1939 C. F. Martin 000-21 Natural
SN: 53748. Rare prewar 000-21 with wide neck, scalloped bracing, Brazilian rosewood back and sides. Despite a repair history and cosmetic challenges, she remains a great playing and sounding prewar Martin.
Style 21 is one of Martin’s longest running models, introduced in 1874 in a model 1. The 14-fret 000 first appeared in the catalog in 1939 though some were built and shipped in 1938. The style featured a herringbone rosette, faux-tortoise pick guard, top and back binding. Simple b/w/b trim. Black bridge mins with white dots. Snowflake inlays on the fretboard like the 000-28. Adirondack top, ebony bridge and fretboard, mahogany neck (no volute). Brazilian rosewood back and sides with nice figuring. Very lightly braced inside.
Repairs and alterations are as follows; large pickguard removed and correct size pickguard reinstalled. The footprint of the larger guard was cleaned up and new finish applied. There is a pickguard crack from the old guard that is repaired. There are two additional cracks that run under the fretboard, one through the rosette. Both have been glued. The bridge plate has been replaced with one of correct size and materials. There is an old overspray on the back and top that is showing some checking. The tuners have been replaced with high end Waverlys.
The good news. The 1939-1940 Martins have some of the nicest tight grain Adi ever and this guitar is no exception. It is quite responsive as a result. The rosewood is nicely figured on the back and straight grained on the side. There is one tight stabilized crack and one check that needs to be watched, otherwise in good shape. The geometry is excellent. The top is well behaved and the neck angle is good. The bridge looks original (or a very old forgery quality replacement) and the fretboard is full height. The neck is very comfortable, clocking in a 1.72” at the nut with 2-3/8” string spacing at the bridge. She plays very comfortably with newish frets (.061”) and perfect action (6/64” and 4/64” at the 12th). The string spacing is great for fingerpicking and there are rich bass notes and overtones when flatpicked.
Comes with a newer triple-0 Guardian case. Priced well under a pristine one.
CONSIGNMENT
SPECS:
Top: Adirondack spruce
Band & Sides: Brazilian rosewood
Bridge & Fretboard: Ebony
Nut width: shy 1-3/4”
String spacing: 2-3/8”
Body width: 15-1/4”
Depth: 4-1/8”
Scale length: 24.5”
Case: Hardshell
Payment is by personal check or money order. Payment in full, including shipping and insurance, is required before shipment. Personal checks must clear your bank. Please specify preferred shipping method when you order the instrument and we will calculate the exact price for you.
We represent the instruments as accurately as we can. All instruments are shipped on 48-hour approval. If there is damage as a result of the shipping, please contact us immediately and we will deal with the insurance company. If the instrument is damaged in transit from you to me, then you are responsible for dealing with the damage and insurance. For refunds, all instruments must be returned in the same condition as we shipped them in.
All instruments are shipped on 48-hour approval. If there is damage as a result of the shipping, please contact us immediately and we will deal with the insurance company. If the instrument is damaged in transit from you to me, then you are responsible for dealing with the damage and insurance. For refunds, all instruments must be returned in the same condition as we shipped them in.