1938 Martin 0-17

ARCHIVED • SOLD

1938 Martin 0-17

Purchased from the family of the original owner, this early 1938 Martin 0-17 has spent its entire life a short driving distance from our shop. It has the Made in USA stamp on the back of the headstock, which all exported Martin guitars from that era have, and has survived 85 Canadian winters without even one crack. Apart from a neck reset, refret, and new saddle by our shop, this 0-17 has seen no repairs whatsoever. The tuners, nut, pins, and finish are all untouched and original. It’s become rare to unearth vintage acoustics in this kind of condition.

A remarkably good sounding guitar, this 0-17’s light scalloped bracing and 1930s build combine with eight decades of properly cared for aging to offer plenty of warmth, a dry and clean mid range, pretty overtones, and darkly rounded trebles. The guitar is a natural fingerpicker, but performs really well with a controlled flatpick as well.

All-mahogany construction, rosewood board and bridge, 1-3/4” nut, 2-5/16” bridge string spread, Grover G-105N tuners, Bakelite bridge pins. The neck has the quintessential mid ‘30s carve, with a full-feeling C profile in the first position that transitions to a soft V up the neck. First fret neck thickness is .825”, 9th fret thickness is 1.045”. The guitar is set-up with 12-54 strings and an action of 5-7 64ths with a full height bone saddle.

With original chipboard case, and case candy.
1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17
  • 1938 Martin 0-17

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Folkway Music in Guelph, Ontario Canada

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We've spent thirty years building relationships with musicians, collectors, and fellow dealers across Canada and the US. Every guitar we sell has been inspected, played, and approved by hands that know the difference.

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