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Full-front view of a light-wood acoustic guitar with a dark pickguard, standing upright in an open, dark green velvet-lined hard case.
01 / 27Full-front view of a light-wood acoustic guitar with a dark pickguard, standing upright in an open, dark green velvet-lined hard case.
Full front view of a natural finish acoustic guitar with a dark pickguard, showing light wear and checking on the body.
02 / 27Full front view of a natural finish acoustic guitar with a dark pickguard, showing light wear and checking on the body.
Full rear view of the dark brown acoustic guitar, showing the headstock with six cream tuners and heavy finish checking on the body.
03 / 27Full rear view of the dark brown acoustic guitar, showing the headstock with six cream tuners and heavy finish checking on the body.
The guitar's dark brown back is shown, with extensive finish checking and scratches, especially on the lower bout.
04 / 27The guitar's dark brown back is shown, with extensive finish checking and scratches, especially on the lower bout.
The dark brown headstock, with six cream tuning pegs, shows visible finish wear and checking, with a cream nut and dark fretboard.
05 / 27The dark brown headstock, with six cream tuning pegs, shows visible finish wear and checking, with a cream nut and dark fretboard.
The guitar's dark brown headstock, viewed from behind, shows six cream-colored tuning pegs and visible finish checking.
06 / 27The guitar's dark brown headstock, viewed from behind, shows six cream-colored tuning pegs and visible finish checking.
The natural finish acoustic guitar is angled right, showing the light top, dark sides, black pickguard, and fretboard with dot inlays.
07 / 27The natural finish acoustic guitar is angled right, showing the light top, dark sides, black pickguard, and fretboard with dot inlays.
The natural finish acoustic guitar is angled from the upper left, showing its light top, dark sides, black pickguard, and bridge.
08 / 27The natural finish acoustic guitar is angled from the upper left, showing its light top, dark sides, black pickguard, and bridge.
The natural finish acoustic guitar is angled from the lower bout, showing a black pickguard, bridge, and heavy wear on the dark sides.
09 / 27The natural finish acoustic guitar is angled from the lower bout, showing a black pickguard, bridge, and heavy wear on the dark sides.
The acoustic guitar's light natural top and dark sides are angled, showing the pickguard, bridge, soundhole, and fretboard with wear.
10 / 27The acoustic guitar's light natural top and dark sides are angled, showing the pickguard, bridge, soundhole, and fretboard with wear.
The acoustic guitar's dark brown back and sides show extensive finish checking and wear, with the neck visible at the lower left.
11 / 27The acoustic guitar's dark brown back and sides show extensive finish checking and wear, with the neck visible at the lower left.
The dark brown acoustic guitar's back and side are visible, showing extensive finish checking and scratches across the surface.
12 / 27The dark brown acoustic guitar's back and side are visible, showing extensive finish checking and scratches across the surface.
The guitar's natural finish back and sides are visible, showing extensive wear, scratches, and finish checking across the surface.
13 / 27The guitar's natural finish back and sides are visible, showing extensive wear, scratches, and finish checking across the surface.
The guitar's dark brown back and side are angled, showing heavy finish wear, scratches, and some flaking, with the neck heel visible.
14 / 27The guitar's dark brown back and side are angled, showing heavy finish wear, scratches, and some flaking, with the neck heel visible.
Close-up of the guitar's dark brown neck heel and lower bout, showing finish checking, scratches, and small chips on the body.
15 / 27Close-up of the guitar's dark brown neck heel and lower bout, showing finish checking, scratches, and small chips on the body.
Close-up of the guitar's dark brown neck heel and body joint, showing significant finish wear, scratches, and a chipped binding.
16 / 27Close-up of the guitar's dark brown neck heel and body joint, showing significant finish wear, scratches, and a chipped binding.
Close-up of the guitar's natural finish body and dark fretboard with light frets and dot inlays, showing light wear and checking.
17 / 27Close-up of the guitar's natural finish body and dark fretboard with light frets and dot inlays, showing light wear and checking.
Close-up of the guitar's natural-finish body, showing the dark bridge, white saddle, six black bridge pins, and light-colored strings.
18 / 27Close-up of the guitar's natural-finish body, showing the dark bridge, white saddle, six black bridge pins, and light-colored strings.
Close-up of the guitar's dark brown back, showing extensive light-colored scratches and wear across the entire surface.
19 / 27Close-up of the guitar's dark brown back, showing extensive light-colored scratches and wear across the entire surface.
Close-up of the guitar's interior neck block, showing stamped numbers "00-18" and "85530" on the light brown wood.
20 / 27Close-up of the guitar's interior neck block, showing stamped numbers "00-18" and "85530" on the light brown wood.
Close-up of the dark fretboard and light frets, with six bronze strings running over a light-colored nut.
21 / 27Close-up of the dark fretboard and light frets, with six bronze strings running over a light-colored nut.
Close-up of the dark fretboard and bronze strings, showing the bone nut and first few frets with some wear and a side dot.
22 / 27Close-up of the dark fretboard and bronze strings, showing the bone nut and first few frets with some wear and a side dot.
Close-up of the dark fretboard and bronze strings, showing wear on the lower edge and a small dot inlay.
23 / 27Close-up of the dark fretboard and bronze strings, showing wear on the lower edge and a small dot inlay.
A digital caliper measures the guitar's nut width at 1.70 inches, showing the dark fretboard, light frets, and strings.
24 / 27A digital caliper measures the guitar's nut width at 1.70 inches, showing the dark fretboard, light frets, and strings.
A digital caliper measures the dark brown neck of the guitar, showing 0.84 on its display.
25 / 27A digital caliper measures the dark brown neck of the guitar, showing 0.84 on its display.
A digital caliper measures the string height above the fretboard, showing "0.98" on its display, against the guitar's dark brown body.
26 / 27A digital caliper measures the string height above the fretboard, showing "0.98" on its display, against the guitar's dark brown body.
A digital scale shows "2.10" in pounds, with the guitar's dark brown body partially visible at the top.
27 / 27A digital scale shows "2.10" in pounds, with the guitar's dark brown body partially visible at the top.

