C. F. Martin 0-16NY Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1961), ser. #179444, original brown chipboard case.

C. F. Martin 0-16NY Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (1961), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 179444, natural lacquer finish, mahogany back, sides and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, original brown chipboard case.

This 0-sized 12-fret Martin is a very early (if unheralded) example of a "vintage" re-issue; one of the first in any guitar company's history. Beginning in the late '50s there was a groundswell of interest in the "old" 1920s-style Martin guitars with 12-fret neck joints and wider fingerboards. At the time these were considered more "authentic" folk instruments than the newer 14-fret styles built since the 1930s. Joan Baez in particular was very influential in this regard; her use of an already-vintage 12-fret 0-45 became an icon of the 1060s Folk era and many players wanted a similar instrument.

The 0-16NY was offered beginning in 1961, designed as an affordable guitar for folk-style playing with either steel or nylon strings; to this end, they were built much lighter than the "modern" steel string Martins of the time. The satin (non-gloss) finish and trimmings are very plain but the guitar is built with Style 18 materials: a spruce top, mahogany body and neck with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. This mid-late 1961 example is one of 476 shipped out that first production year. The introductory list price was a very reasonable $139.50, without the case. While originally conceived for a specific folk audience the 0-16NY proceeded to sell well for Martin for some years, proving it had "legs" well beyond the folk boom of the early '60s.

Although not actively promoted originally as such this is essentially a re-issue of a late 1920s 0-18 with a wide 12-fret neck, slot head, small rectangular bridge, no pickguard and only side dot position markers. The trim is very plain, with tortoise-celluloid outer layer trim on the top and a discreet multi-ring rosette. Although advertised when new as suitable for nylon strings or steel, these guitars have full traditional Martin X-bracing and handle light steel strings perfectly well. Suitable for many styles beyond traditional folk, this is a very nice somewhat under the radar model and something of a bargain in a vintage Martin still.

Overall length is 38 1/4 in. (97.2 cm.), 13 5/8 in. (34.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 7/8 in. (48 mm.).

Overall this is a nice, clean and original first year example showing only relatively minor wear. The finish shows some checking overall with scratches, dings and dents overall but only superficial pick wear to the top. The back of the neck is quite clean with only one small ding behind the first fret, none of the heavier capo wear "Folk" guitars often suffered.

There are no visible cracks and the only repair evident is a small cleat added to the top center seam behind the soundhole, when presumably it started to pull open at some point. This guitar has had a clean neck reset and a new saddle; the original bridge does not appear to have ever been cut down. It has been neatly reglued with some very slight touch up around the edges.

Internally all bracing is original as is the small maple bridge plate. The original frets show very little wear. This is a fine playing, sweet sounding guitar with more power than one might expect from a 1961 model; it is now older than the 1920s instruments it was patterned after was at the time this guitar was made! This 0-16NY remains a relative bargain in a 50+ year old small-body Martin complete in the original chipboard case with a tag under the lid from Coast Wholesale in California, a major Martin dealer back in the day. Overall Excellent Condition.