Folkway Music -- Instrument Gallery




Last updated: July 4, 2008 Questions? Please email info@folkwaymusic.com. Please note: These are some of the more notable instruments that have recently been sold by Folkway Music. None of these instruments are for sale. Gallery Sections: Martin Gibson Other Acoustic Guitars Resonators Mandolins & Banjos Archtop Guitars Classical Guitars Electric Guitars Amplifiers Miscellaneous Lefty Instruments Repaired Instruments
Main Photo	1920's Martin Style 1 Uke An early Style 1 variant, this uke has a B+J label that reads "The Mele - Genuine Hawaiian Ukulele". We're not sure what's Genuinely Hawaiian about this instrument though; with B+J being a New York company and C.F. Martin & Co. hailing from Pennsylvania! Anyway, it's a Mahogany Style 1 Soprano, with bound top, simple soundhole ring, and rosewood friction pegs. 12 bar frets in its Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, excellent action and playability. We suspect something is up with the finish as it fluoresces brown under black light instead of the usual green, but it looks pretty right except for some light sanding scratches around the bridge, fingerboard's end, and neck heel... we'll leave it to the buyer to decide if the finish is original or not. A great sounding little thing. SOLD More photos: Full Front detail Full Back detail

Main Photo	1946 Martin D-18 Serial # 95973. Who out there doesn't really want a completely original Martin Dreadnaught with a 5 digit serial number that's in nearly perfect condition? Thought so. This one is a mid-1946 model, and exhibits a collection of features very particular to the transitional year in which it was completed. By the War's end, Martin had abandoned scalloped braces and Adirondack spruce in favor of the west-coast Sitka and straight top bracing you'll find on this D-18. With the War Effort over, the metals used for the tuning machines and neck reinforcement rods became plentiful once more, but the transition away from the ebony neck rod didn't happen all of a sudden; and this instrument's neck is fitted with ebony rather than steel. After using the weaker ebony reinforcement for a few years, the shop foremen were undoubtedly familiar with the flexibility of these ebony-rod necks, and (perhaps taking a clue from Gibson) carved necks with a fatter, deeper profile than what was then the norm. This resulted in an extremely light-weight and responsive guitar that has a neck that any vintage guitar nut would die for. Style 18 flirted with Brazilian rosewood fingerboards and bridges from the mid 1930's until 1947, when the last D-18's came off the line with these parts made of Ebony; and this D-18 is an ebony fingerboard and bridge model. Finally, for a period of one year, Martin used pearl fingerboard dots that were undifferentiated in size at the 5th, 7th, and 9th frets; something you might not have otherwise noticed in the photos of this instrument. By late 1947, the 6-digit serial numbered D-18 would appear very similar to one built in the early 1960's; but significantly different than this 1946 model. The guitar is in near-flawless original condition. There are no cracks, no lose or repaired braces, no changed parts, and it has never had a neck reset. We lowered the guitar's action slightly, but did so by installing a replacement fossil ivory saddle rather than altering the guitar's original. While this instrument is not in mint condition, it shows only minor finish scratching on the back and sides, spots of capo-rash behind the second and third frets, and worn finish along the neck's edge in the first position. The action is set at 5 to 7 64ths, with enough saddle to lower it a bit more, and a full-thickness original bridge. Needless to say, it's a very good sounding guitar; it has ample headroom, dry and open basses and mids, and sparkly but strong Mahogany trebles. You might say that we think pretty highly of this guitar. With its original hardshell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Deluxe Case Open Deluxe Case Closed

Main Photo	1958 Martin D-18 Serial # 159893. From now on, when customers ask me what a great post-war D-18 should sound like, I'm going to play a recording of this guitar. Loud and dry, it's a great choice for your next pickin' session. Built in early 1958, this D-18 has all the features you'd expect; a Sitka top and mahogany back and sides, Brazilian fingerboard and bridge, through-saddle, lots of tortoise-shell celluloid, Kluson tuners, and ivory nut and saddle. It's in great shape with only a wee little pickguard crack and a repaired 2" side crack. The bridge was once screwed down but is now properly glued; the old holes in the bridge have been with very nicely filled with matching rosewood. No repairs inside, and the bridge plate is in excellent shape but for the aforementioned screw holes. Some minor playwear by the pickguard, and an average number of dings and dents as shown in the photos below. This one hasn't had a neck reset and is perfectly playable with 5 to 7 action at the 12th fret. The bridge is close to full thickness, and there is still ample original saddle showing so if you'd like a lower fingerstyle action you can get it. First 3 frets have been replaced, the other 17 are original; strap button has been added in the neck heel. With original hard shell case. On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Bridge detail Deluxe Case Open Deluxe Case Closed

Main Photo	1886 Martin 0-28 No serial # (Martin began numbering their instruments in 1898, after an estimated 8000 instruments had been completed). The venerable Style 28 made its first appearance in Martin's 1874 catalog, twelve years prior to this guitar's completion. The 0-28 became a successful model and the company soon expanded the Style 28 line to include the new 00 size - the largest guitar the company had yet built in the late 1870's. Because C.F. Martin & Co. (then run by C.F. Martin Jr.) was not yet recording serial numbers at the time this 0-28 was built, it is not known how many - or how few - similar guitars were built. What we can say with absolute certainty is that very few have survived in such fine condition to this day. We are pleased to offer to you this fine Martin 0-28. Figured Brazilian rosewood back and sides, Red spruce top, Spanish cedar neck with rosewood headstock overlay, ebony fingerboard and original full height pyramid bridge. Ivory bindings, herringbone top purfling, multicolored back strip, typical Style 28 rosette in a 5-9-5 pattern but with ivory center-rings. Original ivory nut, saddle, pearl-inlaid bridge pins, and end-graft. Original German-made engraved brass tuning machines with ivory buttons, and original endpin. Scalloped braces and original maple bridge plate, original French-polish shellac finish throughout. 0-size body measures 13.5" wide at lower bout, and 4.25" deep at the endpin. 