Ballpark value of a vintage Martin

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cyrokk
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Cyrokk

Cyrokk

Farce of Nature
It is a 1947 style 18 flat top in very good condition. I know it isn't as valueable as the pre-war Martins, but I am still curious as to what price it would fetch if it were for sale. Any one have a general idea? Couldnt find a site that would fess up a price, and ebay surprisingly has little in Martin guitars at the moment.

TIA,

Cy
 
Gruhn's will appraise it for $35.

In the meantime, you're in $ 6K - 10K territory.

I'll be happy to test drive it for a year or two if you'd like.
 
Thanks Tree!

I played it for the first time yesterday. It was originally my grandfather's and my dad gave it to me. Even with 30+ year old strings it feels and sounds excellent. I just wanted a general price range and have no plans on selling it.

I assure you it will be put to good use. ;)
 
Do you have a Martin repair guy nearby? That guitar is worth having someone very knowledgeable go through it and do an inventory of what needs fixing and what can be adjusted - before anything is done.

Congratulations, Bro - you have one of the more desirable Martins around. Get that baby set up - gently - with light strings or, at the most, bluegrass weight (mixed light and medium) strings, never, never heavier than that - and play the heck out of it.

Tell you what: Next summer I'll teach you Beaumont Rag at the jamfest.

:)


P.S. Go out to Borders and get yourself this:

ACOUSTIC GUITAR OWNER'S MANUAL
 
The current blue book value for an excellent condition 1947 D-18 is $5000.00, for an average condition 1947 D-18 is $4000.00.

Make sure you keep that guitar humidified. It is coming into heating season. The rule is, if your heat is on, humidify your guitar. We recommend you keep the guitar in the case, use the Lifeguard soundhole humidifier, and get a little travel soap dish and put a damp sponge in it. Put this in the case, right up under the peghead. The double humidity will insure your guitar does not crack or shrink.

Make sure to get that guitar to a good repair shop. First of all, if they are any good their eyes will pop out (we all love cool guitars), but also, if the strings where 30 years old, it can almost certainly be made to play better.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Last edited:
Treeline said:

Congratulations, Bro - you have one of the more desirable Martins around. Get that baby set up - gently - with light strings or, at the most, bluegrass weight (mixed light and medium) strings, never, never heavier than that - and play the heck out of it.
Click to expand...


That is a non-scalloped braced guitar. It can take mediums no problem, but you should NEVER put heavies on any acoustic guitar.


Another guitar owner’s manual:

Frets.com


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Thanks for all the advice!

I am going to call some shops tomorrow and see if I can find someone qualified to set it up correctly.

Incidentally, this isn't a D-18, but rather a "style 18" (according to the site I found). The model number above the serial number reads "000-18".

Thanks for the great tips on keeping the guitar humidified, Light. I'll be giving it plenty of TLC.

Cy
 
Well, personally, I think an OOO is a much cooler guitar than a D, but that is a personal bias. Most people do not seem to agree with me. Change the numbers I said earlier to $3000 for excellent condition, and $2000 for average.

Just a quick lesson in Martin model numbers. Bear in mind that there are many exceptions. The part of the model number before the hyphen denotes the size and shape of the body. The part of the number after the hyphen denotes the style, which includes the type of wood used on the back and sides, the grading of the wood, and the decorative elements (purfling vs. pearl, as well as how extensive the pearl is). So, for instance, a D-45 is a Dreadnaught with a two piece rosewood back and side, best quality materials, ebony bridge and fingerboard, cream binding, pearl on the fingerboard and peghead, and pearl purfling on the top back and sides.

A O-28 is a parlor guitar with two piece rosewood back and sides, ebony bridge and fingerboard, black and white purfling (if it is old enough, it would be herringbone), and a decal on the peghead.

A OOO-18 is what I would call a concert sized guitar with a mahogany back and sides, a rosewood bridge and fingerboard, black binding, simple black and white purfling, and a decal on the peghead.

A C after the style number denotes a cutaway (a recent development), an S after the hyphen means it is a twelve fret guitar and has a slot peghead. An H before a D means it is has herringbone purfling and forward shifted scalloped bracing.

At any rate, I personally love mahogany guitars, and I love midsize and small guitars. To my mind, that is one hell of a cool guitar you've got there. Enjoy it.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Very cool guitar. I have a '55 000-18. Don't know the value but I love the Grand Concert body style. Smaller than a Dreadnaught with a wonderful tone.
 
i'm jealous! i wish my grandfather had played guitar (and a martin in particular!) so i could have one as a family heirloom!

000-18's are indeed a little less valuable on the used market as has been noted, but as long as you're gonna play it and enjoy the history within the guitar, it doesn't really matter what it's worth to someone else--it's priceless to you.

obviously, the difference between the 18 and the 28 series is the fact that the 18s were made with mahogany and the 28s with brazilian rosewood. definitely a great fingerstyle guitar or even a nice bluegrass one--the 'hog will help it cut through a jam session real nicely.

i'm not sure you know, but if you take the serial number of the guitar (you can find it on the neck block, if you shine a small light up inside there), you can check out <http://www.martinguitar.com/history/dating.html> and see just exactly when it was made.


and i second the tip to check out <www.frets.com>! Frank's created a HELL of a resource for us!


congrats again, and don't ever sell that guitar. :)


wade
happy owner of a 2001 D15 and looking for a pre-69 D28 (whenever the wife'll let me buy it, of course)
 
Track Rat said:
Very cool guitar. I have a '55 000-18. Don't know the value but I love the Grand Concert body style. Smaller than a Dreadnaught with a wonderful tone.
Click to expand...

A 1955 is the same price range as the 1947, $2000 for average condition, and $3000 for excellent condition.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Thanks again for the great info Light! :)

And don't worry mrface, I am the guitar's final owner.
 
That is a great guitar!

. . . all good advise here - and my 2 cents?

The more you play it, the better it will sound.

Cool - and enjoy!
 
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