In the '30s, Martin only made about 200 00-18H guitars. This 12-fret 00 had a high, wide nut for Hawaiian-style playing, and the two made in 1935 both featured the iconic dark sunburst particular to that year. American singer and guitarist Geoff Mulduar happened to find one that was converted over from Hawaiian to a regular guitar setup. This rare '30s relic became Geoff's go-to guitar for most of his career—a workhorse with rich, articulate sound.
The 00-18H Geoff Mulduar Signature is based on Geoff's treasured Martin 12-fret. It features an Adirondack Top and Mahogany back and sides. Like Geoff's original, each one sports Martin's conic 1935 Vintage Sunburst. The nut is wide—1-13/16"—and the scale length measures 24.9". While you might expect a '30s-inspired Martin to have a bold V neck profile, the 00-18H Geoff Mulduar has a comfortable rounded profile. Under the hood, scalloped X braces help lend a sound that is bigger, bolder and more dynamic than you might expect from a small body. Like other Signature models, the Geoff Mulduar was produced in limited quantities, each with a hand-signed and numbered label.
This 00-18H Geoff Mulduar is #86 in the series. It shows some minor signs of play wear and use, but fortunately no severe dings, scratches, or signs of misuse (see photos). The finish has checked on the side position markers along the edge of the fingerboard, but that's really the only cosmetic note worth mentioning. It is set up nicely with low, approachable action, and the factory-installed Waverly tuners keep everything honest.
This 00-18H Geoff Mulduar produces a rich, balanced tone that sounds nuanced and open. As soon as you touch the strings, it comes alive with sound, and the bass presence is more prominent than you might expect. This would be an excellent fingerstyle guitar, but its folky, old-time character will shine with any playing style. It includes its original Geib-style case. Great 12-fret!