24.9" scale length, 1-7/8" wide nut, soft-V neck profile. This guitar is in excellent condition and is completely original. The top's center seam has been reglued, but there are otherwise no cracks anywhere on the instrument. The guitar arrived to us with a small section of binding and purfling missing from the lower back/side margin, which we have seamlessly repaired (see photo). We don't often toot our own horn, so to speak, about the quality of our restoration work, but this repair is second to none. You would be hard-pressed to notice that anything had been done to this guitar. The purfling material we spliced in was custom cut to match the original, as was the ivory we selected for the binding. We have a big box of antique piano keys that we painstakingly sorted through to find a piece of ivory that was of the same hue and opacity as the original Martin stock! The French-polish finish touch-up does not extend on the back beyond 1/4" from the edge. In addition, we've dressed the original bar frets, installed a new compensated bone saddle (the original full height ivory saddle will accompany the guitar), and have set up the instrument with Silk and Steel strings and a comfortable fingerstyle action. The guitar is feather-light, weighing in at 3 pounds, and has oodles of rich, open, vintage tone. Its treble strings are fat and round, and its wound strings have that poppy, almost classical attack that comes from a lightly built top. The instrument is breathy and airy, with woody and complex overtones and endless sustain. Defined basses, and balanced string to string volumes make this instrument one of the loveliest fingerstyle guitars you'll have the chance to play. Due to the nature of the instrument, its value, and the unpredictable climate, we will only ship this guitar with Overnight service (about $300). TKL Deluxe fitted hardshell case included On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Bridge detail Heel detail Neck detail Repair detail Repair detail 2 Repair detail 3

Main Photo	1957 Martin 000-18 Serial # 158449 In close to perfect condition and 100% original and unmodified, this 1957 000-18 is truly a collector's item. No cracks, no wear, and only minor dings near the pickguard and to the back of the neck - you'd be hard pressed to find one much nicer than this. Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, quarter-sawn Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoiseshell celluloid bindings and pickguard, ivory nut and saddle. 1-11/16" nut, 24.9" scale neck with soft V 50's profile. The action measures a very comfortable 5 to 8 64ths at the 12th fret despite not yet having a neck reset; however, the saddle has been lowered to its minimum, and without shaving the guitar's full height bridge the action is not lowerable any further. It's a particularly fine sounding 1950's 000, with nice woodiness and a warm ring - and fingers or flatpick coax out the best this guitar has to offer. With original soft-shell case On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Bridge detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1930 c. Martin Style 1-T Uke No serial number. As the ukulele fad of the 1920's grew in scale, the Martin Company expanded its line of ukes from to include Concert, Tenor, and Baritone sized instruments. The Style 1-T was introduced soon after the second round of renovations at the company's North St. location in the late 1920's, and this instrument likely dates soon after that. A simply appointed instrument, the Style 1-T has a mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, rosewood binding (with maple top purfling), ebony nut, friction tuning machines, and black bridge-pins. The bone saddle is new, but the instrument is otherwise original. Bar-frets and C.F. Martin stamp on the back of the headstock date the instrument to before 1934. The are a few hairline cracks on the instrument's top and back which we have repaired, along with an older nicely repaired crack on the treble side. No finish touchup was done, and none is needed. Nicely setup, the instrument plays easily and without buzz. 17" scale length, 1-3/8" nut width. Fine sound. With softshell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1962 Martin 000-28C Serial # 186981. Built at the height of the Folk boom of the early 1960's, the 000-28 was the largest and most expensive gut-string guitar Martin would ever offer. Only 560 of these guitars were built in total, and today the 000-28C (or earlier G) are the most collectable post-war gut-strung Martins (and the only 12-fret 000 size production instruments of the era). This guitar is in extra-fine condition, with very little signs of use. It has a repaired 3" long crack on the back, and a small finish chip in front of the bridge from an earlier reglue. The action and set up are very nice, and the guitar plays quite comfortably. As the only 12 fret 000-size postwar Martins, it is not uncommon to see these instruments converted into steel string guitars. This unconverted example has a lovely intimate tone and a soft touch. With its original hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1938 Martin 000-18 Serial # 71207. A one owner triple O from just before the start of WWII. The guitar is in top shape, after a neck reset, refret, and re-bridge in our shop. Adirondack top, quartered mahogany back and sides; ebony fingerboard and bridge. Original Grover tuning machines, ivory nut, end pin and bridge pins. Like pretty much all pre-war 14 fret 000-18's this guitar has a huge voice, with very well developed trebles and loud but succinct basses. For a fan of Mahogany instruments, this is the consummate fingerstyle guitar. 1-3/4" nut width, 24.9" scale, comfortable soft V neck profile, and forward positioned X bracing. It is both responsive and subtle, and is a dream to play. The original bridge was badly cracked and needed replacing, the replica we built is exact and would be difficult to distinguish as a replacement. The instrument is free of cracks, with the exception of a 1/2" crack on the bass side lower bout which was repaired long long ago. There is light overspray over the wound, and there are a number very small drops of finish on the top's lower bass side which measure about 1/32nd of an inch at most. They are difficult to photograph, but should be somewhat visible on the front detail photo provided. This guitar is in otherwise excellent condition. We have the action set to please the fingerstyle crowd (read: low), and thanks to the new frets this guitar plays slinky-fast without buzzing. Included with the instrument is its original strap, and a couple original black and white photos of the original owner playing his guitar back in the day. With new TKL deluxe hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Neck detail Photo

Main Photo	1947 Martin 000-28G Serial # 100322. With only 17 ever made, the 000-28G is among the rarest of all catalogued Martin guitar models. The G series guitars were the first instruments built by Martin to specifically interest players of Spanish style guitar. The instrument pictured here (one of only four built in 1947), has a 000-28 body, but with a fan-braced spruce top, and a 12 fret classical-style neck that has a nut width of close to 2 inches. The appointments are typical of Style 28 guitars from 1947 onward, and the Brazilian rosewood used to build this instrument is pretty much as perfect as one could ask for - quarter sawn, with rich deep red and brown hues. The guitar is completely original and in excellent condition. There are, however, three older repaired back cracks, as is common to find on Brazilian Martins. Some might prefer to convert this guitar into an OM-28, others would leave the instrument intact, preserving it as a specimen of an ultra rare Martin instrument. Should you choose to play the instrument, you will find that this guitar has a warm and intimate nylon-string voice. There is more bass response than you'd otherwise expect in a classical, thanks to this 000's large body size. On consignment with newer case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1997 Martin HD-28V Serial # 