1947 Martin 00-18 W/ Original Geib Case!.

Video: https://youtu.be/KSoyvlYbLbc

Up for sale is this wonderful 1947 Martin 00-18. This is still a bit of a sleeper model which many actually prefer to the 000-18.

The guitar comes with the original and very rare Geib case!

This one has some wear which can’t be hidden, but only reinforces what a great sounding and playing guitar it is. It clearly saw use as it was intended! And for good reason. This bird can sing!

This is a smaller body guitar, so you’re not going to thunder out basslines as if it were a dreadnought. But that’s not what these are made for. You get sparkling and chimey tones with mid range and clear highs. It’s the perfect acoustic to play with an ensemble or for recording.

The guitar has just received all the necessary servicing for an instrument that’s 75 years old. A neck reset was just performed, all the braces were checked and re-glued as needed. A new saddle was also cut. My luthier left at tall so there’s plenty of room to adjust the action depending on your playing style. Previously it looks like the guitar may have had a bridge reglue or some other bridge work done. But it has just been re-glued again and there is no lifting whatsoever.

The top is crack free. The dark “lines” you see are not cracks. They’re actually deeper scratches. Let’s just say it adds character :-).

There is a good deal of wear on the back, and a few repaired cracks near the bottom edge. Everything glued up nicely, including the cracks themselves and bracing. Because the guitar sat in the case and need of these repairs for some time the wood is a little “wavy “in that area but it is all solid and functioning properly. The bridge pins are reproductions.

I know many of us prefer the pristine closet queens that we can hang on the wall to impress our friends that they made marvel at our possessions. I certainly love those ones myself. The fact that a guitar is in great shape is not necessarily proof that it is a bad player or a poor sounding one. Sometimes folks just never learned to use the instrument.

But these guitars were intended to be played. Finding an old gem like this one that’s been put through its paces is equally fun and enjoyable. This one is an example you won’t be afraid to bring to the studio or take with you on the road. It will be used as its makers intended.

I have done a little to clean this guitar. There is a small area on the back where there is some gunk that would easily polish off. Likewise on the side there’s the remnants of some masking tape where I think the original owner takes some song lyrics. This could come off very easily with a little TLC. But I think I like it so I’ve left it as it is.

All set up and ready to go right out of the case!

Ships worldwide but I will not falsify customs forms so please don’t ask me to do that.