The 1953 Martin 0-18T is a 4-string small-body flattop tenor guitar. Unlike the standard 6-string 0-18, the 0-18T was specifically designed for tenor banjo and mandolin players transitioning to acoustic guitar, featuring a significantly shorter 23" scale length and a narrower 1 1/4" nut width. This particular example is in good overall condition. The top, including the bridge, was oversprayed when the additional piece of pickguard material was added. There are two diamond cleats on the center seam of the top - one on either side of the tone bar. The top is otherwise damage/repair free. The back has some repaired damage along the edge of the lower treble bout and one repaired crack. The neck shows just a hair of relief at tension and the original neck set is good. The original frets show very little wear. The finish on the headstock is a bit flakey, and there is a small hole in the side where an eyelet was installed for a strap. Neck width is 1.25" at the nut and 1.526" at the octave. Neck depth is .866" at the 1st fret and 1.035" at the 10th. Weighs a mere 2.6 pounds and ships in the original soft shell case with a cool period-correct strap.

Body & Construction

• Body Size: 0-size tenor, 14 frets clear of the body.
• Top Wood: Solid spruce—highly likely northeastern red spruce sourced from Vermont (Adirondack variant) due to documented Martin inventory usage between late 1952 and 1953.
• Back & Sides: Solid mahogany.
• Bracing: Lightweight tenor X-bracing with a single tone bar.
• Binding: Tortoiseshell celluloid.
• Body Dimensions: 13 1/2" lower bout width with a 4 1/8" body depth.

Neck & Fingerboard

• Neck Wood: Mahogany with a medium soft C/V shape profile.
• Fingerboard Material: Brazilian rosewood.
• Scale Length: 23".
• Nut Width: 1 1/4".
• Fingerboard Radius: Flat (no radius).
• Frets: 20 frets total.
• Neck Reinforcement: Non-adjustable steel T-bar.

Hardware & Appointments

• Bridge: Brazilian rosewood tenor bridge.
• Tuners: Kluson open-gear tuners.
• Pickguard: Tortoiseshell celluloid (frequently referred to by collectors as a "redguard").
• Headstock: Classic tapered Martin headstock with a front decal logotype