599755. A 10 year old Vintage series Herringbone D-28 in excellent condition. Indian rosewood back and sides, perfect Sitka top, ebony through-saddle bridge and diamond-inlaid fingerboard. One-piece mahogany neck with vintage style logo and open-geared tuners. Heringbone top trim, zig-zag back strip, tortoise-shell celluloid pickguard, red-eye bridge pins. Scalloped, forward shifted top bracing, Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish. Boomy and loud, the HD-28V is Martin's consummate bluegrass flatpicker - and this guitar does it well. Lots of headroom, nice big basses with open and woody mids. Well set up and in excellent condition, with only very minor finish blemishes. Original hard shell case included On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1957 Martin D-21 Serial # 154328. We'll probably be kicking ourselves in a few years for putting this guitar up for sale, as D-21's are among the best investments in the vintage guitar world; and they don't come much more perfect than this guitar. But, alas, we're in the business of selling guitars - not keeping them. The '57 D-21 pictured here is the cleanest 50 year old Martin dreadnaught you're likely to find. It's one repair - a small binding reglue and 1/8 splice- was done exceptionally well and is largely invisible. There are no cracks anywhere on the instrument, and no neck work has ever been done to the guitar. No neck reset, no shaved bridge, no fretwork. The ivory nut and saddle are original, the tuners are original, the bridge pins are original, the finish is original... you get the idea here folks. With action of 5 to 8 64ths the guitar is eminently playable, and with some saddle height left above the bridge the action is lowerable further. This fifty year old Martin doesn't need a neck reset. With guitars this perfect tone is often an afterthought, but that is not the case with this D-21. It's a fifty year old Brazilian rosewood dreadnaught. It sounds huge. A marvelous flat picker. Oh, and it has an Adirondack Spruce top, too. I almost forgot to mention that... Spidery Brazilian and Adirondack; not a bad thing, really. The guitar is very expensive, and it is worth every penny of the price. With a new Martin Geib-style case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1957 Martin 000-18 Serial # 158254. In our minds, primo vintage guitars should either be in near-mint condition, or have enough mojo to make Muddy Waters shudder. Either way, you need to be able to play the thing, so proper action and set up are especially important, as is an instrument's structural integrity. All that being said, you can imagine our delight when this crack-free fifty year old hobo of a guitar showed up at our door. This guitar really, really, really looks like a vintage instrument. Its finish is worn spectacularly well - from the arm wear on the top's lower bass bout to the pickwear around the soundhole and pickgaurd. Its smooth and bare mahogany neck is testament to the countless hours someone spent honing their skills and howling at the moon. It amazes me to think that a guitar with this kind of play wear can survive the years without damage. The guitar's bridgeplate, and braces are all original and intact, and with the exception of a small unrepaired crack at the inner margin of the pickguard there are no cracks - past or present - on this one. We've just completed a neck-reset and refret, and made a brazilian rosewood replica bridge to replace the original that was shaved too low to use. The guitar had been previously refretted, so our frets are likely the guitar's third set. Its ivory nut, Grover G-98 tuners, bridge pins, end pin, pickguard, and all finish are all original. Typical of 50's 000-18's it has a smallish neck, with a nut width of 1-5/8" and a soft-v carve; a very comfortable fit. Naturally, the guitar sounds amazing. It would be hard for it not to, really, after having being played so much over a span of fifty years. It's not the loudest guitar in the shop, but is has warmth and subtlety, and lots of that dry woody openness we look for in a vintage mahogany instrument. Set up with standard 5 to 7 64ths action, this 000-18 is well suited for most any style of playing. With non-original hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1964 Martin 0-16NY Serial # 194388. The New Yorker Martins were built in response to the folk revival of the 1950's and early 1960's. People were looking for old 12 fret "New York" made Martins on which to play the roots and traditional tunes that were popular in the day. Although designed for nylon (classical) strings or light gauge steel strings, these instruments sound remarkably better with steels strings, and were built more lightly than most other Martins of the era. The result is an instrument with a wide open voice, lots of harmonic overtones and good volume. 1 7/8" nut width, slotted headstock and rectangular bridge add to the vintage vibe of this instrument. This early 1963 example has had a professional neck reset not too long ago, and has just been refretted and set up in our shop. It is completely original with the exception of the frets, saddle, and one bridge-pin and is in near-mint condition. No cracks or finish wear, and only a few small dings here and there to mention. Original ivory nut, Waverly tuners, and full-height Brazilian rosewood bridge. Mahogany back and sides, Sitka spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and headstock overlay. Style 18 rosette and top bindings and purflings, unbound back., and satin lacquer finish. A wonderful fingerstyle instrument, we have the action set at a slinky 4 to 5 64ths. With period / original hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1968 (circa) Martin "Employee" 00-28 LEFTY Yes, it's factory left handed; yes it has Brazilian Rosewood back and sides; and - yes - it was built in the Martin factory, but like all "Employee-built" Martin guitars this instrument does not have a Martin serial number or bear the familiar C.F. Martin & Co. logo on its headstock. Back in the days of the 6-digit serial number, Martin employees were permitted to "build" instruments of their own design when off-shift. They would use Martin parts in the construction of these instruments, and the finished products would be - essentially - Martin guitars, but would generally differ from those instruments found in the Martin catalog. Such is the case with the particular lefty 00-sized guitar pictured here. It was built with three-piece back and sides of richly hued Brazilian rosewood; lefty-braced Sitka spruce top complete with small rosewood bridge-plate (a la 1968); a twelve-fret neck with 24.9" scale, chucky 1-7/8" width and slotted headstock, and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and rectangular bridge. As far as appointments, this instrument is a hybrid of styles ranging from 16 to 45. The top's edge is bound with Style 21 5-ply purflings and black outer binding, and the abalone pearl rosette is Style 41 and higher. The three-piece back suggests Style 35, but its lack of binding is reminiscent of the Style 16 New Yorkers that were being built at the same time as this guitar. The fingerboard and dot pattern are Style 21, and the bridge was built for a Style 16 or 21 New Yorker. Finally, the bridge and end-pins are Style 21 (Black with white dots), and the end-graft is Style 28. So by now, I'm hoping that you're wondering why we've called the guitar a 00-28, if only the endgraft (that little wedge inlaid into the bottom