Martin 0-21 Acoustic Guitar 1930 – 1 of Only 103 Made in 1930

No sales tax for customers outside California.

I have found myself to be very lucky when it comes to finding vintage Martin guitars.  This one is truly special, and its gonna hurt to see it go. 

The guitar came to us needing work, as most nearly 100 year old acoustic guitars do.  The bridge had been sanded some to drop the action, so the bridge was appropriately replaced, along with a really nice, hand-shaped bone, intonation-compensated saddle.  The installation is super clean, and the original bridge and saddle are included with the guitar.  The original bridge plate is intact.

The neck was reset, applied at the perfect angle with a tailored shim under the fretboard extension.  A refret was also performed with era-appropriate bar frets.  

There was a back seam separation on the lower edge of the guitar, and a section of Brazilian rosewood binding was in tough shape.  A beautifully matched piece of old Brazilian was added and the area was shored up.  A few cracks, quite minor for a guitar this old that has obviously been loved and played, were expertly repaired.

The tone that this little beauty emits is unbelievable.  It plays effortlessly as well.  The bottom end is much more present than you might think, while remaining manageable and within balance.  Everything just jumps out of this guitar!

The finish is very much original with the smallest area of overspray over the repaired binding area.  The tuners are original and they work amazingly well.  The endpin is a replacement - a vintage one I had in my stash.

The guitar came to us in a non-original case.  We have paired it with a slightly oversized, new hardshell case for safe transport.

Built during the prewar golden age of Martin craftsmanship, it features a solid Adirondack spruce top and stunning straight-grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides. The 0-size body delivers a remarkably balanced voice—focused mids, shimmering trebles, and a surprisingly resonant low end that projects beautifully for its size.

The 12-fret mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard and bar frets offers a comfortable, authentic prewar playing feel. Tone and resonance are enhanced by the delicate scalloped bracing and hide-glue construction that define this period of Martin’s output. Every note rings with clarity, warmth, and detail—making this instrument ideal for fingerstyle and recording applications.

Some real online user forum comments on other Martin 0-21s from the period:

• “Tone that only 90-year-old wood can give.” – The Gear Page
• “Perfect for fingerstyle—rich and balanced.” – Acoustic Guitar Forum
• “Pure prewar Martin magic in a small body.” – UMGF
• “The craftsmanship is beyond words.” – Reddit r/Guitar
• “Every note blooms with warmth and clarity.” – Harmony Central

Specs:

• Color: Natural
• Weight: 3lbs 5.5oz
• Top: Adirondack Spruce
• Body: Solid Brazilian Rosewood
• Neck: Mahogany, fresh neck reset
  
• Fretboard: Ebony
• Inlays: Abalone "slotted diamond"
• Frets: ReFret
• Fret Count: 20
• Nut: Original
• Nut width: 1-13/16"
• Radius: No Radius/Flat
• Scale: 24-3/4"
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .86"
• Neck thickness at 10th Fret: .95"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Overall length: 37-5/8"
• Body length: 19-1/8"
• Lower bout: 13-5/8"
• Waist: 8-1/8"
• Upper bout: 9-5/8"
• Body depth/thickness: 4-1/4"
• String gauge: 12-56
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Replaced during neck reset, original included
• String Spacing at Bridge: 2-3/8"
• Tuners: Original
• Case: Modern Hard Shell
• Notes: 

Shipping policy:

There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site.  Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver.  For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for these Eastern states and shipment will be made by UPS three-day-air.  Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions.  If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com.  Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.