1967 Martin 00-18C
Martin Guitar Company made dedicated classical guitars starting in 1936 with the 00-18G (for Gut strings) model. Then between 1962 and 1976 they made over 4,200 classical/folk 00-18C (for Classical) guitars as the Style 18 version of the historic steel-string 00-18 introduced in 1898. This model guitar was Martin's response to the Folk market's appetite for nylon string guitars in the 1960s. Built with Martin's traditional high-quality materials, it is essentially a traditional fan-braced classical guitar with a 1920s-style Martin headstock. While the production numbers dropped off dramatically after 1976, by the time the model was officially reduced to Special Order status in 1992 its MSRP was about $2500—almost thirty years ago!
This particular instrument (serial number 221072) was one of the 200 or so produced in 1967. The top is of course solid select Sitka Spruce, while the neck, back, and sides of its Grand Concert 00 body are all solid mahogany, finished in the dark reddish color seen in the pictures. The body is fully bound, the rosette’s 1-9-1 ring pattern is inlaid, and the headstock overlay, the 12/19-fret fingerboard, and the rounded-corner tied bridge are all Brazilian Rosewood. The gold-colored tuners in the slotted mahogany headstock are the original three-on-a-plate open-gear style with filigree etching on each side and off-white plastic buttons. The 00-18C’s overall length is 38 ½”, the total body length is 19 5/8”, with a lower bout of 14 1/8”, and a depth at the lower bout of 4 1/16”. It has a 19-fret scale length of 24.9”, the width of the bone nut is 2”, while the string spacing at the bridge is 2 ¼".
This instrument has no cracks at all, and is in excellent playing condition for over 50 years old. There are only a few small dings, bruises, and scratches in the finish, mostly on the top, where there is also some slight finish crazing. While there is a bit of wear in the first three positions of the fretboard, the nylon strings have produced almost no wear in the frets. As might be expected of its beautifully seasoned woods, it plays exceptionally well, with a huge volume for such a small instrument. With a total reported production of only 4,351 instruments in forty years, this is truly a wonderful vintage collector’s Martin, despite its small size.
The included hard shell case is also in very good shape, and since it fits the small Martin body very well, I believe that it’s original to this guitar. The hardware is not corroded much, the latches and hinges work perfectly, and the interior plush lining is only slightly worn, with no tears or discoloration. Original or not, it is a solid vintage case, and it offers excellent protection to this valuable instrument.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.
Thank you for your interest in this fine vintage Martin guitar.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.