Martin’s 00-21 was one of the longest-lived models in the Martin Catalog. It was in regular production from the pre-record-keeping era of the later 1800s right up until 1994. Yearly production was never huge, usually something below 50 guitars, except for a few years in the late 1920s when steel string guitars were gaining in popularity, and again in the decade from 1965 to 1975 when all things guitar were produced in huge numbers. This 00-21 is one of 200 built in 1966, the second-highest yearly total behind 1967. The 00-21 is an interesting model, as well, as it was the only steel string that Martin kept as a 12-fret model after their specifications switched to 14 fret necks across the line in 1934. It was also the only model to keep its wooden rosette and purflings after the switch to celluloid in the late 1920s.

A wonderful fingerstyle guitar with a lovely intimacy, very pretty and expressive midrange response, and warmth at both ends of the EQ. We have it set up with low action for an easy feel and to encourage a light touch.

Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top with X bracing and original small maple bridge plate. Rosewood fretboard and original unmodified bridge. Original tuners, nut, pickguard and finish. Neck reset, refret, new saddle, and fresh Antique Acoustic bridge pins by our shop. There’s an old top repair with finish touch-up on the edge of the lower bass bout, a cleanly repaired 6” back crack, and a small area of chipped finish on the back’s upper treble bout, by the waist. The guitar is otherwise very clean, with little playwear and no other repairs but a glued pickguard margin crack. We have it set up with 12-54 strings and an action of 4-5.5 64ths at the 12th fret.

With hardshell case