Martin 000-18 Serial # 110094

by Dave
(Missouri - "but near Kansas!")

I bought this Martin about 30 years ago. At the time I got the impression that it was made in the late 40's but that doesn't match the serial #. It plays wonderfully, and though I rarely play it any more, whenever I do pull it out of the case it's inevitably right in tune (I had heard you shouldn't keep the steel strings tuned/tight all the time like that, but it's what I've done for about 3 decades). It does have wear, scuffs, and surface scratches - see photo. I'm not sure if it has had any repairs other than I had a guitar shop do some basic work on it about 20 years ago and can't remember what they did.

My son wants to take it with him to college and let me use his 3-year old Yamaha. I'm thinking that's not a good idea - depending on what you can tell me about its value of course! Thanks so much. Dave from Kansas City area.

ANSWER

Hi, Dave--

Your guitar was manufactured in 1949.

Here is the general info:

000-18
- Grand Auditorium body style, solid spruce top, Brazilian rosewood (1911-17) or mahogany (1918-present) back and sides, round soundhole with three-stripe rosette (1/9/1 grouping between 1911 and the mid-1930s, inlaid 1/9/1 grouping between the mid-1930s and 1988, and 5/9/5 grouping since 1988), five-ply top binding, single ply back binding with rosewood (1911-1932), black (1932-26, 1966-present), or tortoise (1936-1966) outer layer, black back stripe, cedar (1911-16) or mahogany (1916-present) neck, 12/19-fret (1911-1934) or 14/20-fret (1934-present) ebony fingerboard with Style 28 pearl dot inlays, slotted (1911-1934) or solid (1934-present) headstock with rosewood overlay and raised gold foil logo, three-per-side brass tuners with ivory buttons (1911-1934) or regular tuners (1934-present), ebony rectangular (1911-1929) or belly (1929-present) bridge, black bridge pins with pearl dots, no pickguard (1911-1932), tortoise pickguard (1932-1966), or black pickguard (1966-present), available in Natural finish, 24.9 in. scale, mfg. 1911-present.

The pricing info:

1945-1949

Excellent $5,750 - 7,000
Average $4,000 - 5,000

Hope this helps with your decision. Personally, I would not let the guitar leave my possession--especially in exchange for a Yamaha of any age or description.

Lynne