of the guitar that the strap button sits in the center of) says Style 28. Well, it's because the fellow who built it wanted us to; he stamped the neck block 00-28! Inside, the guitar is initialed A.F.S. 6.2.71 and although we assume the guitar was completed June 2nd, 1971, we're still calling it a '68 as the materials used and the size/shape of the bridge plate are suggestive of that year. The headstock is inlaid with LMS in pearl, and we have been told these are the initials of the wife of the Martin Employee who built the instrument. The instrument is in excellent condition. There are no cracks and no scratches in the finish. We have fitted a replacement tortoise-shell celluloid pickguard to the top, re-fretted and set up the instrument, complete with a new bone saddle. The action is fingerstyle-low, with a full-height bridge and enough saddle to lower the strings well into the buzz-zone. Original Grover tuners and original ivory nut. It's a very loud guitar, with big full trebles and piano-like resonance. It is, after all, a Martin. With original chipboard case On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1951 Martin D-18 Serial # 120509. Obviously not used very much throughout its life, this D-18 doesn't really look a third as old as it actually is. The story as we've heard it is that a pair of brothers from Tennessee bought a pair of D-18s to use with their band way back when, and ended up only using one of them. The second guitar (this one) lived a lonely life in its chipboard case at the back of a closet, only to be discovered some many years later. It dried out and formed a few cracks along the way, but it stayed in mostly excellent condition as a result. A while back the guitar was brought back to life with a professional neck-reset, a new bridge, and repairs to one top crack and four back cracks; it was played for about a decade and then finally made its way here last week. We've replaced the replacement bridge with a much more accurate Brazilian rosewood replica, repaired a pickguard crack, and set the instrument up with Martin Mediums. It now plays excellently, looks fabulous, and sounds - simply - quite wonderful. Original finish throughout, original Kluson tuners, replacement bone nut and saddle, new bridge pins, original endpin and pickguard. One very tight and nicely repaired top crack south of the bridge; the four back cracks are all located in the lower treble bout and are well glued. If not for the repaired cracks, this D-18 would be on our short list of the cleanest 50 year old guitars we've yet offered for sale. It's a good one, folks. It has a wide open voice, with a noticeable amount of that woody dryness you'll find in a good early 50's Martin. It's loud and resonant, and is definitely a flatpicker's instrument. With a newer Calton hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1960 Martin D-28 Serial # 171802. Built in early 1960, and bought shortly thereafter by the fellow who brought it to us last week, this D-28 is a well cared for one-owner instrument. It is also the home of some of the most beautiful Brazilian rosewood you'll encounter on any Martin from any era. Pictures speak a thousand words, and I've not got space for that much text, so feast your eyes on that back detail shot we've provided. Moving on, this guitar is in quite fine condition overall. It has two very small repaired cracks: one at the pickguard margin under the B string, and the other on the treble side near the neck that has had a drop-fill touch-up. The top and braces are solid and issue-free, as are the sides, back, and their related braces. Nice small original bridge plate and no top deflection. The bridge is an ebony replacement made in our shop, and the bridge pins are the guitar's original red-eyes. It's had a professional neck reset and refret, and is set up with very comfortable action and medium strings. Original Grover pat. pend. USA Rotomatics, and original ivory nut (1-11/16"). Its lacquer finish is completely original; the back of the neck has a bit of wear, and the guitar has a few dings on the top, and a fair number of scratches on the back and sides. There is no pick rash or belt wear though, and the overall look of the guitar is quite clean. Typical of D-28's from the late 50's and early 1960's the guitar is quite loud and well balanced. It's obviously a great flatpicker, but would likely be a good fingerpicking candidate too. With original hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Side detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1920's Martin Style 1K Uke This one sings! That sweet loud voice of a very lightly built koa instrument just can't be beat. All-koa body and bridge, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with original bar frets, mahogany neck, Brazilian top and back binding, white and black wood top purfling, ebony nut and saddle, replaced tuners. This one would be a lot more money had it not lost a chunk out of the top by the soundhole. It is otherwise in highly desirable condition. No case. SOLD More photos: Full Front detail Full Back detail

Main Photo	1981 Martin Model A Mandolin Serial # 26174. Virtually unchanged in design from 1917 until its discontinuation in 1988, the 1981 Model A shown here is a 90 year old in the body of a 26 year old! It is truly fascinating that Martin offered their bent-top basic model mando as recently as George Michael's hit song "Faith", and the Bush Sr. Presidency! The instrument is in just about mint condition, but does show some fret wear. Mahogany back and sides, bent Sitka spruce top, style 18 appointments. Mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard; ebony bridge and nut, Kluson tuners (which Martin must have stockpiled in the late 1960's!), and clamshell tailpiece. 1-5/32" nut width, 13" scale, neck joins the body at the 10th fret. The mandolin is well set up and plays nicely. With original hard shell case On Consignment SOLD More photos: Full Front detail Headstock detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1969 Martin D-28 Serial # 242519. The last Brazilian rosewood D-28's left the factory in late 1969, some 11500 guitars after this early 1969 model was finished. Today, as you most likely well know, the instruments built prior to a certain D-21 numbered 254498, are prized for their tone and looks; and command premium prices on the vintage guitar market as compared to their Indian rosewood counterparts. The D-28 pictured here was built with very attractive straight-grained old-growth Brazilian, and a Sitka top. The guitar doesn't look its age, and at 38 years old shows no signs of growing old. It's completely crack free, and has nearly perfect finish. It has been professionally neck-setted and set up, and plays very nicely as well. It has a very well made repro pickguard, newer nut and saddle, and a small bridge plate patch, but is otherwise completely original. We've got the action set at 5 to 7 64ths with medium strings. There is a lot of room on the saddle to bring the action down, should you desire. Tonally, it is very rich and articulate - classic late 60's D-28. With new top-of-the-line Martin hard shell case On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1980 Martin HD-28 Serial # 423459. Between 1969 and 1985 all Martin Dreadnaughts were built with extra-large rosewood bridgeplates which didn't exactly help tone. Thankfully, in 1976, C.F. Martin & Co. realized that there might be a reason their then-new guitars didn't quite match up to the older