1953 Martin 00-18

In 1934, the 14-fret 00-18 rolled out of Nazareth, Pennsylvania. In those days, this charming small-body was overshadowed by louder 000s and Dreadnoughts. But in the decades since, many players have discovered the advantages of this comfortable, responsive, and well-balanced small-body Martin. This 00-18 is one of 701 made in 1953. This 00-18 was produced during the "mystery top" era—a short period of time when some historians argue Martin used a stash of Red Spruce from Vermont instead of Sitka Spruce from the Northwest. On this 00-18, the top shows wider grain and darker, redder coloring than you typically find on Sitka. It also has the powerful, cutting sound we might associate with Red Spruce. To be fair, it’s impossible to prove what species of Spruce this is without testing a sample in a lab. And considering how good this Martin sounds, it probably doesn't matter too much! This 1953 00-18 has been played over the years, but it finds us in nice structural condition with a playable