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1952 Martin 00-17, Crack Free, Perfect Frets, With The Original Case

This one’s a player, and it’s the kind of player we like selling. It’s crack free, structurally sound, and it weighs 3.51 pounds. The bridge work has been done and done well, and the original case comes with it in surprisingly good shape for its age. What’s left is finish wear and the marks a guitar collects over 74 years, which is the part you can’t buy new.

How It Plays

It plays nicely right now with medium action. At the 12th fret it measures 0.110 inches on the bass side and 0.070 inches on the treble side, so you can hold it against whatever you play on at home before you commit.

The saddle is fairly low. If you want very low action, this guitar will likely want a neck reset to get there, so read the action measurements above and decide for yourself. As it sits, it plays quite nicely, and plenty of players would pick it up and never think about the reset.

The frets are in perfect shape, so there’s no fretwork waiting for you on top of the purchase price.

Neck dimensions: 1.73 inches wide and 0.85 inches deep at the nut, 2.05 inches wide and 1.02 inches deep at the 10th fret.

How It Sounds

It sounds fantastic. A 1952 00-17 is all mahogany, top included, in the small 00 body, and that combination makes a particular sound that no dreadnought and no spruce top will give you. It’s dry, woody and mid forward. The note comes out fast, says what it has to say, and gets out of the way, so chords stay tight and defined instead of blooming into each other. There’s a thump and a bark to the bass that’s punchy rather than booming, and the top end is sweet and round with no glassy edge on it.

That fast, dry decay is why these guitars record so well and why blues and old time players have always gone looking for them. Fingerpick it and every string sits in its own place, with the kind of woody pop that makes a simple alternating bass line sound like a record from 1955. Put a flatpick on it and it answers with snap and bite instead of wash. Sing over it and it gets out of the way of a voice, which is exactly what the all mahogany build does: it leaves the midrange of the human voice uncrowded. The small body keeps it responsive under a light touch too, so it rewards playing softly, and it’s the sort of guitar that gets picked up off the couch ten times a day.

Then there’s the weight. At 3.51 pounds this thing is a featherweight, and you feel it in the response. A light top moves easily, so a quiet pass with the thumb gets a full voice out of it.

The Bridge Work

The bridge has been re-glued and the bridge plate replaced. It was done Gibson style, with two bridge bolts under the bridge, capped with pearl dots so you see dots and not hardware. There’s some light wear around the bridge from the removal, which is normal for this repair. The bridge itself is glued very cleanly and it’s seated firm and tight to the top. This is the repair most 70 year old flat tops eventually need, and on this guitar it’s already behind you.

Condition

Overall it’s in good shape. There are no cracks anywhere on it and the guitar is very structurally sound. There’s plenty of finish wear throughout, plus some odd finish reactions, most likely from the guitar sitting against something plastic inside its case for a long stretch. The nut has been replaced at some point. None of that touches how the guitar plays or sounds. It reads as a guitar with character and the kind of patina you can’t buy new. The original case comes with it, and for a 74 year old case it’s held up surprisingly well.

Specs

• Year: 1952
• Model: Martin 00-17
• Construction: All mahogany, 00 body size
• Weight: 3.51 pounds
• Action At The 12th Fret: 0.110 inches bass, 0.070 inches treble
• Nut: 1.73 inches wide, 0.85 inches deep
• 10th Fret: 2.05 inches wide, 1.02 inches deep
• Saddle: Fairly low, a neck reset is the path to very low action
• Repairs: Bridge re-glued, bridge plate replaced, two bolts capped with pearl dots, nut replaced
• Frets: Perfect shape
• Structure: Crack free and sound
• Finish: Plenty of wear, some finish reactions from case contact
• Case: Original case included, in surprisingly good shape

At Joe’s Vintage Guitars, your satisfaction is our top priority. We stand behind every instrument we sell, and we want you to feel completely confident in your purchase. That’s why we offer a 7-day return policy with no restocking fee. Take a full week to inspect, play, and fall in love with your new guitar. If for any reason it isn’t the right fit, simply return it in the same condition for a full refund—no hidden fees, no hassle. We know that buying a vintage instrument is a big decision, and we’re committed to making the process as comfortable and transparent as possible. Shop with peace of mind knowing that every guitar from Joe’s Vintage Guitars is backed by honest service and years of expertise.