C. F. Martin 00-17 Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1957)

C. F. Martin 00-17 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1957), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 155192, natural lacquer finish, Mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, hard shell case.

This is an extremely nicely preserved Martin 00-17 from 1957, just past its 60th birthday! The 00-17 was the largest and most expensive of the all-mahogany Martins of the 1950s, but carried only minimal decoration with no binding and small dot fingerboard inlay. Typical features for this year include the 5-ply sound hole ring, small straight rosewood bridge, and tortoise celluloid pickguard.

These mahogany-top guitars have a distinctive ringing tone and are generally known as excellent fingerpickers. The 00-17 also records easily and makes for an excellent singer-songwriter's instrument as well as a great all-around choice in a vintage Martin that won't break the bank.
 
Overall length is 38 13/16 in. (98.6 cm.), 14 1/4 in. (36.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).

Overall a very clean guitar, and it appears all original except the endpin (even the old bridgepins!). There is a little wear through the finish on the lower sound hole rim and a bit of scuffing below that. Apart from that, the guitar shows only some very minimal playwear, with small dings and dents mostly along the edges. The frets show a touch of wear in the lower positions but playability is excellent, and the sound is both bright and even. Another really nice all-mahogany Martin, housed in a more modern HSC. Excellent + Condition.

Item # 8412
 
This item has been sold.


 
Click on a thumbnail above for a detailed view.