1958 Martin 0-15 Flattop Guitar

This is a local customer's 0-15 and he dropped it off some time back to get sorted-out. It's a lively, lovely, comfortable guitar and will do both flatpicking and fingerpicking with aplomb but, like a lot of 0-size instruments that are lightly-built, if driven a little too hard, its sound flattens-out a bit under duress. Fortunately, most folks who own these guitars don't intend to whack them the same way one would a dreadnought, so we're on safe ground, methinks!

I like how this one has enough "love bites" to its looks that it feels friendly in the hand and unassuming. Someone evidently enjoyed it a lot during its life, too, as it has the evidence of a life well-lived throughout its finish and fretboard.

One little note -- the saddle was originally "through-cut" but I sealed the ends off to make this drop-in adjustable for its owner. That's just a nod to practicality that can easily be reversed if desired.

Repairs included: a neck reset, fret level/dress, new saddle, replacement (vintage) tuners, cleaning, etc.


Weight: 3 lbs 6 oz

Scale length: 24 7/8"

Nut width: 1 11/16"

Neck shape: medium-full C/soft V

Board radius: 20"

Body width: 13 1/2"

Body depth: 4 1/2"


Top wood: solid mahogany

Back & sides wood: solid mahogany

Bracing type: x

Bridge: rosewood

Fretboard: rosewood

Neck wood: mahogany

Action height at 12th fret:
3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
String gauges: 52w, 40w, 30w, 22w, 16, 12

Truss rod: non-adjustable

Neck relief: straight

Fret style: medium-lower


Condition notes: it has some larger cracks on the top and some smaller ones on the sides. There's a ton of general minor wear and tear (scratches, scuffs, finish weather-checking, etc.) throughout. Someone fit backwards-installed Grover Rotomatic tuners on it at some point but I removed those and fit some almost-correct, parts-bin period tuners on it instead.

















Comments

Axie N said…
I’m Django’s Mom. Axie N. The Martin was mine from 1970 to about 2001. You’re correct, I loved the old dear. My Mom gave her to me Christmas 1970. After my first beloved little Goya was stollen. She’d bought it off a friend, in Maryland who’s son had taken it to Africa for a couple of years in the Peace Corps. When I got her she had a flap of zebra skin glued diagonally across the front of her lower face, as a kind of rough pick guard. I thought it cool, but it muted her sound, so I removed it. But always new that guitar was better traveled than I’d ever be. I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to see and hear her restored so thoughtfully, respecting her character, with life’s minor inevitable dings. Thanks ever so..
Axie N.
Barbara Nimmo said…
It's always a treat to learn about the history and craftsmanship behind these timeless instruments!
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