instruments so many musicians favored. They rediscovered small maple bridge plates and scalloped braces, and they re-introduced their now venerable herringbone purflings on the HD-28. It's now widely agreed upon that the best sounding Martin guitars built during those years were those with HD-28 stamped on their neck-blocks, just like the one pictured here. With its rosewood back and sides and scalloped-braced Stika spruce top this is a loud guitar. It's big and it's got no shortage of bass response either - Bluegrassers of the world unite! No cracks, and not much wear, this guitar is in excellent condition. It is completely original, too - right down to the bridge pins. Excellent set up and playability; we've set the action at just shy of 5 to 7 64ths with mediums. In 1980 Martin was still glueing pickguards to their tops prior to applying finish, and this one has not curled up or created a crack in the top as so many do. Additionally, adjustable truss-rods weren't introduced until '85, so this guitar is equipped with the hollow square steel reinforcement used from '67 on, making the neck nice and stiff. In short, it's a killer guitar. With original hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1958 Martin 00-18 Serial #160030. A really nice condition '50s Martin that's still affordable with your summer job! It's all-original with a Brazilian rosewood board and bridge, ivory nut and saddle, nice even-grained spruce top and quartersawn mahogany body with tortoise binding and pickguard. It's in nice playing order with almost no fret-wear, 5 to 7 sixty-fourths action with a sixteenth inch of saddle still showing. Light wear over the body, no abuse or repairs. A strap pin was once improperly installed on the bass side of the heel and later moved to the right location with a plug but no finish touch-up. It has the standard Martin pickguard crack on the outer edge of the guard, one inch long. A fine warm sound with a big punch, this is a loud guitar and fun to play. This one is priced to sell fast. On consignment in a more modern thermoplastic case. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1966 Martin 000-18 Have a peek at this knockout triple O. It's about the cleanest vintage Martin we've ever seen. It came through the store this week only needing its pickguard reglued; it didn't even need a neck reset. Amazing. NOT FOR SALE More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1956 Martin 000-18 Serial #149024. Fresh out of our shop after a neck reset, refret, and set-up, this mid-1950's 000-18 is a very fine instrument in all three major categories: tone, playability, and looks. No cracks, and no real wear - just a few dings here and there as are evident in the photos provided. No repairs and completely original (except for the bone saddle we installed, and the new frets), this guitar is ready to play. This is a nice package, with its original hard-shell case, strap, and some case goodies. It's a one owner instrument, and a very well cared for one at that. We've set the guitar up with a slinky fingerstyle action (4 to just shy of 6 64ths and just a hair of relief), with 12-54's. Sitka top, Mahogany back and sides, Brazilian rosewood board and full height bridge. Original tuners, ivory nut, and bridge/end pins. 24.9" scale length, 1-11/16" nut width. Fine 50's tone. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1956 D-28 in Mint Condition! We can't offer this one to you for sale, but we can show it to you! This '56 D-28 just came through our shop where it received at neck reset, a refret, and a new bridge. It's orginal bridge was bolted down, and a pair of holes in the top were repaired as well. It's always a little nerveracking to work on guitars that are this clean, but we love doing it! Check out the Brazilian rosewood on this guitar - you couldn't ask for more perfect wood! NOT FOR SALE More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Bridge detail Bridge Plate detail Neck Set detail

Main Photo	1947 Martin 000-18 100525. A very lightly built early post-war 000-18 in excellent condition; you'd be hard pressed to find a late '40's 000 anywhere near as nice as this one. Essentially crack-free (there is a small 1" side crack) this guitar is well-preserved and has evidently been well cared for throughout its life. We have neck-setted and refretted the guitar as we always do, and offer it to you in ready-to-play condition; the set up is for fingerstyle playing. Sitka top, Mahogany sides and back. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, tortoise-shell celluloid binding, original bridge and end pins and open-geared Kluson tuners. Original ivory nut (1-11/16" wide) and new bone saddle. Very little finish wear except on the instrument's back where some minor surficial belt scratching can be seen. The instrument has the snap and dryness that good 000-18's are famous for, with fine balance and rich harmonic overtones. A lovely instrument. With 1940's Epiphone-branded Lifton HSC SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1936 Martin 000-18 Serial # 63271. In our ongoing commitment to bring you the very best in vintage acoustics we present here a beautiful 1936 Martin 000-18 in excellent and original condition. Completely unaltered during its 70 year life but for one bridge pin, a bone saddle and its frets, this instrument offers up the best in vintage tone, looks, and value. Red spruce top, Honduran Mahogany back and sides, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and headstock overlay. Tortoiseshell celluloid bindings and pickguard, ivory nut, Grover tuners, and completely original lacquer finish. Original full thickness bridge and maple bridge plate, finely scalloped braces, and X positioning close to the soundhole. Nut width of 1-3/4", and standard 000 scale length of 24.9". This instrument's neck had been professionally reset before making its way to Folkway; the work was cleanly done and the angle is fine. The frets and bone saddle have just been replaced by us and we have set the action for fingerstyle playing with the strings resting comfortably at 4.5 to 6 64ths above the 12th fret and strung with light-gauge Martins. With the exception of a repair at the pickguard margin, the instrument is free of cracks and loose or damaged components. It is a finely built instrument, and like many of the best instruments built by Martin in the years preceding the Second World War, it has withstood the test of time very well. Its tone is on par with the best Golden Era mahogany Martins, and will be prized by its next owner. Powerful, dry, articulate, resonant, woody, mature, balanced, open - all are words that aptly describe this instrument's voice. The treble notes jump out of the guitar with a spherical bigness that will make you want to play single notes on the high E string for two hours. But one strum on the bass strings will remind you of the instrument's size, power, and readiness to spring out of the gates and perform. You just have to play it. This guitar is sold with its original Martin Style C hard shell case, as pictured. