1954 Martin 00-18 Acoustic Guitar – Used

This Martin 00-18 has been in the same family since it was purchased new in 1954. The top shows surface wear you can see in the photos, plus wear to the finish on back and lower edge of body, signs that this guitar has been played a lot in its life. And once you play it you’ll see why, as it has the perfect combination of playability and warm, balanced tone. Maybe some folks could guess in a blindfold test that they’re hearing a 00-18 and not a 000-18, but we’d never risk such a bet (00 models have lighter top braces than 000 models and so have more bass response than their size suggests)

This guitar had a recent neck reset and refret here at Gryphon, so it plays much like a new guitar. We also reglued the pickguard, which was coming loose at the edges. There is a well-repaired puncture wound to bass side lower bout that was was done ages ago, not by Gryphon, and apparently the original finish on the sides was lightly oversprayed as part of touching up that area. The neck barrel was probably oversprayed at the same time, but these finish repairs were done long long ago and have aged gracefully in the years since. It still has its original tuners, pickguard, and bridge. All of the interior bracing is original and untouched including the thin maple bridge plate. Comes in a new TKL case.