rosette in the typical 5-heringbone-5 pattern of style 21s. The back and sides are gorgeously chocolate-colored quartered Brazilian Rosewood, bound in Rosewood, and accented by a herringbone back-strip and single-maple back purflings. Spanish Cedar soft-V 12 fret neck with an Ivory nut measuring 1-13/16", bar frets at a scale length of 24.9". The headstock features the old-style nut-joint (of which the volute, or "Dart" on today's style 28 and higher guitars is a non-functional vestige), and meticulously engraved brass tuning machines with ivory buttons. There are a few older repaired top cracks, an 8" long side crack that follows the bottom of the guitar (as pictured), and some repaired top binding/purflings in the area. The bridge is a well-built slightly oversized ebony replacement, with a compensated bone saddle and is fit with the guitar's original ebony and pearl bridge pins. Strung with silk and steels, this guitar plays wonderfully. Its action at the saddle measures 5 t o7 64ths, and there is plenty of saddle to lower the strings should you desire. A very very lightly built guitar, the tension of the silk and steel strings is enough to make this guitar's voice irresistible and beguiling.
Case not included
SOLD

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1926 Martin Style B Mandolin
Ok, so it's not a Loar F-5, but it is a prewar Martin Brazilian herringbone. With beautiful full tone, loud and rich, this instrument will make any Old-Time, Classical or Celtic player extremely happy. It is unfortunate that our pictures were not able to properly capture how beautiful this mandolin is in person. The blush on the back is hardly visible in actual daylight. It features an Adirondack spruce bent top, Brazilian rosewood body, ebony fingerboard with bar frets, inlaid engraved Waverly tuners and engraved tailpiece. Other cool features are the herringbone rosette and backstrip, flush inlaid pickguard, abalone diamond position markers, ivory nut, original ebony bridge and sides swept flush into the heel. This was a top-quality instrument in its day, long before the invention of bluegrass, and it has held up the way such an instrument should. The action is currently at 5-6/64" with D'Addario J-74's: very playable. The scale is a comfortable 13", the nut is 1 1/8". It has no cracks or damage, but extensive playwear on the top only. The frets are great, with normal wear in the first position. It is being sold without a case.
SOLD

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1975 Martin D-28 Shaded top
Serial #362712. It's not often that everyone here in the shop falls in love with the same guitar. It's even less often that that guitar is a 70's Martin! But we're all smitten with this one. Look at that shaded top! Check out the gorgeous set of Indian rosewood that went into the making of this guitar! It really is a knockout.

A one-owner D-28, we've recently finished a neck reset, under warranty, a refret, and have moved the saddle back slightly in the bridge to allow for proper intonation (most Martin guitars from the mid 1970's had bridges glued on too close to the soundhole and subsequently poor intonation). The pickguard is a replacement, made in our shop, in the proper shape and size of the original. There are no cracks, and all else is original on this guitar. The tone is rich and dry, with a wonderful midrange and a very rotund treble range. The basses are open, but not fluttery, with a good deal of Bluegrass worthy projection. In short, it sounds as good as it looks.

This one is on consignment with a non-original hard shell case. Have a peek at the Mark Leaf case elsewhere on this page that is a perfect match for this guitar.
SOLD

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1971 Martin D-28
Serial # 290181. A very nicely preserved 34 year old D-28. With the exception of the frets and possibly the nut this one is original and unscathed. Pretty much no wear to mention, it is a one owner guitar that has seen little use. Full height bridge with a low saddle, the action measures 7 to 8.5 64ths at the 12th fret. It can be lowered about 1/64th further, but any subsequent adjustment will require a neck-set. There's no such thing as a 25 year old (or older) Martin that doesn't need a reset... This guitar has well developed voice, with a dryness and punch not often heard from 70's guitars. A self-adhesive clear Mylar second pickguard was removed with no finish damage - but there is a "shadow" of it that remains. This will fade into the same color of the rest of the lacquer in a short period of time.
Original blue/grey Martin HSC included
On Consignment
SOLD

