1929 Martin 0-18T Tenor Guitar

While I've worked on lots of '50s and '60s 0-18T models both for sale and just "coming in for work," it's rare to have an early 0-18T in the shop. There are weird "transitional" features in Martin's tenor models from this time and the upper bout of this guy is a lot narrower and curvier than later 0-18Ts which look more like "squashed 0-size" guitars. This haas a more pear-like shape that recalls National tenor models, in a sense, and has lines closer to the 5-17T models of the same era. Its build is extremely light and it has scalloped x-bracing under the hood and a 23" scale.

This one is owned by a local player and it needed a neck reset (which I gave it). Ancel made a new bridge for it in the style of the cracked-up original and then leveled/dressed the frets, fit a new saddle, and set it up. I'm proud of his work on the bridge -- its' really quite close in shape to the original, which is tricky to pull-off because the originals are so thin. I cut the saddle slot, though, and am responsible for the non-original-looking drop-in slot (I like practicality for the owner, especially since a giant aftermarket pickguard is affixed to it).

We set it up for GDAE octave mandolin-style stringing but there's no reason it can't be restrung and adjusted however someone wants to play it. Per the usual for the time, the top is solid spruce, the back and sides and neck are solid mahogany, and the board and bridge are ebony. It has rosewood binding.