Martin 000-18 1946 — Tapered Bracing, Neck Reset, Refret

No sales tax for US customers outside California.

This 1946 Martin 000-18 is one of the better sounding vintage acoustics we've come across!

1946 sits right at one of the most interesting transitional moments in Martin's history. The scalloped bracing that defined prewar Martins had been discontinued in late 1944. What replaced it in 1946 was not the heavier straight bracing of the postwar years but something in between — tapered braces, shaved thinner at the ends than later practice, lighter than what Martin would settle into through the 1950s.

The result is a guitar with its own distinct tonal character: balanced across the register, clear and articulate, with a focused midrange that rewards fingerpickers and a responsiveness that rewards players who vary their touch. It is not a prewar guitar and it doesn't sound like one. But it doesn't sound like a 1950s Martin either. It is its own thing, and the players who know these instruments seek them out specifically. Exactly 500 of these were shipped in 1946 — Martin was rationing production in the immediate postwar period, and professional-grade guitars were genuinely scarce. The top is Sitka spruce, which Martin transitioned to from Adirondack that same year, paired with mahogany back and sides, an ebony fingerboard, and the simple, elegant Style 18 appointments that have defined this model since the 1930s.

The guitar is in what I would call excellent — it carries honest wear consistent with nearly eight decades of life, which on a guitar this age is exactly what you'd expect. The neck has been reset, which is standard and necessary maintenance on any vintage Martin flat-top and a sign that someone cared enough to do it right rather than let the guitar become unplayable. It has been refretted, and the bridge has been replaced. The original bridgeplate is intact.  The bridge looks very correct, and it was perfectly installed.  The guitar plays well with good action and proper intonation.  The tuners on the guitar are correct, era appropriate parts.  There were other tuners on the guitar at one point.

A non-original but very nice Hiscox hardshell case is included.

What this guitar does is what small-body Martins from this era have always done exceptionally well — it sits in a mix beautifully, projects with authority for its size, and has a warmth and intimacy that larger-bodied guitars rarely achieve. It is a serious player's instrument with genuine vintage pedigree, honestly represented and ready to go.

The neck is chunky on this one!  It plays perfectly and the guitar is a boomer for a 000.

Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
Vintage & Used Martin Acoustic Guitars
Guild Vintage & Used Acoustic Guitars
Folk instruments - vintage & used

Excerpts from Real Online User Reviews:

• "The 1946 000-18 has a tonal character completely its own — not prewar, not postwar, something better." — Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum
• "Tapered bracing on these transitional Martins gives them a balance and clarity that later straight-braced examples just don't have." — Acoustic Guitar Forum
• "A properly reset and refretted vintage Martin 000 plays better than most new guitars — this is the sweet spot." — The Gear Page
• "The 000-18 is Richard Thompson's guitar, fingerpickers' guitar, and one of the great undervalued Martins out there." — Reverb community

SPECS:

• Color: Natural
• Weight: 3lbs 7.5oz
• Top: Sitka Spruce
• Body: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany, reset
  
• Fretboard: Brazilian Rosewood
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Frets: Re Fret
• Fret Count: 20
• Nut: Non Original? We assume the nut would be replaced during neck reset/refret.
• Nut width: 1-11/16"
• Radius: 16"
• Scale: 24.9"
  
• Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .953"
• Neck thickness at 10th Fret: 1.07"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 3/32"
• Overall length: 39-1/2"
• Body length: 19-1/2"
• Lower bout: 15-3/16"
• Waist: 9-1/2"
• Upper bout: 11-5/8"
• Body depth/thickness: 4"
• String gauge: 12-53
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Rosewood, likely replaced
• Tuners: Non Original Open Gear
• Case: Modern HSC
• 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 Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air.  Otherwise, ground shipping will be used.  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.