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1955 Martin 000-18
A grand old lady from Martin's most consistent period. This guitar has just received a neck reset, new frets and a new exact replica Brazilian rosewood bridge in our shop. It plays perfectly, and is currently set up for fingerstyle playing. A very balanced tone, articulate, clean and dry, with full trebles and even basses. It features some honest playwear on the top, and has a standard pickguard crack and a couple of other cracks that were well repaired long ago. The back has two tight repaired cracks about 4" in length and there is one small ding on the side under the player's right arm which has been filled with lacquer. The appearance of the guitar is very good and the guitar has never been abused. It has the original tuners, which work nicely and look great. All-in-all, a very good deal for a '50's Martin that plays better than new! With a hard case.
SOLD

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1941 Martin 000-18
There are certain instruments by which one should judge every other of the same make and model. This 000-18 is one of these instruments. The sound of this guitar is this shop's new benchmark of vintage Mahogany 000 tone. With incredible articulation, perfect string to string balance; and a round, even, predictable responsiveness from the quietest levels to loudest volumes; this Martin does every thing it is supposed to do - and then some. It has had some 60 plus years to develop its voice, and has what every vintage guitar audiophile is questing for.

It is in crack-free original condition. No loose or cracked braces, original bridge plate in perfect shape, full height original Brazilian rosewood bridge. Original tortoise-shell celluloid pickguard is well glued and not curling up; no pickguard crack. Oringal Ivory nut and saddle; original tuning machines, and original bridge and end-pins. Thin, 100% original lacquer finish with no touch-ups, overspray, or blemishes. Original hard-shell Lifton case.

We have just completed a neck set, refret, and set up; and this instrument plays as well as it sounds. Action of 4 to 6 64ths at the 12th fret, and easily adjustable to go lower (why?) or higher. A previous older refret took the fingerboard down at the nut end making the neck feel a little thinner in the first position. The neck is eminately playable, comfortable, and - thanks to some finish wear to its back profile - fast.

In my mind, this is a guitar that, if available, would have been played on Tony Rice and David Grisman's seminal album "Tone Poems" (Acoustic Disc, www.acousticdisc.com) - One of our desert island CD's here at Folkway.

SOLD


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1929 Martin 00-21
Some of you will recognize this instrument from the pages of our gallery. We photographed it about a year ago after we completed restorations including a neck reset (it's second one), a new hand-carved reproduction pyramid bridge, and a bar-fret reseat and leveling. Well it's back in the shop again, but this time in our showroom. It is a truly wonderful guitar, breathless in tone, with a great balance and evenness across the strings and up the neck. Aside from the obvious extensive play-wear this instrument is in great shape... The best sounding ones have always been played a whole lot! One back crack, and a couple of fairly insignificant top cracks were fixed long ago. There are no other repairs to mention, and no further work is needed - this is a 76 year old Martin that's in top-playing form. Here are its specifications: Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Adirondack Red Spruce top and bracing, 21-style trim including rosewood body bindings and herringbone rosette and backstrip, gorgeous original finish, tuners, frets, and snowflake fingerboard inlays. 1-7/8" nut (bone), 24.9" scale length; 14-1/4" wide and 4 1/8" deep. This is a steel-string braced guitar (this model became braced for steel in '27) and is currently set up with Martin light gauge strings. It has a discreet B-Band A-2 pickup system that we installed last year with and end-pin mounted pre-amp (no holes in the side, don't worry). This pick-up system features a very natural sounding AST 1470 soundboard transducer, and provides an option for an accessory internal condenser microphone. Yours with a remarkably-well preserved original hard shell case.
SOLD

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1962 Martin 00-21NY
The Folk Revival of the late 50's brought with it a surge in popularity of Martin's long-gone small-body 12 fret instruments. Many players of the day looked far and wide for old "New York" stamped instruments to provide the tone they were after. Martin responded to the trend with the New Yorker instruments - the 0-16NY (which is also in our inventory currently), and this one - the 00-21NY. The 00-21NY features Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and standard Style 21 trim (with the exception of an absence of fingerboard dots). These instruments were delicately braced and featured small maple bridge plates - making them some of the lightest built instruments Martin made since the 1940's; and thereby some of the best sounding guitars built in the 1960's. This example is in excellent condition, with no top cracks and only one small well-repaired back crack. It has recently had a professional neck reset, and we have given it a refret, new bone saddle, and a set-up. It plays beautifully with perfect action, and plenty of height on the saddle to be lowered in years to come. Nut width of 1 7/8", 12 fret body joint, and scale length of 24.9". Ivory nut, original tuners, and original bridge pins. It is a wonderful sounding guitar with a lot of volume, warmth, open-ness, and punch.
1960s blue Martin hard shell case included.
SOLD

