1928 Martin 1-17P Plectrum Guitar

Overview: I've been fortunate to have had a number of 1-17P plectrum models in the shop as well as a 1-28P, too. These guitars are so strange and wonderful and, these days, unless you come from the plectrum banjo world and want a doubling-on instrument, they serve a niche role for the curious and adventurous. The secret of the design is light bracing, an almost-27" scale length, and 15 frets free of the body. This gives a sustained, clean, and lush, almost chorus-y, reverb-y sound compared to, say, a tenor guitar version of the same (or similar) model.

If you're into retuning to modal and open tunings, all sorts of fun can be had with this sort-of sound. We've got this currently strung DGBE (in the video) and using lightish banjo-style gauges (with a plain "G"), but it can be restrung a little heavier for traditional CGBD tuning or even heavier for other tunings (I've restrung these for CGDA like a mandocello on the low side and GDAE like a bouzouki/octave mandolin and all variations sound great). I like these a ton using the GDAE pitches but tuned modal to GDGD -- where you can then use it with a capo to get around into various folk keys.

Anyhow, it's a science lab for the fretted-curious, I say, though it definitely does the "trad plectrum banjo backup" thing as well.

Repairs included: Jose leveled and dressed the frets and made a new, bone, compensated saddle for it. It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 2 lbs 7 oz
• Scale length: 26 7/8"
• Nut width: 1 1/4"
• Neck shape: medium soft V/C
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: 0.86"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.93"
• Body width: 13"
• Body depth: 4 1/8"
• Top wood: solid mahogany
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: x
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: hair-over 1/16" bass and 1/16" treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 24w, 16, 12, 9 for DGBE tuning
• Truss rod: non-adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: narrower/lower

Condition notes: It's original throughout except for the bridge pins, endpin, and saddle. There are light scratches, scuffs, and whatnot here and there throughout the finish as well as the usual weather-check/fine-line crackle in the finish, too. I'm not finding any cracks. There's some yellow-glue runoff at the bottom of the neckblock and I'm unsure why it's there -- perhaps an old brace reglue at some point?

It comes with: It has a '70s-style Martin hard case.

Consignor tag: AXBD