1937 Martin 00-18 Shade Top

John Shults

Posted on January 29 2021

1937 Martin 00-18 Shade top Dark Top Sunburst guitar

 

This clean 1937 Martin 00-18 shade top came in recently from the the grandson of its original owner (now sold - thank you!). It's a fabulous example of what Martin's catalog called a "dark top" finish which was applied at no additional charge. This beautifully preserved example still has its original yellow hang tag, catalog, chip board case, and picture with its original owner.

I'm always a vintage Martin guitar buyer but I am especially looking to buy shadetop finished Martin guitars from the 1930s, 1950s, and 1950s. You can contact me here to sell a vintage Martin guitar

1937 Martin catalog, yellow square hang tag, picture with original owner

This vintage 1937 Martin 00-18 dark top has survived in amazing unmodified condition. I purchased the guitar from the grandson and great grandson of its original owner in Elkhart, Indiana. It was a long drive but I was happy to be able to acquire the guitar! After the cash was exchanged, we paused for a bit to commemorate the occasion. 

Vintage Martin guitar buyer 1930s 1940s


Martin's 00-18 model features a 14 5/16" wide body with Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides, 24 3/4" scale length, and Ebony fretboard and bridge until transitioning to Rosewood a few years later. The fretboard is simply adorned with pearl fretboard markers decreasing in size on the 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and 15th fret. The body is bound in a feaux tortoise shell binding. The peghead features a Rosewood overlay with simple gold CF Martin & Co logo. Many 00-18 guitar were made with the typical natural finish and very few were ordered dark top at no additional charge. You can check out a natural finish 00-18 here: 1943 Martin 00-18.


vintage 1937 Martin 00-18 shade top dark top guitar

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