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1966 Martin D-21
It's not often that we find a 1960's Martin in such clean, crack-free condition. It's also not often that we find one that can be set up nicely without an expensive neck reset. This fine guitar has both these bases covered and a lot more besides. Featuring lovely even-grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides, just like her more famous sister, the D-28, but with subtler tortoise celluloid bindings and without the diamond volute. The 21's are everything the 28's are in tone and materials, without the price tag. No, it doesn't make sense, but it's always been that way! This one has great volume and projection, with a dry focused tone that will record exceptionally well. It has been owned and played for some time by one of New York's better-known alt-country artists. The guitar received a new Indian rosewood bridge and a fret dress not too long ago. The frets are original. The Grover "pat. pend." tuners are original and there has never been a pickup installed. The 1 11/16" nut is original and it has a new bone saddle. With the original hard case.
SOLD

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1937 Martin R-18T
A cool 00-sized arched-top tenor guitar. Carved top, mahogany sides and flat back. Completely original, but missing its pickguard; very playable, and well set up. 22.9" scale length. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Grover Sta-tite tuners and nickel-plate tailpiece, ivory nut. Fine tone with a lot of cut. If you haven't yet tried to play tenor guitar, here's a good reason to start! New HSC included.
SOLD

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1963 Martin D-18
Serial # 193163. We've just completed a neck reset and refret on this beauty, bringing it back to better-than-new playability. This D-18 has a nicely developed dry and woody voice with a hint of brightness, strong and succinct basses, and good volume. It has all the desirable pre-'65 features including a small maple bridge plate, thru-saddle Brazilian Rosewood bridge, tortoise-shell celluloid bindings and pickguard, "T bar" neck reinforcement, and light weight Kluson tuners. Mahogany back and sides, Sitka top, Brazilian fingerboard, and original ivory nut. There are a couple of repaired top cracks near the pickguard, and a couple of tiny side cracks typical of older D-18's - all of which are glued. An older not-so-pretty crack repair adorns the upper bass-side shoulder as pictured, but it's tight and poses no issues. The Kluson tuners are old correct replacements; no modifications have been done to the headstock, and the bushings and tuners screws are original. The finish is completely original, with no overspray. All in all, it is a great instrument, complete with a fresh neck-reset done by the best shop around, and ready for its next lifetime of service.
Hard-shell case included.
SOLD

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1919 Ditson Style 33
The first Martin dreadnoughts were built for the Oliver Ditson Company in the late 'teens. The Ditson models 111 and 222 were what were later to become the D-18, although there were substantial differences between these Ditson instruments and those which would bear the Martin brand. The 33 was the largest and most ornamented Ditson model then built (the largest instruments were not offered in the fancy style 3), and is roughly the size of a size O Martin. This instrument has major historical significance to anyone interested in the history of Martin guitars, and this example is in remarkably fine condition despite its weak fan-style bracing and extra-light construction. The top is crack-free, and the back has only one small (and repaired) crack. The bass-side has a long crack that was repaired acceptably some time ago, and is pictured in the photos below. It had a neck reset about 10 years ago, at which time the bridge was reglued, the bolt holes from the fasteners which held the bridge in place filled, and the instrument set up. The playability is great, and strung with custom light gauge steel strings its voice is lush and loud. The top-finish is akin to the style 44 Olcott-Bickford; it is a darker hue than Martin's normal clear shellac of the day, and reminiscent of the coloration of the Spanish-style guitars popular then. There are areas of light over-spray near the side repair, and a bit of over-polish on the instrument's top, but the over-all effect is that of an original finish. Original engraved tuners work well, as do the original ivoroid bridge pins. A length-wise crack through the headstock has been tightly glued and is structurally sound. The original hard case is in great condition as well. This is one of 24 of such instruments ever built. 24.9" scale length, 1-7/8" nut width, serial number 552.
SOLD

