1952 Martin 00-18 Acoustic Guitar Natural

Bay Area Vintage Guitars proudly presents the 1952 Martin 00-18, a guitar that needs no introduction to Martin enthusiasts. Renowned for its warm, balanced tone and comfortable size, this versatile instrument is a favorite across various playing styles and genres.

Over the years, the 00 18 has been played by countless artists, including Elvis Presley, Doc Watson, Paul Simon, Peter Rowan, and Jerry Garcia. Even Kurt Cobain was known to have used a 00-18!

The 00-18 has a charm all its own, beginning with the choice of Mahogany for the body wood. At one time, some people believed that Mahogany, compared to Rosewood, was an inferior tonewood for acoustic guitars. Nothing could be further from the truth, however.

The best way to describe this 00-18 sound is a rich midrange with a dash of sparkle on top. When playing the right chords, I recently played it with another guitarist, and it had Mandolin tones.

The 00-18 has a Spruce top. Martin doesn't say which kind of Spruce, but it's most likely Sitka, as that is the most widely available quality top wood for acoustic guitars. The top has Martin's classic X-bracing, partly responsible for the legendary "Martin Sound."

A dream instrument for many, the 00-18 is famous for its simplicity, easy playability, and classic sound. This 00-18 sounds like a Martin but has an intimate, graceful feel to it. We can see why this is considered an excellent songwriting guitar with a compact, cozy, warm tone and friendly shape.

The short scale and small—to medium-sized body make it simple and easy to play. This 1952 model came from a well-known guitarist who has owned it for many years. It is in very playable condition with beautiful signs of age, new frets, and a very good repair due to a drop on the strap button on the bottom (see pictures of the interior and exterior of the repairs). This repair doesn't affect the tone and clarity of this classic and beautiful guitar.

It comes with a hardshell case.

NOTE: The photos are of the actual guitar being sold, so please use them as a reference when making your decision. The guitar is sold as-is.

The setup on any guitar is subjective & a matter of a player's taste, which varies for every player. While each instrument we sell is set up as playable, that set-up may not be precise to your particular taste right out of the box. As with any stringed instrument) you should expect to possibly make adjustments to the action, string gauges, etc., to suit your exact tastes.

Please reach out to us with questions.

Ships to the continental U.S.