1948 Martin 00-18

Dec 8, 2025 | Martin

1948 Martin 00-18

SOLD  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. 

Others in this category

2006 Martin J40  –  £2999

2006 Martin J40 – £2999

NEW ARRIVAL  Introduced in 1985, the J40 was Martin’s first jumbo model. Interesting that they waited so long, and also that they made it a high end 40 series, not an 18 or 28 series. Maybe they weren’t sure of the jumbo market? Either way it’s a belter of a guitar....

1928 Martin 2-17  –  £3999

1928 Martin 2-17 – £3999

NEW ARRIVAL  It’s rare to find a Martin guitar from the 20’s, let alone one that plays this well. The 2-17 is an all Mahogany guitar, sized somewhere between a parlour and an 0, and was the first acoustic guitar Martin produced for steel strings. It feels as light as...

2013 Martin D-18GE Golden Era 1934

2013 Martin D-18GE Golden Era 1934

SOLD  Martin’s Golden Era series ran from 2000 - 2016, and represented the best features of instruments in that era. However Martin also produced a 1934 Golden Era D18 model which is a more accurately detailed version. The Adirondack Spruce top, Big Leaf Mahogany back...