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1993 Martin D-28 Lefty
Serial #524010. Lefty's are us here at Folkway, as many of you have already figured out. Here's a decade-old Lefty D-28 that has opened up nicely and plays great. Is has had a Fishman/Martin passive under-saddle pickup and a bone saddle professionally installed, and has recently been set up in our shop. The top finish as aged to a golden yellow, giving this guitar an over-all semi-vintage vibe. It's in great condition, with no cracks or issues; very little fret wear, but with some mild finish crazing around the bridge. With original hard case.
SOLD

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1927 Martin 0-18k
An unconverted 0-18k! Complete with flush bar-frets, tall bridge, saddle and ebony nut, this instrument sounds simply incredible. Martin Hawaiians have a very distinctive tone, thanks to their standard Spanish-style guitar construction and their very tall bridges. If you're used to playing an electric steel, Dobro, Weissenborn, or just a junker old steel-string you've converted to Hawaiian, you'll be amazed at what this instrument draws out of your hands. Lots of complex overtones, warm and dry mids, and round trebles. The Koa is gorgeous (our lighting did not allow us to capture the iridescence and figure in the wood); and this instrument is in great condition save for a well repaired center-seam separation, and the evidence left by a tail-piece on the bottom of the guitar (3 small screw holes, and a 1/4" of missing binding right at the bottom - very much invisible from the front). The ebony bridge and nut are correct replacements made by us. If Hawaiian is not your thing, converting this guitar to Spanish style is a possibility that we'll be happy to discuss with you.
New Deluxe hard-shell case is included.
SOLD

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1968 Martin 0-16NY
Serial # 239672. The New Yorker Martins were built in response to the folk revival of the late 1950's and 1960's. People were looking for old 12 fret "New York" made Martins on which to play the roots and traditional tunes that were popular in the day. Designed for nylon (classical) strings or light gauge steel strings, these instruments sound remarkably better with steels strings, and were built much more lightly than most other Martins of the era. The result is an instrument with a wide open voice, lots of built in "reverb" and good volume. 1 7/8" nut width, slotted headstock and rectangular bridge add to the vintage vibe of this instrument, and thanks to a neck reset and new frets done in our shop, it plays perfectly. Crack-free original condition.
Period soft shell case included
SOLD

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1938 Martin 00-18
About 3 months ago an older gentleman, in his eighties and aided by his daughter, visited our shop with his old guitar. The guitar was getting hard to play he said... no kidding! This one needed a neck reset since at least 1952! The Gentleman bought this instrument new in '39 and it was going to be the oldest warranty neck-reset we've yet had. But Martin, of course, didn't have his name associated with this guitar's serial number in their files. A signed affitdavit was all that would have been needed to do the restoration of this guitar at Martin's expense, but our original owner was not able to recall the name of the store where the instrument was purchased, and was very uncomfortable about having Martin pay for the work without having absolute certainty that he was infact the original owner. Call it old-world morality - a rare, rare thing these days. So we gave this 00-18 a neck reset, a new exact replica ebony bridge (the original was glued down perfectly, but was shaved quite thin), a new bone compensated saddle, a refret, and a set-up. It now plays flawlessly, and as you'd expect, sounds incredible. There are no cracks, no excessive wear, no abuse, nothing bad to report at all. Pefect Adirondack Red spruce top, scalloped bracing, ebony fingerboard and bridge, 1 3/4" original ivory nut, original Grover tuners, and original bridge pins and end pin. It's all there, and then some.
New deluxe TKL case included
SOLD

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1962 Martin D-21
Serial # 186991. This Brazilian Rosewood beauty is a wonderful guitar. It is in 100% original condition, entirely crack-free, and HUGE sounding. This is the second D-21 to come in this month; and like the '57 we recently sold, this guitar is incredible in a lot of ways. I've always been fond of smaller-body guitars for the strong trebles that they offer - but these awesome dreadnoughts are spoiling me! There is power in reserve in the trebles of this guitar - any bluegrass inspired flat-picker will just eat this guitar up - and then there's the bass response... Wow!
This guitar has had a very professional neck-reset already, and plays perfectly with normal action. There are no loose braces or components, no major scratches or dings, and not much wear of any kind. Original frets, Ivory nut and Kluson tuners. Full-height Brazilian rosewood bridge with original bridge pins and perfect new bone saddle. No repairs needed, and a perfect set-up (by us).
Original hard-shell case included
SOLD

