1936 Martin 0-17 – All Mahogany, Excellent Condition
 
Pre-War Martin Guitars
For collectors and players, "pre-war Martin" means an instrument built before the United States entered the Second World War in late 1941. These guitars are widely seen as the finest flat-tops ever made, and several things set them apart:
Choice tonewoods, aged and carefully selected from stocks that later became impossible to find
Scalloped X-bracing, shaved by hand for a lighter top that vibrates more freely
Thin finishes and light construction, which make the guitar sound alive and resonant
Hand craftsmanship by a small team of skilled workers
During the war, material shortages and the need for sturdier guitars led Martin to change how it built them. Scalloped bracing was dropped in 1944, which is one reason pre-war instruments are now so sought after.
 
The Model
The 0-17 was first offered in 1906 and came back in 1929 as an all-mahogany guitar, with a solid mahogany top, back and sides. It was one of Martin's most affordable models and put the company's quality within reach of many players during the Depression. It moved to a 14-fret neck joint in the mid-1930s. The small 0-size body is comfortable and well balanced, and it projects far more than its size suggests.
 
This Guitar
This 1936 example has the classic features of the model:
Solid mahogany top, back and sides in a satin finish
Scalloped X-bracing
14-fret mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and dot inlays
Rosewood bridge and a tortoise-style pickguard
Simple, elegant binding and appointments
 
The guitar is in excellent condition for its age. The tuners have been replaced with modern ones so it stays in tune better. No extra holes were drilled, so the change can be fully reversed, and the original tuners come with the guitar in the case.
The all-mahogany build gives it a warm, woody, focused tone with strong mids and a natural compression that blues, folk and fingerstyle players love. After almost 90 years the wood has fully opened up, and the guitar responds to the lightest touch.
 
In Good Hands
The vintage all-mahogany Martin has many famous admirers. Joe Bonamassa, one of the best-known collectors of vintage guitars, plays a pre-war 0-17 and describes it in his own words:
"A 1932 Martin 0-17 mahogany guitar that bellows like it's 3 times its size. This particular guitar was the star of the recent acoustic tour and Vienna Opera House show and film shoot. It sounds like 10 cannons unleashed against Old Ironsides during the battle of Tripoli Harbor…"
Tom Waits also plays a similar 0-17. His raw, earthy sound suits the model's dry, intimate voice perfectly.
 
Conclusion
A pre-war Martin is a piece of American musical history, and the 0-17 is one of the most charming and playable ways to own one. This 1936 example is in excellent condition, has the unmistakable sound of the golden era and stays reliably in tune for everyday playing. It's ready for many more decades of music.
 
Comes with a recent, protective hardshell case and the original tuners.