2023 - Martin Custom Shop 000-18 Authentic 1937 Stage 1 Aged - Adirondack Spruce & Honduran Mahogany

The 2023 Martin Custom Shop 000-18 Authentic 1937 Stage 1 Aged captures the essence of pre-war artistry with an intimacy and nuance that few modern guitars can match. Crafted with Martin’s meticulous Authentic Series standards, this instrument channels the spirit of 1937 into a form that feels alive in your hands—responsive, balanced, and deeply musical. Though pre-owned, it remains in excellent condition, showing no issues and retaining the effortless playability and vintage character that make it such a remarkable creation.

At its heart lies an extra thin Adirondack spruce top paired with Honduran mahogany back and sides, a time-honored tonewood combination known for its clarity, warmth, and touch sensitivity. The top’s Stage 1 aged vintage gloss finish evokes the gentle patina of a well-loved instrument, enhancing both resonance and aesthetic depth. Every detail is executed with reverence for tradition—hide glue construction, a dovetail neck joint, and Authentic 1937 forward-shifted scalloped 1/4" bracing made from Adirondack spruce—all working in harmony to produce a voice that’s open, woody, and strikingly alive.

The 000 body size and 24.9" scale length lend a natural intimacy to the tone, perfect for fingerstyle players and nuanced flatpickers alike. The Authentic 1937 neck profile and 1 3/4" nut width provide a comfortable, vintage-correct feel, while the aged Waverly open-back tuners and Madagascar rosewood headplate complete the period-correct aesthetic. Subtle aging touches across the body, binding, and hardware contribute to the look and feel of an heirloom instrument without compromising structural integrity or playability.

Elegant appointments like abalone dot inlays, an ebony bridge and fingerboard, and a faux tortoise pickguard tie the piece together, offering understated refinement. At just 3 lbs 11 oz, this guitar is feather-light, resonant, and incredibly responsive to the lightest touch.

The 2023 Martin Custom Shop 000-18 Authentic 1937 Stage 1 Aged is not just a tribute—it’s a living echo of Martin’s golden era, built with the precision of the present and the soul of the past. For the discerning player or collector, it stands as a remarkable blend of authenticity, craftsmanship, and tone that only Martin can deliver.

Other specifications of the Custom Shop 000-18 Authentic 1937 Aged include:

• Aging Level: Stage 1
• Body Size: 000-14 Fret
• Finish Top: Vintage Gloss - Aged
• Construction: Dovetail Neck Joint - Hide Glue Construction
• Back & Side Finish: Vintage Gloss - Aged
• Bracing Pattern: Authentic 1937 Forward Shifted X Brace
• Scale Length: 24.9"
• Brace Shape: Scalloped - 1/4"
• Fingerboard Width At Nut: 1 3/4''
• Top Material: Non-VTS Extra Thin Adirondack Spruce
• Neck Shape: Authentic 1937
• Back Material: Honduran Mahogany
• Neck Taper: Standard Taper
• Side Material: Honduran Mahogany
• Top Color: Modified Vintage Toner
• Bridge Style: Authentic Belly - Glue in Long Saddle - Aged
• Bridge String Spacing: 2 5/16''
• Top Inlay Material: 18 Style
• Bridge Material: Ebony
• Top Detail: Aged
• Pickguard: Faux Tortoise- Aged
• Saddle: Bone
• Rosette: 18 Style
• Saddle Radius: 16"
• Brace Material: Adirondack Spruce
• Back Detail: Aged
• Back Purfling/Strip: Walnut
• Side Detail: Aged
• Neck Material: Genuine Mahogany
• Fingerboard Material: Ebony
• Finish Neck: Vintage Gloss - Aged
• Fingerboard Width at 12th Fret: 2 1/4''
• Neck Color: Dark Mahogany
• Fingerboard Inlay Style: Dots
• Number of Frets Total: 20
• Fingerboard Inlay Material: Abalone
• Neck Joins Body At: 14th Fret
• Headstock Shape: Solid with 1937 Taper
• Tuning Machines: Aged Waverly Nickel Open Back
• Headplate Material: Madagascar Rosewood
• Headplate Logo Style: Script Golden Era Overlay
• Nut Material: Bone
• Case: Ply Hardshell
• 3 lbs 11 oz
• #2718023

For more information about the Martin Custom Shop 000-18 Authentic 1937 Aged, please contact us.

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