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1936 Martin 0-17H (conversion) EXC-
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1936 Martin 0-17H (conversion)
Serial #64086. A power-house small guitar, in crack-free near-excellent condition. This model was originally set-up for Hawaiian style playing, but has since been professionally converted for standard playing. It is a huge sounding instrument, with great definition in the bass and robust trebles. Original pickguard, bridge, bridge pins, nut and tuners. T-frets, and Martin decal on the front of the headstock make this a more contemporary looking instrument than examples from a few years earlier. The back of the neck was professionally refinished some time ago. It looks fine and does not detract from the esthetic of the instrument. Fine playability, with average-height action.
Without a case
SOLD

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1954 Martin 00-18
Sorry, this one's not for sale. It was brought in by a very lucky person (lucky because he went home with a '57 D-21 that day...) for a neck reset, refret, bridge reglue, new saddle and some setting up. It is such a beautiful guitar that we had to show it to you! And, yes, it sounds as good as it looks!
NOT FOR SALE

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1969 Martin D-18
Serial # 245513. This D-18, built in early 1969, is a fine example of what "America's Guitar" company was up to a the tail end of one of the seminal decades of the acoustic guitar's history. Built well, this guitar has no cracks to speak of, and has stood the test of 35 years very well. Its Sitka spruce top has aged an mellowed well, and has warmed to a golden yellow hue. Perfectly quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, original ivory nut and Grover "Pat. Pend" Rotomatic tuners. A professional neck reset and refret allow for a comfortable action and easy playing. The pickguard is an exact replacement made in our shop, and this D-18 was set up by us as well. 35 years of opening up make this one a joy to listen to; and reminiscing about one mid-August weekend in '69 might give you some added inspiration while you strum a tune in G.
Non-original SKB hard case included
SOLD

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1920 Martin 00-18
An intimate guitar, this 1920 00-18 is a wonderful choice for songwriting or just sitting on your porch and doing your own thing. It has lots of headroom when you want to dig in, but these pre-steel string martins really respond well to a light touch. Bar frets, 1 7/8" nut width, and near weightlessness add to the intimate feel of this instrument. It's had a pro neck reset, and plays very easily with custom-light gauge strings. The bridge is a replacement of the correct footprint, and there are a few small repaired cracks here and there - but nothing major. A bit of French-polish touch-up work around the cracks, some significant pickwear south of the sound hole, and replacement Waverly tuning machines.
Newer hard shell case included.
SOLD

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1918 Martin 0-18 EXC+
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1918 Martin 0-18
Serial #13393. Seldom do we see an instrument of this age in this fine a condition. This is a ONE OWNER 85 year old Martin 0-18. It was bought in a small town called Fergus, about 15 minutes north of Folkway Music, where it remained until recently. Carefully stored away in its original case, this instrument has no cracks at all and shows little sign of its age. We have just completed a neck reset and bar-fret re-seating (and leveling) and have since fallen in love with this guitar. It is incredibly light in weight, and just so responsive - truly a joy to play and hear. It is currently set up with silk and steel strings, but can accommodate extra-light steel strings, if desired. Red spruce top, Mahogany back and sides. Rosewood-bound top and back, Ebony Pyramid bridge. Shellac finish, Martin stamp on rear face of peg head. This instrument is 100% original: Nut, ivory saddle, bridge and pins, tuners and end pin.
Sold with its original soft shell case.
On Consignment.
SOLD

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1967 Martin 0-18 EXC-
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1967 Martin 0-18
Serial #229134. 100% original condition, this little Martin guitar really packs a punch - its volume and bass response belie its small size. It's interesting to think that the 0 size was, back in the days of "parlor guitars," one of Martin's largest instruments! With the exception of the usual pickguard crack, this instrument is in crack-free condition. It has a beautiful top, with a very even grain and marked late-season growth rings. The back and sides of Honduran mahogany feature an attractive curl, and the Brazilian rosewood bridge, fingerboard and headstock overlay are quarter-sawn. Thanks to a recent neck reset the action is great on this guitar - it plays very comfortably up the neck.
Older soft shell case included
SOLD

