Bidspirit auction | 1964 C.F. Martin and Co.

1964 C.F. Martin and Co. 00-18E Acoustic-Electric Guitar Serial Number 196231 - A vintage 1964 C.F. Martin and Co. 00-18E acoustic-electric guitar, manufactured in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. This model features a solid spruce top with a honey-toned finish and solid mahogany construction for the back, sides, and neck. The instrument is equipped with a factory-installed single-coil DeArmond pickup mounted at the end of the rosewood fingerboard. Controls include two top-mounted amber-tinted top hat style knobs with black text for Volume and Tone, and a 1/4 inch output jack on the lower side. The headstock bears the gold script decal reading C.F. Martin and Co. on the top line and EST. 1833 on the bottom line. The interior back strip is incised with a stamp reading C.F. MARTIN and CO. NAZARETH, PA. MADE IN U.S.A. The serial number 196231 is stamped on the neck block. The rosewood bridge is a belly style with two white circular inlays covering reinforcement bolts. The guitar has a faux-tortoise pickguard and multi-ply body binding. It is accompanied by a black hardshell case with a plush interior. The guitar is in overall excellent condition and plays well. There is observable finish deterioration on the back and neck, including some glue residue and areas of bubbled or cratered lacquer. The spruce top exhibits widespread finish checking and several small dings consistent with age. The tuning machines are mismatched, featuring two original cream-colored plastic buttons and four metal replacements of varying shapes. The rosewood fingerboard shows play wear, particularly in the lower positions.