1961 Martin 0-16NY

This 1961 Martin 0-16NY (serial number 179986) is in very good vintage condition. This instrument shows some signs of play wear and age throughout including some finish checking, some small scratches and dings, some capo wear on the back of the neck and some marks and dings around the body edges. This guitar has an unoriginal but old pickguard that looks to have been added long ago. There was no glue or adhesive used for the pickguard installation. It was applied using three very small screws. I have removed the pickguard and inspected the top and it’s very clean underneath with no wear or cracks but there is a “footprint” outline from the guard. The original bridge was reglued at some point and the original tuners have been changed to an older set of Grover 3 on a strip open gear units. No modifications were made for the installation of these tuners. The finish on this instrument blacklights perfectly and there are no signs of any touch up or overspray. This guitar is crack free, although upon inspection I first thought there was a back crack on the lower bass side but it turned out to just be a light scratch. 

This guitar has an excellent feeling 12 fret one piece mahogany neck with a medium chunky soft V shaped profile and a 1 7/8” nut width. This neck is very comfy and easy to play. The Brazilian rosewood fingerboard is very nice, tidy and dark and the original fret wire is in very good condition showing light wear. The top on this instrument is very flat with no major sinking or belly. The bridge is flat to the body and the saddle height is medium. This guitar has been set up and plays great up and down the fingerboard with low comfortable action. 

This 0-16NY sounds excellent and delivers a nice dry balanced articulate tone with plenty of volume and mid-range cut. This little guitar is very resonant and you can feel it vibrating against your body with every strum! This is a particularly great fingerstyle “folk” guitar but also excels with a flat pick and doesn’t fold up when strummed hard. This would make a very fine songwriting companion, studio instrument or just all around great everyday picker. This instrument is from the very first year of production for this model and is housed in its original and very hard to find Harptone hardshell case that fits like a glove. I am always open to respectful negations and will be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Thanks for checking in at The Guitar Haunt! 

SPECS

Model: 1961 Martin 0-16NY

Finish: Natural (original) 

Body: 0 size, solid mahogany back and sides with a solid Sitka spruce top

Neck: Mahogany, 12 fret

Fingerboard: Brazilian rosewood 

Scale Length: 24.9” 

Frets: 19 original frets

Pickups: None

Electronics: None

Bridge: Rectangular/rosewood

Hardware: Chrome

Case: Original Harptone

Notes: Added pickguard, replacement tuning machines

Condition: Very Good