1937 is widely considered the most important year in Martin history, representing the culmination of the company's prewar design evolution before wartime material shortages and production changes altered the handmade approach to its flagship models. Instruments from this period feature the refined combination of forward-shifted scalloped bracing, Adirondack Spruce, and lightly-built, handmade construction. These Martins defined the sound of the American flat-top guitar.
Introduced in 1934, the 14-fret 00 Martin is a small-body guitar that sounds big, full, and balanced, thanks to Adirondack Spruce and the '30s scalloped, forward-shifted bracing. The wide 1-3/4" nut and 2-5/16" spacing at the saddle make the '30s 00-18 a great choice for fingerpickers, but it's a versatile small-body that is also a lot of fun with a pick. This 00-18 is one of 275 made in 1937. It came to Telluride Music Co. from the family of the original owner, who passed it down as the younger generation became interested in music. Primarily used as a beginner's guitar for children, this 1937 00-18 had fallen into disrepair. But a proper Martin from the 1930s Golden Era has immense potential, and this one proved well worth the restoration expense.
In 2025, we brought this 1937 00-18 to Beau Hannam in Grand Junction, CO. After about a year of patience, Beau's careful skill breathed life back into this charming small-body Martin. On '30s guitars, the bridge/bridge plate sees a lot stress, so that's a critical area for both sound and playability. On this 1937 00-18, Beau replaced the original worn-out bridge with a period-correct Ebony bridge from TJ Thompson. Interestingly, there was a second over-size bridge plate glued to the original bridge plate, so Beau removed that and discovered the original bridge plate in tact, functioning 100% as it should. He also reinforced past-repaired top cracks around the center seam with TJ's cleat system, and Beau buttoned up the top separation at the bass lower bout.
From there, Beau reset the neck and added a tongue brace underneath the fingerboard extension for future playability. There were two cracks running along the edges of the fingerboard, so the tongue brace reinforces and also acts as a cleat for those. The fingerboard was badly in need of new frets, and to counteract the excess relief in the neck, Beau did a full compression refret. With fresh frets that help with neck stability, the playability is greatly enhanced across the board. There are two old repairs to the bass side, but these are stable and didn't need any touchups. After all of Beau's careful work, it's hard to imagine there are many 1930s 00s that are as playable, usable, and ready to go as this 1937.
With the right materials, the iconic "Golden Era" Martin design, and thoughtful restoration work, this 1937 00-18 is a superlative small-body guitar. Notes bloom with woody overtones, sustain, and a wide dynamic range. The neck feels worn-in like a good baseball glove. This guitar would sound incredible on stage. Put it in front of a mic in the studio, and it'll deliver rich, nuanced tone. But because of the compact size and comfortable feel, this 00-18 will also be the favorite in the living room and around the house. It includes a modern hardshell case.