Martin 00-18C Nylon String Guitar Natural, 1962 [USED]

Here we're looking at a Martin 00-18C Nylon String Guitar Natural, from July 1962. This model was built from 1962 to 1969 in response to the 'Folk Boom', and is essentially a renamed 00-18G, introduced in 1936.

These guitars have fan braced tops, tie block bridges and slotted pegheads. While these were promoted as 'Classical' models - hence the 'C' - the body size, soft-V neck profile and dovetail neck joint differ from traditional classical guitars. As were aimed at the 'Folk' market, strictly following classical conventions was not necessary and the soft-V neck profile was not an issue.

Overall, this guitar is in overall good physical and working condition. It has definitely been used as intended, with play wear and scratches to the top, finish wear to the back, and moderate to heavy fret wear in the low positions. The neck finish is worn through where the player's thumb rested behind the first fret, and the back finish is worn through at the edge of the bass side, upper bout. The saddle is low.

At some point, a small, likely clear plastic scratch plate was applied to the top, and was removed long ago; there is wear around the edges of the plate.

As a Style 18 guitar, the top is Spruce, the sides, back and neck are Mahogany, while the head plate, bridge and fingerboard are Rosewood. The binding and trim are simple, a single black layer around the top and back. Position markers are white dots on the edge of the fingerboard.

It plays well and sounds quite good, with clear separation between notes, plenty of bass and good representation throughout the harmonic range. It sounds like it has been played, with a fully developed voice.

This lovely guitar is sold without case, but any case that fits an 00 size guitar can be used.

As this example was built before 1969 when Martin's supplies ran out, all of the Rosewood used was sourced from Central America, particularly Brazil and consequently falls under CITES restrictions when crossing an international border. Brazil had imposed embargoes on raw Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) logs in 1967, and only builders or sellers with existing stocks continued to use or sell it.

This Martin 00-18C example dated to the first year of the model's production under this name, though not for the structure or construction of the guitar; the key differences are to the catalog and sales literature. Late in its production, the scale length increased from 25.276 inches (642 mm) to 26.375 inches (670mm), which was finally carried over to the 00-18C's replacement, the N-20.

The renaming from 'G' to 'C' refers to the string types - 'G' for Gut strings, often made from animal intestines and silk. Gut string availability dropped with the approach of WW2.

In close co-operation with Andres Segovia, Albert Augustine used DuPont's new nylon formulations (patented in 1935, released to market in 1939) to replace both gut and silk. DuPont refused to start making strings but did agree to provide Nylon materials to Augustine, and after many experiments commercial string production began in 1948. By the start of the 1960's, gut strings were uncommon and the 'C' for Classical was easier to for consumers to understand.

The Martin 00-18C was ultimately replaced by the Martin N-20, which had more traditional classical proportions (and the 'N' did stand for Nylon) with a 25.4 ultimately a longer, 26.375 (26 3/8th inch) scale length. The N-20 was made very famous by a fairly well known Texan named Willie Nelson, who also appeared in a first season episode of 'Monk', "Mr Monk and the Red-Headed Stranger" - many parts of which were filmed in Toronto.

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here

 

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DETAILS: 

• Instrument Model:  00-18C
• Instrument Manufacturer:  Martin 
• Instrument year:  1962
• Instrument Finish:  Natural
• Instrument Class:  Vintage
• Instrument serial number:  184033, built around 3rd week July 1962 at Nazareth PA
• Country of Origin: USA
• Instrument Condition: Good
• Playing Condition: Good
  
• Left/Right-handed 
• CITIES Documentation Required:  Yes
• Case included:  No
• Case original:  No
• Case Type: N/A
• Instrument Weight Imperial:   2.992 lbs
• Instrument Weight Metric:   1.36 kgs
• Scale Length Imperial:    25.2756 in
• Scale Length Metric:    642 mm
• Nut Width Imperial:    1.978 in
• Nut Width Metric:  50.15 mm
  
• Items in Case: N/A
• Consignment: Yes
• Product ID: 190203

 

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here