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1970 Martin D-28 EXC
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1970 Martin D-28
An incredible guitar in every way; It's in super condition and it's possibly the best sounding post 1967 Martin D-28 I've heard. (1967 was the year Martin switched to the larger rosewood bridgeplate.) This near-mint condition instrument has already had a very professional neck reset and refret, and plays perfectly. With the exception of a well-repaired pickguard crack, this instrument is crack-free and has virtually no dings or scratches. Original Pat. Pend. Grovers work great as well. In terms of tone, this D-28 has wonderfully dry articulate basses mixed with high end presence. It is both loud and subtle, and has a quick response. Bone saddle, otherwise 100% original.
SOLD

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1939 Martin D-18 (Restored) EXC+
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1939 Martin D-18 (Restored)
Serial # 73995. 677 instruments apart from the last '39 D-18 we had through here, this instrument has been professionally restored by Mark Ciganero of Texas. The workmanship is top notch, and 100% to our standards, so please read on. To start, this guitar has a replacement top - it is of 50 year old Master-grade Adirondack spruce, and was built and braced IDENTICALLY to the original. Every specification of this top is true to 1939 Martin, and the quality of workmanship is incredible. Brace dimensions, layout, and carving; top thickness; rosette; finish thickness - all to Martin 1939 spec. The remaining parts of this guitar (except the bridge, saddle and pins) are original, and with the exception of the complete refinish, in excellent condition. The back, sides, linings, head and tail blocks, neck fingerboard, inlays, headstock veneer, nut and tuners are all original. There is, however, a small crack adjacent to the top binding. It poses no structural concern and can be easily touched up if desired. The original Celluloid Tortoise-shell headstock veneer and Martin logo are original, intact, and not refinished. The neck has been refinished as well, but the shape has not been altered in any way. It feels as it should, and has the typical 1 11/16 nut width.
And then there's the tone. Well if you are in the market for a KILLER guitar, it's here. It has volume, punch, warmth, clarity and sustain - and has a really interesting combination of vintage and new tonal characteristics.
So check out the photos and feel free to ask us questions. We think it's a great instrument, and the 1939 Martin serial number is just plain cool. Sold with an older hard shell case
On Consignment
SOLD


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   Neck Joint detail   Tuners detail

 

1943 Martin 0-17
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1943 Martin 0-17
SN# 85660. An exceptionally fine sounding, light weight, scallop-braced War-time Mahogany Martin. During the War Martin commonly used an ebony neck reinforcement rather than the normal steel "T" bar. These ebony-rod instruments were some of the most light weight steel-string guitars that Martin ever built, and as a result, fantastically responsive. And, coupled with the all-Mahogany body and scalloped bracing, this guitar has all the ingredients of incredible tone. It has just had its neck reset and a refret in our shop, as well as a new full height Brazilian rosewood bridge, and bone saddle. The original tuners have been removed but are included in the case, and new proper footprint Kluson replacements with aged buttons do a great job of keeping it in tune. It has one small, very well repaired top crack, and a nearly insignificant small crunch on the lower treble side; but is in over-all excellent condition throughout. A new bone nut is the finishing touch, and this 0-17's set up is wonderfully low and easy to play.
Original soft-shell case is included
SOLD

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1957 Martin D-21
Serial #155923. Quite simply the best sounding Martin dreadnought we've had in years. Phenomenal volume and wonderful balance - Bluegrass and beyond. This instrument is in near-perfect excellent condition, with only the slightest trace of play-wear. It is crack-free with the exception of a well-repaired pickguard crack. The Brazilian rosewood sides and back are perfectly straight-grained and quarter-sawn; lush in color and a deep reddish-brown hue. It has had a professional neck-reset and has a comfortable action of 5 to 7 64ths with 9 64ths of saddle above the bridge (Martin Factory Spec.). With the exception of one older replacement Kluson, a new bone saddle, 3 bridge-pins and a replacement end-pin, this instrument is 100% original. Not much else to say - if you're looking for a simply awesome Brazilian Martin dreadnought that's ready to play and in the kind of condition that people will notice look no further.
Original Case included
SOLD

