Martin 000-18 1939/1966, Natural

While more common in the Fender electric guitar world, a pairing of different eras of necks and bodies also exist in the acoustic world. Before the prevalence of independent luthiers, when a Martin was damaged, the move was to send it back to Martin for work. In around 1965-1966, a 1939 000-18 sustained damage to the body too great to repair and was given a new one at the Martin factory. The transferred serial number on the neck block lets us know when the neck was made. Martin is a company of tradition, and even 25ish laters, the design of the 000-18 changed so little that such a pairing could occur. The 1939 ebony bridge was transferred to the new Sitka topped 000 body; including the unslotted pins. The thin maple bridge plate is still intact and the straight braces were later scalloped to mimic the style of 1939. At some point after its factory restoration, the guitar sustained several cracks to the rim which required re glueing and finish touchup. It's hard to know exactly what kind of life this guitar lived, but as it stands now, its great sounding player with comfortably low action.