Martin's groundbreaking Retro Series represents the most significant advancement of our era in amplified acoustic sound. Based upon a beautiful 1940 14-fret 000-18 "donor" guitar from the Martin Museum collection, this 24.9" short-scale model produces clear and expressive response for stage or studio use. It features a solid Sitka spruce with solid genuine mahogany back and sides, scalloped "X" top bracing, and solid black ebony fingerboard with an Old Style 18 rosette and (green abalone)Boltaron fingerboard inlays. Other appointments include a modified low oval profile neck with Performance Artist taper, Grover nickel V97-18NA Sta Tite tuning machines, a 1930s style belly with drop-in saddle bridge style, a Delmar Tortoise pickguard, and dovetail neck joint.
With modern performance and playability, the 000-18E Retro offers the visual and tonal integrity of the mahogany auditorium guitars of the pre-war era.
Includes 433 hardshell case.
Construction: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
Body size: 000-14 Fret
Top: Soild SItka spruce
Rosette: Old Style 18
Top Bracing Pattern: Standard "X" Scalloped
Top Braces: Solid Sitka spruce 1/4"
Back Material: Solid genuine mahogany
Back Purfling: Style 18
Side Material: Solid genuine mahogany
Binding: Tortoise brown
Top Inlay Style: Multiple Black/White Boltaron
Neck Material: Select Hardwood
Neck Shape: Modified Low Oval Profile with Performing Artist Taper
Nut Material: Bone
Headstock: Solid/Square Taper
Headplate: Solid East Indiean rosewood
Heelcap: Solid black ebony
Fingerboard Material: Soild black ebony
Scale Length: 24.9"
# of Frets: 20 (14 clear)
Fingerboard Width at Nut: 1-3/4"
Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2-1/8"
Fingerboard Position Inlays: Old Style 18 - green abalone
Finish Back & Sides: Polished Gloss
Finish Top: Polished Gloss with Aging Toner
Finish Neck: Satin
Bridge Material: Solid black ebony
Bridge Style: 1930s style belly with drop-in saddle
Bridge String Spacing: 2-3/16"
Saddle: 16" radius/compensated/white tusq
Tuning Machines: Grover Nickel V97-18NA Sta Tite
Recommended Strings: Martin SP Lifespan Phosphor Bronze Light Gauge (MSP7100)
Bridge & End Pins: Black with white inlay
Pickguard: Delmar Tortoise color
Case: 433 Hardshell
Electronics: Fishman F1 Aura Plus
Order this beautiful Martin today!
Custom Guitar's Friend Gold Coverage
Gold Coverage goes above and beyond the manufacturer's warranty to protect your gear from unexpected breakdowns, accidental damage from handling
and failures. This plan covers your product for one, two, three or up to five years from your date of purchase, costs just pennies per day and gives you a
complete "no-worry" solution for protecting your investment.
Gold Coverage Includes:
Unexpected and unintentional spills, drops and cracks
Normal wear and tear
Power surges
Dust, internal heat and humidity
Other plan features include:
For products over $200, No Lemon Policy applies. If it fails for the same defect 3 times, it is replaced on the 4th breakdown. (Does not apply to failures due to drops, spills, and cracks)
For products under $200 experiencing the above failures, a Custom Guitar's Friend gift card will be issued for the full price of the product + tax.
Shipping fees covered if required for repair or replacement
Plans are transferable in the event merchandise is sold
Plans are renewable on new gear
*Limitations and exclusions apply. See terms and conditions for program details
Term for New Gear begins on date of purchase but does not replace the store return policy or manufacturer coverage.
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A couple of other lesser Martins led me to this guitar. I started with the GC 000 MMV rosewood, then got a 000-15M and finally this. Had I started here I wouldn't still own the other models and therefore would've saved money had I just purchased this model in the first place.
The wider nut width makes this guitar a finger pickers delight while just as well at strumming. When I play it I feel like Willie holding Trigger imagining my pick guard hole to come. The sound of this Guitar is country folk rock and roll. One strum and you can hear every single CSN&Y, Neil, JT, Paul Simon, Jimmy Buffet, Hank, Willie, George Jones and Jerry Jeff train song ever played. The workmanship is excellent, I love the aged clear look on the spruce. The tortoise shell bindings and pick guard blows the doors off the white bindings on other martin models. Just beautiful in every way. Smells like a wood shop in your lap. The 24.9 shorter scale with a 16 inch radius is a dream comfort to play. The neck profile perfect. I love my 000-18E Retro. The Aura Fishman F1+ preamp makes this axe easy to play live and loud. After having this one I do not understand why it took me so long to get one of my own.
Martin Retro Series 000-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar
.I work as a professional musician and I recently took the plunge and bought this guitar. I was a little apprehensive, mainly because I hadn't had the option to try one out before I bought it. I watched some youtube videos and read some reviews instead. Since it has arrived I have found it hard to put it down. I first tried it through a Fishman acoustic amp that I use for small gigs and this guitar sounds great through it. In fact it sounds great through anything! This guitar is well suited to fingerstyle playing. Considering its size it's a big sounding guitar and musically, very sweet and lush! What more can I say? It's just great!
Martin Retro Series 000-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar
.I have always wanted a Martin guitar. Probably played a dozen or so over the past 30 years. In 2005 I built a D-28 of my own using the Martin kit. It came out really nice but I always felt something was missing. I was scouring the internet for a Martin of my own and came across a "scratch and dent" 000-18E Retro. The deal was incredible but no pictures on the site. For the price I thought it was worth the gamble considering there's a 45? day return policy., Anyway, I'm not really certain what the scratch or dent is. The only flaw I could find was a discoloration in the binding on the body. If you ask me, this only gives it more character. Anyway, couldn't be happier.
Martin Retro Series 000-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar
.Up until now the only pricey guitars I've owned were Taylors, so I started there. Then I picked up a Martin and right then and there I was sold. They don't have to put all the bling on the outside because it's actually inside the guitar! I reached out to both Taylor and Martin customer service, both were very helpful. However, the rep I talked to at Taylor pretty much told me the Martin was a better guitar, that helped my decision tremendously! Now on to the guitar..
Right out of the box I wasn't impressed, and I freaked out. With the return policy I figured what the heck, I'll play it for a couple weeks and see if things change. Try 20 minutes... The guitar magically came to life. Then I started noticing the excellent craftsmanship. The tuners are the best I've turned, very smooth and accurate. The fret board feels amazing. I was wanting something a little more rare than mahogany, but it's nice and it sounds great. I haven't plugged it in yet, but I can already tell you for sure that this is a 5 star guitar all day long. The guitar is very comfortable too, I probably won't get much done around the house for awhile. Custom Guitars friend saved me quite a bit of money by purchasing this thru them too, so I'm very happy with this purchase.
The quality of this guitar is impressive.
Martin Retro Series 000-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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