1956 Martin 00-18

Nearly 70 years old, this lovely guitar has aged gracefully, both in appearance and in sound. It has that unmistakable vintage Martin voice: woody, warm, dry, and beautifully balanced, with a sweetness and responsiveness that only decades of aging bring out.

Equally impressive is its condition, remarkably well-preserved, with no cracks or splits. The frets have plenty of life remaining, the action is quite comfortable, and the saddle still has good height above the bridge. Like other Martins of this era, it features a non-adjustable neck reinforcement rather than a modern adjustable truss rod. There’s a slight belly behind the bridge, not unusual for a guitar of this vintage, nothing excessive.

The smaller 00 body is comfortable to hold and play, with an intimate, articulate voice that’s particularly rewarding for fingerstyle playing.

All told, this is a beautiful, honest, wonderfully preserved vintage Martin with decades of music already behind it and plenty more still ahead.

Weight: 3 lbs, 10 oz