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1952 Martin D-28 EXC+++
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1952 Martin D-28
Here is a guitar for everyone on earth to drool over. This guitar is a Martin D-28 #133503, built in 1952, in almost-new condition. It was brought here by its original owner for a neck-reset, a bridge-reglue, a bridge-plate replacement, and a set-up - all covered by Martin's Lifetime Warranty! This instrument had not been out of its case in some 40 years, and with the exception of a pickguard crack the guitar was impeccable! The top is of Adirondack (red) spruce, the back and sides are of perfectly quartered Brazilian rosewood. The nut and saddle are Ivory, and the original ridge-back tuners were in perfect working order. Our jaws dropped when we opened the case!

The best part was playing this guitar after we completed the work - it sounded better that it looked! We thought that it wouldn't sound great after having not been played for four decades, but were we ever wrong! It was, without any exaggeration, 100% unbelievable.

Anyway, I figured that all you guitar-o-philes would really like to have a look at this D-28. The photos were taken after the repairs were completed, on the morning that it was taken back home by a very happy older Martin guitar owner.
Oh, one more thing - don't get too excited, because it's not for sale!
Enjoy!
SOLD

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1964 Martin D-18 EXC-
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1964 Martin D-18
Serial #199178. This one has just had its neck reset by us. It now plays easily with low action. A very woody sounding D-18, with a open voice. This guitar was built in 1964, and has all the classic features of a vintage D-18: Tortoise-shell binding and pickguard, Brazilian rosewood bridge with through-saddle, small maple bridge plate, "T-bar" neck reinforcement, Original Kluson Deluxe tuners, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. With the exception of its repaired pickguard crack this guitar's top is crack free. One very small well-repaired back crack. and a few repaired side cracks, all structurally sound. Endpin drilled out for an out-put jack. All in all a great sounding and playing D-18 with a few dings and scratches.
Non-original hard shell case included
SOLD


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1942 Martin 00-17 EXC
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1942 Martin 00-17
Serial #80594. A particularly fine sounding example. Scalloped braced, short scale, all mahogany construction, and in great shape overall; this is a great instrument. We've made a new Brazilian rosewood bridge for it and given it a refret. It has recently has a neck reset as well, Making the action and playability better than new. Original Ivory nut and Grover Sta-tite tuners. There is evidence that Kluson tuners were once on it, but there were no modifications made to the instrument.
Newer hard shell case included
SOLD


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Martin Ukelele
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1960's Martin Style 51 Baritone Ukulele
WOW! This uke is beautiful! It is in excellent condition and is 100% original. It is a one owner instrument, and has been treated very well throughout it's life. It was bought new in 1961 or '62. No Cracks or abuse, but has a little bit of case-wear to its finish on the treble side. Warm and loud, its a great sounding instrument that's easy to play (tuned DGBE). Tortoise-bound, ivory saddle, original bridge pins, nut and tuners, Brazilian rosewood bridge and fingerboard.
Original soft/hard case included.
SOLD

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1939 Martin D-18 EXC-
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1939 Martin D-18
Serial # 73318. A completely original one-owner guitar, and a wonderful example of a pre-war Martin D-18. This guitar was bought new in 1940, and was played and lovingly cared for by its owner for the following 40 years. Since 1985 it has been stored in the closet of the original owner's daughter.

This instrument is in very good to excellent condition. There are no top cracks (not even a pickguard crack) and no side cracks. There are three fine grain-line cracks in the back. There are no cracked or loose braces. The finish is 100% original and untouched - there is no over-spray or touch-up anywhere. The tuning machines work perfectly, having very little wear. There is a letter "K" scratched into the lacquer of the headstock veneer just below the C.F. Martin decal.

Adirondack spruce top
Mahogany back and sides
Scalloped braces
Ebony fingerboard and bridge
Original tuners
Original tortoise-shell celluloid pickguard
Original bridge pins
Original Ivory nut and saddle
Original finish

This D-18 sounds every bit as good as it should. It has a very well developed and powerful bass response, and complex, robust, and strong trebles. It is a great sounding instrument by anyone's standards.

