Martin 000-18, Natural, Hardshell Case - Used
The 000-18 has been in the Martin catalog since 1911, and it has never really needed fixing. The auditorium body, the spruce and mahogany combination, the short 24.9" scale — this is the template for the fingerpicker's acoustic guitar, refined over more than a century and trusted by players from Elvis Presley to Richard Thompson. The 2025 update is the most meaningful refresh this model has received in years and it is worth understanding before you play one. The key change is in the bracing: Martin has moved the 000-18 to GE scalloped top bracing, the same pattern previously reserved for the Modern Deluxe Series. Scalloped bracing removes mass from the structural X while maintaining integrity, allowing the top to vibrate more freely — the result is a breathier, more open, more dynamically responsive voice with enhanced sustain and a vintage sweetness that standard bracing simply cannot produce. The neck has been reshaped to the GE Modified Low Oval profile with a high-performance taper, the ebony fingerboard is thinner with a beveled comfort edge, the bridge corners are smoother and more refined, and the heel has been slimmed for cleaner upper-fret access. None of these changes are cosmetic. Every one of them is about how the guitar feels and sounds under the hands.
This one is set up by our shop with nice low action and is an absolute cannon — the kind of guitar that fills a room with authority and rewards fingerstyle and flatpicking equally, with the balance and clarity across all six strings that the 000 format has always been known for. At 3 lbs 12 oz it is featherweight and resonant, the kind of guitar that vibrates before you even play it. As Martin-certified technicians we have seen a lot of these come through, and this one plays exactly as it should.
Condition is Excellent with only very minor play wear — barely there, clean throughout. Check the photos for the full picture. Comes with the original Martin hardshell case.
- Make: Martin
- Model: Standard Series 000-18
- Year: 2025
- Country of origin: USA (Nazareth, Pennsylvania)
- Body size: 000 (Auditorium), 14-fret
- Top: Solid Sitka spruce, aging toner, gloss finish
- Bracing: GE scalloped X-brace (new 2025 spec)
- Back and sides: Solid mahogany, gloss finish
- Neck: Mahogany, dovetail joint, GE Modified Low Oval profile, high-performance taper, satin finish
- Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.81"
- Neck thickness at 12th fret: 0.92"
- Fingerboard: Ebony, 14" radius, thinner profile, beveled comfort edge, abalone dot inlays
- Bridge: GE Modern Belly drop-in, refined corners (new 2025)
- Bridge pins: Ebony
- Binding: Black
- Rosette: Multi-stripe
- Scale length: 24.9"
- Nut width: 1 3/4"
- Tuners: Nickel open gear
- Hardware: Nickel
- Electronics: None
- Weight: 3 lbs 12 oz
- Modifications: None
- Includes: Original Martin hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.