Martin (I was told it is a D-50) serial # 00-17 / 79335

by Nancy Mowry
(Marysville CA, USA)

Can you tell me when it was made? It is a small (or 3/4) size. Has wear & scratches to the finish. A small crack was repaired about 30 or 40 years ago & I have been told by a music store owner that it is so minor that it will have very little effect on the value. It still sounds wonderful.

Hi, Nancy--

The serial number indicates that your guitar was manufactured in late 1941.

It is not a D-50.The D-50 is current manufacture and sells for $50,000.

The 00-17 is actually the model number and not a part of the serial number.

Here is what the Blue Book says:


00-17 SECOND VERSION
- Grand Concert body style, mahogany top, back, and sides, round soundhole with three thin W/B/W rings, no binding, thin black back stripe, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret (1930-34) or 14/20-fret (1934-1960, 1982-88) rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, slotted headstock (1930-34) or solid headstock (1934-1960, 1982-88), three-per-side open-style tuners (1930-34) or regular tuners (1934-1960, 1982-88), rectangular rosewood bridge, no pickguard (1930-34), tortoise pickguard (1932-1960), or black pickguard (1982-88), available in Natural finish, total production of 13,407 instruments, mfg. 1930-1960, 1982-88.

1930-1945

Excellent $2,200 - 2,550

Average $1,600 - 1,850

Sounds like a nice little guitar!
Lynne