It is currently in our workshop for restorations including: neck set, back crack repairs, fretwork and set up.
SOLD

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   Tuners detail   Bill of Sale

 

1969 Martin D28
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1969 Martin D-28
Beautiful quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood, great big sound with lots of bottom end. Very open sound, fabulous bluegrass D-28
All original except for tortoise pickguard and bone nut. Origianal Grover Patent Pend. tuners.
One small top crack (repaired), and one small back crack (stable), No pick guard crack.
Last year that Martin made Brazilian Rosewood dreadnoughts.
This D-28 sounds great, and has developed a great patina - The top has pickwear above the sound hole and below the guard. It plays well and comfortably and is a great Brazilian Rosewood Martin guitar. Comes with the standard "blue" Martin case.
SOLD

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1937 O-17
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1930 Martin 0-17
This is a beatiful example of a 12 fret, slot-head, steel string-braced Martin. A one-owner guitar to boot!
Mahogany back, sides and top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and original bridge, original ebony nut, and original tuners. This bar-fretted 0-17 is in great shape - only one crack, repaired, on the side. 1 13/16th" nut-width.
It's not been abused or mistreated, and seems to have been well-loved by its one owner. It's a great sounding example, having a great warm, full tone, and is very articulate. A great finger style guitar, but great with a heavy flat-pick as well.
The style-17 Martins are still very over-looked by the collector's vintage guitar market, especially these with 12-fret necks, allowing players to still afford a fabulous old Martin.
SOLD

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1951 Martin D-18 VG
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1951 Martin D-18
A great sounding a playing 50 year old Martin D-18. Guitars from the 1950's are probably the most consistently good sounding Martins ever made. This example has great volume, and that crisp, dry tone characteristic of older mahogany guitars. It is a great rhythm guitar, but is equally well suited for punchy bluegrass leads. The finish on the top appears to be original, but the back, sides, and neck were over sprayed - or possibly refinished - a long long time ago. The headstock was refinished as well, and the Martin decal is a new one that we have applied in shop. We have just finished a full restoration of this instrument that included a neck reset, a correct replacement Brazilian rosewood bridge, crack repairs, new frets, and two new tuning machines (the other 4 are original). The instrument now plays perfectly, and is in great condition overall.
SOLD

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1965 Martin 00-18
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1965 Martin 00-18
The 00-18 is a great fingerstyle and blues Martin. Its short scale, spruce and mahongany tonewoods, light weight, and small body size give it a woody, responsive and rich tone. It is incredibly easy to play, and fits pefectly in most people's arms.
This example is from 1965. (#200292) It has Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and thru-saddle bridge, original Grover Sta-tite tuners, and original tortoiseshell pick-guard and binding. A few well-repaired top cracks and some repaired case-caused finish wear on the treble shoulder put the price of this great vintage Martin well within the reach of all you non-collectors.
SOLD

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1974 Martin D-28 EXC+
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1974 Martin D-28
An incredibly clean and crack-free 28 year old Martin D-28. Serial #334524. This guitar is in tip-top condition! there are no cracks (except a very slight pickguard crack), the bridge is full-height, and the tuners and blue case are original. The bass response is loud and clear and surprisingly open for a 70's D-28. And here's the best part: This ones has just had its neck reset and its frets replaced in our shop. It plays better than most any new Martin guitar - but sounds 30 years old! The original nut is on the guitar, but we have had to replace the saddle thanks to a corrected neck angle. (The new saddle is bone.) This is a no-issues guitar that is ready for some years of good playing.
SOLD

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2000 Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton Signature Edition
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2000 Martin 000-28 Eric Clapton Signature Edition
The Martin 000-28EC is one of Martin's best contemporary guitars. It's scalloped braces and high quality spruce and rosewood tone woods, and short scale length (24.9") give this guitar a rich, warm, and open tone well suited to both fingerstyle and flat-picking styles. The nut width of 1 3/4" makes the neck spacious and comfortable to play. This example is in near perfect condition, and has just been set up in our shop. Fishman Matrix pickup professionally installed. All you need to go with it is Clapton's "Unplugged" album!
SOLD

 
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