Martin

1943 Martin 00-18 Flat Top Natural "War Time Era" w/SSC

$17,995.00

Available

  • Year1943
  • ConditionVery Good
  • StoreSherman Oaks
  • Casesoft case
Make an offer Sell one like this

Specifications

Instrument

Year
1943
Model
Martin 00-18 Flat Top Natural "War Time Era" w/SSC
Condition
Very Good
Store
Sherman Oaks

Measurements

Nut width (in)
1.7
Neck depth, 1st fret (in)
0.84
Weight
2lbs 10oz

Construction

Body
Mahogany
Top
Adirondack Spruce
Neck
Mahogany
Fingerboard
Rosewood
Frets
Frets Are Low, But In Good Playable Condition

Hardware & electronics

Tuners
Low E-String Tuner Button Shows Some Shrinking

Case

Case
soft case

Description

1943 Martin 00-18 Flat Top Natural "War Time Era" w/SSC

Original "War Time" Martin Flat Top Guitar

Adirondack Spruce Top Shows Cosmetic Playwear Throughout Including Checking, Scratches, Marks And Dings (As Shown)

Professionally Reset Bridge

Original Pickguard Shows Minor Signs Of Shrinking And Cosmetic Cracks In Wood At Lower Bout (As Shown)

Non-Original Bridge Pins

Smaller Top Repair At Upper Side On Lower Bout, Crack Is Stable And Does Not Affect Playability (Please See Photos)

Mahogany Back And Sides Show Moderate Playwear Including Scratch Marks On Back (See Photos)

Professionally Reset Mahogany Neck With Rosewood Fretboard 

Fretboard Shows Some Dents In "Cowboy" Position Up To 3rd Fret

The Guitar Plays Smoothly With Low Action

Original Tuners 

Neck Depth At 10th Fret: .98"

Guitar Comes With Period Correct Soft Shell Case (Please See Photos)

The 1943 Martin 00-18 is a rare and highly sought-after gem from the golden era of American guitar craftsmanship. Built during World War II, this instrument showcases Martin’s ingenuity and commitment to quality even amid material shortages. Featuring a solid mahogany back and sides paired with a resonant Adirondack spruce top (or early Sitka on some), the 00-18 delivers a warm, articulate voice with remarkable balance and projection—perfect for fingerstyle, folk, or light strumming. Its comfortable 14-fret, small-body design offers exceptional playability, while period-specific details like tortoiseshell celluloid binding and a teardrop pickguard exude vintage charm. Wartime construction, including non-scalloped braces and the absence of an adjustable truss rod, makes this model especially collectible. With its rich tonal palette and historical significance, the 1943 00-18 isn’t just an instrument—it’s a living piece of music history, ideal for discerning players and serious collectors alike.

 

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