1870s Martin 2 1/2-18 Vintage Fan-Braced Acoustic Guitar, Adirondack Spruce & Brazilian Rosewood w/ Case

Up for sale, a circa 1870s Martin 2 1/2-18 in excellent condition, complete the original “coffin” case. This early Gilded Age Martin was crafted in the years following the Civil War: it’s famously difficult to pinpoint exact years of production on pre-1898 Martin instruments, but features like fan bracing and the dual “C .F. Martin & Co. New York” stamps (body and neck block) indicate that this particular piece of history probably dates to sometime between 1869-1880, as verified by the Martin company in 1968 (paperwork included). As one would expect for an 150-year-old instrument, this 2 1/2-18 benefits from service due an instrument of its vintage including a neck reset, refret, replacement rosewood bridge plate and bridge reglue, replacement bone nut and saddle, and headstock repair.

Tonewoods include a fan-braced Adirondack spruce top, stunning bookmatched Brazilian rosewood back and sides, a “ebonized” (dyed) Spanish cedar neck, and a gorgeous variegated ebony fingerboard. The body dimensions of the 2 1/2 model are known to vary slightly throughout the years, and this instrument measures 3 1/2“ deep at the upper bout and roughly 3 3/4” at the lower bout, with a 7” wide waist and a lower bout width of 11 3/4“.

Open and expressive-sounding, and yielding exquisite balance and projection that astonish considering its relatively diminutive body size, this Martin fills a room with a sonorous woody shimmer in the treble register, and potent, plucky wound strings. There’s an overall airy openness thanks to the seasoning and aging of the soundboard over the last century and a half and, as one would expect, this guitar is fantastically well-suited for fingerstyle playing with exceptionally strong note-to-note detail and overall balance in all registers. This 2 1/2-18 is featherweight at 2lbs 8oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 silk and steel strings and easy-playing action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Spanish cedar
-Shape: Slender V, measuring .810” 1st fret, .850” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony (variegated)
-Frets: Bar, refret, pristine
-Scale Length: 24 1/2”
-Nut: 1 3/4”, bone (replacement)
-Tuners: Open-gear strips, ivory buttons

Body Specs:

-Wood: Adirondack spruce, Brazilian rosewood (bookmatched)
-Bracing: Fan (single tone bar)
-Bridge: Ebony pyramid (reglued), compensated bone saddle (replacement), ebony pins, rosewood bridge plate (replacement)
-Marquetry: Multi-ply purfling, style 18 rosette
-Factory Markings: “C. F. Martin & Co. New York” stamps on inside of centerline and neck block

The repaired cracks on the lower bout behind the bridge are the most prominent, with additional repairs between soundhole and bridge, along the bass side of the fingerboard extension, and one on the rim adjacent to the endpin. All have been professionally repaired, cleated and reinforced where necessary. There is also a clean headstock repair.

The body retains the original French Polish finish, with minor buckle worming on the back and a handful of minor dings on the top, primarily concentrated at the lower bout. The stain on the neck profile is smooth and clean.

The original hardshell “coffin” case is included; both latches are functional, and the brass handle is present. Also included is documentation pertaining to a previous owner’s attempts to ID the instrument in the mid-20th century, aided by noted master luthier Don Teeter and Martin themselves (paper signed by C. F. Martin III).