’57 Martin 0-18
Whether you want a vintage or a new model, Dan Orkin of Reverb.com assures you that you won’t need to break the bank
Read through any history of Martin guitars and you’ll encounter a long list of groundbreaking, genre-defining instruments like the D-28 dreadnought and 000-28 orchestra models of the 1930s. A rung below these all-time classicss is a tier of instruments that match their lofty counterparts for build quality and innovation, just not quite the historical reputation and collector value.
The small-bodied, concert-sized 0-18 is one such example. Taking its modern 14-fret form in the mid-1930s, the 0-18 was larger than many Martins of the previous decades, yet smaller in size than the 00 and 000 guitars of the same period. Part of the 18-series, the guitar used mahogany for its back and sides with simpler cosmetic appointments than could be found on a topshelf model like a 000-45.
These factors combine to render the 0-18 a Martin that is not the most sought-after or widely used at any point in its history. But in today’s world of affordable, convenient sound reinforcement technology the connection between size and volume has been severed, and there’s been a resurgence in smaller, quieter guitars like the 0-18, which could very well raise vintage prices in the near future. Their comfortable size makes them a natural pick for fingerstylists, and even indie-folk players can dig into these guitars like they would a Telecaster.
Pricing
Unlike some of the other guitars we’ve seen in this series, Martin 0-18s remain relatively affordable, and in many cases can be found far cheaper than their contemporary counterparts. While a peak-era, pre-war 0-18 from the late-40s might sell for around £4,000, those from the 50s can usually be found in the £1,500 to £2,200 range. Ones from later periods can be found for less than that, following the general rule for Martins that the further you get from the 30s, the lower the price tag.
On Reverb in recent years, most vintage 0-18 sales have been for guitars we consider ‘player grade’, meaning that blemishes, cracks and other conditional issues abound. These examples are often still wonderfully playable guitars with plenty of charisma and can be found for less than £1,800. Conversely, specimens in peak condition, will sometimes be listed for north of £2,400.
Alternative Buying Options
Players who are interested in the Martin 0-18 but are wary of buying a vintage acoustic are in luck: Martin reintroduced the model to its catalog just last year, and also offers a more affordable 0-sized model called the 0X2MAE.
Beyond Martin, any guitar labelled as parlour-sized should give a generally similar tone and playability to an 0-18, and there are a wide range of options including affordable entries from Ibanez, Gretsch, Eastman and several other contemporary manufacturers.
On the higher-end, you can find all sorts of exquisite luthier-built acoustic instruments following a general Martin concert-sized template. Collings of Austin, TX, is a well-known example, who offer their 01 model as well as a 12-fret-clear-ofthe-body variant. Other custom builders who offer something in the 0-18 vein include Bourgeois and Santa Cruz.