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1955 Martin 000-18 A grand old lady from Martin's most consistent period. This guitar has recently received a neck reset, new frets and a new exact replica Brazilian rosewood bridge in our shop. It plays perfectly, and is currently set up for fingerstyle playing. A very balanced tone, articulate, clean and dry, with full trebles and even basses. It features some honest playwear on the top, and has a standard pickguard crack and a couple of other cracks that were well repaired long ago. The back has two tight repaired cracks about 4" in length and there is one small ding on the side under the player's right arm which has been filled with lacquer. The appearance of the guitar is very good and the guitar has never been abused. It has the original tuners, which work nicely and look great, and an original ivory nut. 24.9" scale length, 1-21-32" nut width. On Consignment, with newer Deluxe TKL hard case. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1926 Martin 00-18 Serial # 25891. This steel-string braced 00-18 is among the finer sounding pre-1929 mahogany Martins you're likely to find. Martin's first steel sting guitars were built very lightly with finely scalloped braces and thin tops and backs, resulting in instruments which respond hugely to a light touch. There are really no other guitars out there - old or new - that do what these guitars do. Beguiling to pickup, inspiring to play, and impossible to put down, this guitar will surely coax the best your fingers have to offer. This 00-18 went back to Martin in the late 80's for a neck reset, refret, re-bridge, and a new bridge plate. The top is without cracks, but does have significant pick-wear. The back has one repaired crack, and there are two well repaired side cracks. Martin's repairs are well done, the new bar frets are nice and tall, and the bridge plate is only slightly oversized. The somewhat oversized pyramid bridge didn't look great when the guitar came in, so we re-profiled it here in shop and fitted a new bone saddle and vintage-correct bridge-pins to it. The set up on this guitar is slinky-low (4 to 5 64ths), and plays very easily with light gauge strings - it's definitely a fingerstyle set up. With no further repairs needed, this guitar is ready to play and enjoy. On consignment with soft-shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1958 Martin 00-18 Serial # 165337. This guitar is a real beauty. Although it's creeping up on 50 years old it doesn't look have that age. It is in excellent condition and is without cracks. The finish looks great, too - with only slight crazing, no belt or pick wear, and just a few small dings here and there. Internally, there are no issues either; its small maple bridge plate and braces are in perfect shape and glued well. It's a big sounding guitar with lots of volume and headroom to dig in and play hard should you choose. The bridge has been lowered a little bit but looks good and offers enough saddle height to lower the action if desired, even though this guitar's neck has never been reset. The action at the 12th fret currently measures 5 to 7 64ths. The tuners are newer replacements which look right from the front, but evidence of older incorrect replacements is slightly visible on the headstock face, and under the Kluson bodies. Original ivory nut, new bone saddle (by us), original bridge and end pins. 24.9" scale, 1-11/16" nut width, comfortable neck. A very enticing 00-18. With newer hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1954 Martin 00-17 Another near-mint mahogany Martin! This time it's a 00-17 model built in 1954. The only work this guitar has ever had done to it is a new saddle and set-up - no neck reset or fretwork, nothing to reglue, to cracks to fix. The tuners have no wiggle or wear, the finish has just about no blemishes - just the odd scratch here and there. Oh, and it sounds good, too! 24.9" scale, 1-11/16" ebony nut, Brazilian rosewood bridge and fingerboard, solid mahogany top, sides, and back. If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'll quit typing and let you explore this guitar. With original chipboard case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1958 Martin 0-15 A beautifully preserved 50's Martin, and a great sounding instrument to boot. In truly collectable condition, this 0-15 has seen very little playtime over its life and has virtually no wear to its frets or finish. Its bridge was lifting when it arrived, and it developed a crack at the inner margin of the pickguard, but both of these issues have been seamlessly attended to in our repair shop. A fresh set up and new bone saddle have made it a very playable instrument as well. It has surprisingly well developed basses for an instrument in such unused condition, and good volume. The 0 body size is ridiculously comfortable to play, but its slightly deeper body depth make it sound like a larger bodied guitar than it is. Original Kluson tuners, original bridge and end pins, and original soft shell case. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1963 Martin D-21 Serial # 193087. What a phenomenal guitar and a Flatpicker's dream of an instrument. This D-21 has an awesome punch in the mids that makes lead runs explode out of the soundhole, and a volume that will make you wonder why they bothered inventing acoustic pickups! It has great balance, with robust single notes all over the fingerboard. The guitar has just emerged from our repairshop where it had its neck reset, saddle and frets replaced and pickguard crack fixed up. There are otherwise no cracks in the instrument, and just about none of the fine scratches and nicks we tend to find on guitars of this age. This D-21 features back and sides of quartersawn Brazilian rosewood and a bearclaw-figured Sitka spruce top with tortoise celluloid body bindings and pickguard. The board and original (full height) bridge are Brazilian rosewood as well, with attractive figure and rich color. The instrument has its original Kluson Deluxe tuning machines - the cleanest we've ever seen, its original bridge and end pins, and ivory nut. Internally, the instrument is perfect, too. Its braces are all tight, and the holes in its small maple bridge plate are in top shape. The guitar appears to have been played very little over its life; but hopefully that will change as soon as someone - possibly you - takes it home! There is an impression of a treble clef on the pickguard left by a sticker from years past; we left it on the guitar, but we can easily rub / buff this off should you desire. A period Ess & Ess hard case accompanies this fine instrument. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Tuners detail 2 Neck Set detail Pickguard detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1959 Martin D-28 Serial #170742. Looking for an exceptionally loud and powerful dreadnaught? Want a guitar that you can hear above the banjo and mandolin you've been jamming with? How about a guitar whose treble notes are as fat as its basses - all the way up the neck? It's going to cost you a bit to get it, but here is that guitar. Among the most powerful D-28's we've encountered, there is nothing about this guitar that is going to let you down. Let's start with the tone woods: Quartersawn, figured, deep and richly hued Brazilian Rosewood back and sides - the kind you simply can't get any more - matched with and Adirondack (yes, it really is Adirondack) Red Spruce top. Martin built guitars with Adirondack tops sporadically throughout the 1950s; the wood is unmistakable, both in looks and in tone. There are no cracks on this guitar, except those at the margins of the pickguard (which have been repaired). The action is perfect, thanks to an older very professionally done neck reset, and a set up and fret-dressing in our shop. The bridge and bridge-plate are correct replacements built by us - you'd be hard pressed to tell they were not original. The Grover Rotomatic tuners are original, as is the ivory nut. The Pickguard is gorgeous, with its unmistakingly late 50's shape and red-brown tortoise-shell celluloid, and the original bridge and endpins -with their 'red-eyes' of matching celluloid - offer a classic vintage Style 28 touch to finish off the instrument. The neck has a 50's soft V profile with a 1-11/16" nut. Set up with Medium strings, the action is a perfect 5 to 7 64ths, with enough saddle above the bridge to lower it significantly, should you desire. This D-28 is sold with its original Lifton hard shell case, which too is in excellent condition. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1933 Martin 0-17 Serial # 54671. After the OM, introduced in '29, the 0-17 and 0-18 were the next flat-tops in line to be offered with the company's new 14 fret neck. The guitar pictured here was built in 1933, during an era of great transition for C.F. Martin's instruments and exactly one hundred years after the birth of the company. The now-famous C.F. Martin & Co. logo, introduced in 1932, was originally monochrome gold (as it is on this guitar), its black outline would follow a few years later. On the back of the headstock is the Martin stamp familiar to us from older instruments, but discontinued a year or so after this particular guitar was built. The V-profile neck features a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, bar frets and a 1-3/4" ebony nut; 14 frets clear of the body, and simple ivoroid fretboard and side position markers. The neck re-enforcement is an ebony insert, although Martin would shift to the "T-bar" steel insert in '35. As a result of the lack of steel in the neck, this guitar is incredibly light, weighing in at a meager 3 pounds! The unbound body is solid Mahogany throughout, with a bookmatched back and a single piece top. The braces are all finely scalloped, and the maple bridge plate is tiny. A guitar this lightly built and so finely braced can only sound great, and this instrument steps right up to the plate in this regard. Very loud and punchy with the dry sparkle of a mahogany topped guitar, this 0-17 excels at bluesy or ragtime fingerstyle, or would make a great songwriting companion. The guitar's condition is excellent and completely original throughout. From Grover tuning machines to the ivory saddle there have been no modifications to the instrument. In our repair-shop we reset the neck, re-fretted (with the original frets) the fingerboard, and adjusted the action. There is a very small and insignificant finish touch up on the heel of the neck where the finish chipped away during the neck removal process. There are no cracks, and no areas of excessive finish wear anywhere on the guitar. The case, too, is original and in excellent condition. An investment-grade vintage guitar all in all. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Case Open Case Closed

Main Photo	1948 Martin D-18 Serial # 106270. We've offered a number of fine D-18's over the last few months, but there's no such thing as too many! So, here is a 1948 model for you to oogle over. The late 1940's brought about some design changes to the Martin Dreadnaught; scalloped braces were replaced by straight braces, and Sitka Spruce replaced Adirondack Red Spruce. A few years later, Kluson enclosed tuners would replace the open-geared machines used up to that point on Style 18 guitars. In the early post-war years, the quality of the guitars that C.F. Martin & Co was building was very much consistent with that from a few years earlier, but the aforementioned design changes brought a different tonality to the instruments. Today, guitars from this era are revered for their powerful voices and balanced response. This particular instrument is in remarkable condition at nearly sixty years old. With the exception of a well-repaired pickguard crack there are no cracks or separations anywhere on the guitar. There is no excessive pick or buckle wear, and the original tuners work very well. A few years back this guitar had its neck reset and refretted in our shop, and today plays with excellent action. I had forgotten until I looked back at my repair notes that we had replaced the bridge as well. The one we made fooled me upon examining the guitar this week - I thought it was an original! The ivory nut is original, as is the bridgeplate, pickguard, all finish, and the endpin. The bridge pins and bone saddle are replacements, and there is a strap button in the usual spot. The tone of this guitar is rich and warm, with a nice mahogany sparkle, and a very open bass. It is a woody guitar and will give you all the vintage overtones that you'd expect to find in a 60 year old guitar. On consignment with newer hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1953 Martin D-18 Serial # 129624. A very loud and well balanced early fifties dreadnaught. A flat-picking machine that's right up there with the best of them, this D-18 is a great choice for someone looking for the power that early 1950's Martin's are famous for, and the brightness and snap that only old dry Mahogany offers. Rhythm chops and G chord turnarounds are punctuated and succinct on this guitar, and lead breaks up the neck cut though nicely. It's a guitar that anyone who plays in front of a microphone - on stage, or in the studio - will die for. Sitka Spruce and South American Mahogany, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, Tortoise-shell celluloid bindings and pickguard, Original Kluson tuners. Original small maple bridge plate, full height bridge, new bone compensated saddle and original ivory nut. An older professional neck reset and refret (done very cleanly) sets the action at a fast 5 to 7 64ths, with lots of saddle left to go lower. An older repaired crack at the pickguard, and another small one that we fixed (near invisibly) on flat part the treble side; where all D-18s tend to crack. A Strap pin was added to the heal, and the endpin is replaced with a pickup out-put jack - although there is currently no pickup in the guitar. The finish is in great shape everywhere, although there is a small area of pickwear by the 'guard. The long and short of it is that this is a wonderful 50+ year old dreadnaught; in nearly crack-free original condition, that plays great and sounds awesome. They don't come around like this one too much any more. With non-original hard case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1912 Martin Style 00 Mandolin Serial #3508. How I wish all 94 year old Martins were in this kind of condition! This Mandolin is nearly perfect, with only the slightest signs of wear to the finish. Better still, it is perfectly playable! 9 Brazilian rosewood ribs, spruce top, bar-fretted ebony fingerboard with simple pearl dot inlays, original nickel-silver tuning machines and tailpiece, ebony bridge, and inlaid tortoise-shell pickguard. An understated but classy instrument. It is very playable with low action, and good fretwork, and sounds quite lovely. 13" scale, 1-1/8" nut. On consignment without case. SOLD More photos: Full Back detail

