In responding to a question about the M-38, I was looking through the original paperwork on that guitar and realized that I had its serial number confused with another guitar in my collection. Turns out that the M-38 Custom is actually from 1991, rather than 1993. More proof I have too many guitars!
Anyway, in discussions with a Club Member about moving it on. The 00-21 and OM-18 GE are still here. Maybe a few words about them wouldn't hurt...
The 00-21 is a George Gruhn-spec Custom, Madagascar rosewood sides and back, Adirondack spruce top, Spanish cedar neck, and basically mid/late-1920's construction, using hot hide glue. The binding and purfling is all wood, the outermost being flame koa. The tuners are bright nickel Golden Age machines which are reverse worm. (they turn opposite direction from what you expect) Very smooth, fine geared. It's a special little guitar, with a BIG voice. The rosewood has this indescribable sparkle. I love 00 12-fret Martin guitars... had a bunch, (still got a couple) and this one is probably the best that wasn't made before 1930. It hangs in there with them. I'll leave the leather headstock strap-loop and matching strap with it. You really don't want to drill these for a strap button. It will come in the original case, with one of those silly-frilly silk blankets... I never used it. The case is embroidered with the C.F. Martin & Co. Custom Shop logo. (if you'd rather have a plain one, I'll substitute it... some folks don't like to advertise what they're carryin'...)
The OM-18 GE... well first of all, the "GE" is for Golden Era, as in the "Golden Era of guitar-making". I'll spare everyone the long story of the inception of the Orchestra Model guitar, (though it's very interesting and you should read up on it) and move on to what's important about these 21st century reissues. So C.F. Martin & Co. eventually figured out a lot of their competition was their own vintage guitars, and starting building reissues of them in varying degrees of accuracy. The Golden Era line was one of the earlier attempts, and the OM-18 GE is a darn close replica of a 1930 OM-18, right down to the planetary banjo keys and Brazilian rosewood binding. These were pretty expensive guitars at the time, Martin didn't sell many, and hence didn't make many. From 2003-06, they made 258 of them before discontinuing production. I was not the original owner of this one, but I was the first person to play it right out of the shipping carton. It was sold new here in Roanoke from Fret Mill Music. I thought it was about the coolest thing Martin had ever done. And good night, what a sound. The OM is a powerful machine. 000 body, combined with the Dreadnought long-scale, with Honduran mahogany sides and back, Adirondack spruce top and scalloped braces made for a tone cannon. Alas I couldn't afford it at the time. It sold locally and I forgot about it. One day I stopped-in on my way to work (evening shift at the time) annnnd there it was, back again. Traded-in for a '47 00-18. Ken laughed and got it down... said; "the case is over there... just come trade me something for it next week!" He knew. I've had it ever since... almost 20 years.
*added some detail pics.
Hit me with questions. 😉
