Should I restore my Martin 000-18 ?

[leebman]

I can't decide on this at all so all input and thoughts will be appreciated. I have a mid forties 00018 that has several problems.
1. needs a refret
2. The bridge has been planed down in the past to lower the action, and the saddle slot is not deep enough to hold the saddle straight so it pulls forward its been like this for well over ten years.
3. The action is a little high but not totally out of order.

So do I just refret it and leave everything else, as with frets that actually stick up from the fingerboard it will be more playable or go the whole hog and reset the neck replace the bridge etc. I'm worried that all the work will change the sound of the guitar and I might not like it as much ?

[TELEkinetic]

Pre-War Martins have much more value than Post-War. Have you confirmed the year with the serial number to make sure?

You need much more than a refret from your description. Sounds like a neck reset, refret, and a bridge replacement are all in order. A refret alone will not solve your playability problem.

[leebman]

Just checked the serial number its a 1942

[allen st. john]

Leebman
First off, the good news. You've got a rather valuable guitar on your hands. A quick perusal of Gbase puts a clean 000-18 scalloped braced, red spruce top and original finish at around $10,000.

Given that, it's definitely, absolutely worth having all the work done and done right.
The work you suggest is almost routine maintenance for a guitar of this vintage, and even if the bridge needs to be replaced, if it's done with a perfect modern bridge (i.e. a forgery grade copy of which the best luthiers are capable) there's no hit on value at all.

If you were in the U.S. I could suggest a dozen luthiers who could do the work on a vintage Martin. I'm sure there are a few guys in the UK who can do the same quality work, but I don't know who they are. I would post on the Vintage Corner of the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum, and ask for suggestions. (Nice guys and very helpful, much like TDPRI)

One caveat. Just as you wouldn't bring an old Aston Martin to the same garage that works on your new Ford Escort, you should be very careful about choosing your luthier.
Many luthiers are anxious to get some experience on an old Martin, but you don't want a guy cutting his teeth on your guitar.

Good luck, and post some pics when you can

allen

[OM 21]

Definitley worth having the work done, and as allen mentioned, make sure you find the right guy to do the work. The tone will not suffer, and if anything, should improve once the proper work has been done.

Greg

[allen st. john]

Agree totally with OM-21. A neckset will make the guitar play much better, and a better break angle over the saddle will help drive the top better which will help the tone immeasurably.

[bradpdx]

Originally Posted by allen st. john

Agree totally with OM-21. A neckset will make the guitar play much better, and a better break angle over the saddle will help drive the top better which will help the tone immeasurably.

Amen. Virtually EVERY old Martin needs a neck reset (which would ordinarily include a refret). The guitar will come alive, should be a fine instrument and well worth the few hundred dollars this will cost. It will not negatively impact value if done well, since this is considered normal maintenance.

Though you like it, the guitar is presently a shadow of itself. You'll be amazed.

[garymaddox]

It's worth doing it right. You might even contact Martin and find out if they can recommend someone in the UK. My experience with C.F. Martin has always been they really care about their guitars.

[biker joe]

Hey, I have one of those too. Same year. Question, are your tuner knobs the crumbly white plasticy things or metal?

I would take it to a GOOD luthier and have them see what needs to be done. But it does sound like you need new frets, and a new bridge (maybe even nut). A neck reset is a possibility too. If it needed it to play well, I wouldn't hesitate to do it- if I trusted the person doing the job.

[leebman]

My guitar has metal grovers on it. I find this decision hard to make I've been putting it off for 10 years and each year those frets take a little more wear. The big question is who can do the work in the U.k. I know I could get by with just a refret but there's no point if I'm going to get a neck reset ?

[FMA]

I think you should have the thing restored, including a neck reset, frets, bridge, the whole magilla. And I think the suggestion to contact Martin and ask for suggestions of luthiers in the U.K. is a good one. Martin's customer service, from my experience, is excellent. Martin does this kind of work in Nazareth and, ultimately, that would probably be the best thing to do with a guitar of that value, have it restored at the factory. But factoring in having to ship it across the pond, I don't know.

[blue metalflake]

Definately go the whole hog. I'd go back to Martin for reccomendation of someone suitable.

[leebman]

A friend dropped buy and we measured the bridges on both 000-18s mine has lost 2mm of wood from the top of the bridge, I am wondering how that loss of wood effects the tone, more mass surely dampens the sound ? Sound wise both guitars are very different I prefer mine much more lively and harmonically rich, not a fair comparison as his is not scalloped braced.

[chezdeluxe]

A replacement bridge will not adversely affect the tone;in fact with the proper break angle over the saddle it will improve.
If you decide to only get a refret make sure the luthier you choose has experience with refretting necks with no adjustable truss rod.
I think you have an opportunity to awake a sleeping beauty and believe you should go the whole hog.

[mellecaster]

It seems very simple to me....spend a few dollars and call the Martin Factory for a Luthier they recommend in the UK....Then he will tell you what is required and give you an estimate on the work, everything else is just typing on a keyboard and guessing.

[rangercaster]

i would send it back to the factory ... better yet, bring it to them, and come back to get it when it's done ...

[mellecaster]

Originally Posted by rangercaster

i would send it back to the factory ... better yet, bring it to them, and come back to get it when it's done ...

Sadly the Martin Factory quit doing repair work about 4 or 5 years ago...It now has to go to Authorized Repair Centers.

[chezdeluxe]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Sadly the Martin Factory quit doing repair work about 4 or 5 years ago...It now has to go to Authorized Repair Centers.

Rangercaster did you not notice the OP is in England or are you offering to pay transport costs?

[Buckocaster51]

Ever hear of a guy/store named Vince Hockey?

The name shows up on Martin's website as an authorized repair center in the UK.

By the way, I wouldn't call what you are contemplating a "restoration." I would think it would be more along the lines of routine repair and maintenance.

Good luck with your guitar.

[otterhound]

Originally Posted by mellecaster

Sadly the Martin Factory quit doing repair work about 4 or 5 years ago...It now has to go to Authorized Repair Centers.

I had heard this also . I take the tour every year at least once . According to the people at the factory in Nazareth , they currently do this type of work there . This was as of Martinfest in August of this year . I am not trying to throw stones , but if I had a '42 00018 , i would want the best for it . Contact the people at Martin , Paula Primrose possibly , and get your answer directly from them . I am guessing that they would love to have that old girl in house for a re-build . You will love to have the opportunity to check out the facilities as well . If it can wait , you may wish to time it with Martinfest festivities in August of this coming year . There are other Brits that visit every year .