Main Photo	1956 Martin 00-17 Serial # 151849. Built until 1960, the 00-17 was the largest all-mahogany guitar that martin built in regular numbers until the reintroduction of the 15 series in the 1990's. The mahogany-topped 15 and 17 series instruments occupied the low-end of the martin line-up and featured very simple appointments and an absence of body bindings in order to keep the prices down. In 1956, this 00-17 sold for $95, $20 less than a 00-18, and half the price of a 000-21. Regardless, on the inside, you'd be hard-pressed to see any difference between this instrument and Martin's most expensive instruments. Martin built all its guitars the same - well - and the differences between expensive and inexpensive instruments were for the most part found only in the trim and appointment details of the guitar. Today, these largest-of-the-mahogany-bodied-Martins are sought after for their combination of a snappy and dry mahogany-top tone and the bigger bass response offered by the 00 body size. The instrument pictured here is a well maintained and all-original guitar. There are no cracks or areas of significant scratch wear, and the frets are in fine condition thanks likely to a fairly recent fret-dress. The tuning machines, nut, saddle and bridge-pins are all original, and the instrument shows no signs of any repairs. The tone is wonderfully well suited to a raggy-blues fingerstyle touch with mids that jump out of the bass lines, and fat melodic trebles. A bit of finish crazing on the headstock face, and two small areas of vinyl-strap syndrome on the back are all that detract from this instrument to our eyes. The action is currently set to a comfortable 6 to 8 64ths but cannot be lowered any further. The bridge is full height and it would be shameful to shave it down on a guitar in this fine and original condition. The guitar is sold with a recent hard shell case. On consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1957 Martin D-18 Serial # 150364. For the guitarist who is most concerned with vintage tone we offer this 1957 Martin D-18. 50's Martins are widely considered to be consistently some of the best guitars Martin ever built, and this guitar certainly fits the description well. A very wide open and woody dreadnaught, with powerful trebles and a succinct basses, this instrument does what D-18s are famous for. Overall in excellent condition, this guitar has been played and shows a fair number of dings, scratches and dents. There are no top cracks or loose or cracked braces, and the original bridge and bridge plate are in excellent condition. The back has a repaired 3 inch crack, and the treble side has an old and long-ago repaired crack that follows the grain from the upper bout to the heel of the neck. The neck-heel is crack-free. The neck has been professionally reset, and the frets dressed some time back. The action is perfect, and the guitar plays without buzz. There is plenty of room on the saddle to lower the action further should you desire. Original tuners, nut, bridge-pins, endpin, and all finish. A great instrument. Sold with non-original hard case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Side Crack detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1946 Martin 0-17 Here's a very clean and very lightweight all-mahogany 0-17. It is a particularly interesting instrument in that it displays certain rare features most likely due to the immediate post-war economic situation in the USA. Among these are brass frets, individual open-gear Kluson tuners with plastic buttons, Ebony nut; and perhaps most striking - a Gibson-sized large round neck. The neck reinforcement is the typical steel "T" bar, but this neck was likely built during the war when Martin was using an ebony insert for neck reinforcement as steel was in very short supply. In any case, it is a very comfortable guitar to play, and a beautiful guitar to listen too. The action is perfect, with a full-height bridge and a low-ish saddle. It's not had a neck set, but can easily go without one for some time to come. It has one repaired seam separation but is otherwise in crack-free excellent condition. Older chip-board case included On Consignment SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1939 D-18 Restoration This 39 D-18 came to us a while back in sad shape. It was very badly and unprofessionally refinished, had an ugly oversized bridge with incorrect bridge pin spacing, a replacement fingerboard with style 45 hexagonal abalone inlays, a 1970's - like huge rosewood bridgeplate, numerous cracks and old repairs, Grover tuners, and poorly fit nut. Additionally, the neck face under the fingerboard was badly damaged from the previous original fingerboard removal. So here's what we did: Removed the neck Removed the non-original fingerboard, and added a wedge-shape splice of matching mahogany to the face of the neck. Replaced the fingerboard and carved the vintage edge profile back into the neck. Installed vintage-accurate position dots on the face and side of the fingerboard Chipped away all the non-original finish (yes, chipped... it was that bad) Removed the oversized bridgeplate and bridge Fixed all the cracks and replaced the bridge plate with an accurately dimensioned new one of maple Clean-sanded the entire instrument, except the peg-head face which was original Stained and lacquered the guitar to have the right color and patina Made a new bridge that was as close to vintage specs as possible. Due to the numerous other oversized bridges that were on this guitar over time we were unable to put an accurate foot-print bridge on the guitar. In the end, the bridge used was roughly the same outline as a contemporary Martin bridge. We chose to not cover all the damage adjacent to the bridge with a large oversized bridge. Reset the neck Refretted the guitar Carved new bone nut and saddle Installed vintage replacement Gotoh tuners The instrument turned out great, and the owner was (needless to say) ecstatic about his new old Martin. SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Fretboard detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail Bridge detail

Main Photo	1966 Martin GS-70L Lefty! Serial #214400. Talk about rare! Martin electrics are not easy to come by, and Vintage Martin lefties are scarcer still; so you can imagine our surprise when this original left-handed Martin GT-70L walked into the shop! Martin records indicate that a grand total of 1 lefty GT-70 was ever made; and here it is. The instrument features a full-hollow laminate maple body, DeArmond pickups, bolt-on neck with a Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, trapeze tailpiece, and Kluson individual tuners. White body fingerboard and headstock bindings, aluminum bridge base, non-original tunematic bridge top, black plastic skirted knobs (which go to 9), and no pickguard (it's missing). The guitar has been set up in our shop, and plays quite well. It has a compressed Gretsch like tone, thanks to the combination of De Armonds and hollow body, and excels at country and funk styles. It's a pretty cool thing... With new hard shell case SOLD More photos: Front detail Back detail Headstock detail Full Front detail Full Back detail Tuners detail

Main Photo	1956 Martin 000-18 Serial # 147427. One of the first instruments completed in '56. A wonderfully well preserved guitar, with no cracks or significant wear; and completely original with the exception of the bone saddle, and frets 12 though 20. Sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and headstock overlay. Gorgeous light-brown tortoiseshell celluloid bindings and pickguard. Original tuners, ivory nut and black bridge pins. We have just completed a neck reset, fret dress (and partial upper refret, and built a new full-height aged bone saddle for this instrument. We've also cleated the underside of the pickguard's margin where the slightest hint of a crack was developing. This instrument'