1948 Martin 00-18 – £4749

NEW ARRIVAL  This is a real find, a 1948 Martin 00-18. They just don’t turn up very often. I guess everyone who has one keeps them. This is a player grade example, and sounds like it’s been played forever. A Spruce topped 00 size with Mahogany back and sides, all aged over 77 years. There’s a warmth and depth to the bass that’s not always found on a 00 size, as you’d expect the mids are well balanced, and the trebles ring without too much brightness. It works best with finger style, and flat picking, but strums out surprisingly well. The age and amount the guitar has obviously played make it fit like a glove, the playability is spot on, with lots of saddle height making it future proof. The top has plenty of wear on either side of the fingerboard, pickwear below the guard, and several scuffs and dings. The back, sides and neck have been oversprayed, and there’s a neatly plugged jack socket hole next to the end pin. Apart from those issues, it’s still a wonderful sounding piece of Martin history, at a player’s price. It comes in a non original hard case.