Product Description

1929 was an excellent year for Martin guitars. The depression meant that output was low and that the Martin crew had lots of time to meticulously craft the instruments. Materials were the very best. Though it looks like it could be a 15 year old guitar, it actually has almost no relation in terms of even the smallest components; the glue (hide glue, same as used in the 1800s) used, the chemical composition of the finish, the first-growth woods (Adirondack spruce top and Honduran mahogany back and sides, the bar frets, the delicate, hand-scalloped interior bracing, the 12-fret body shape (vs. 14-fret neck joint body), wider necks, slotted headstock, grained ivoroid tuner buttons, no pickguard. This is a 12-fret-to-the-body guitar, as all Martins were until a few years later. 12 fret guitars have slightly longer bodies than 14 fret counterparts and get more bass response and "air" to the sound. The neck shape in '29 is something that we appreciate and consider Martin's best. There is a slight "V" that just feels great in the hand. The nut is original and wide, as all 12-fret Martins were. The 0-18 is a 13 1/2" wide bodied guitar and 1 13/16" wide fingerboard made of very high-grade dark ebony. New reproduction bridge and saddle, neck reset and a general cleaning and going-over. There was a repair on the treble side near the neck block that takes a minute to see and is not a distraction. Plenty of scratches and bumps but only one repaired crack, which is on the face above the sound hole and caused by a screwed in pick guard that was on the guitar at one time. There is still a very slight shadow from the guard. Bridgeplate is paper-thin original. Tuners and bridge pins original. Original bar frets in good shape. Tone is outstanding as would be somewhat expected. Great note separation with crystalline highs, and a far bigger sound than the small couch-friendly body would imply.