Should I restore my Martin 000-18 ?

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 ?

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.

Just checked the serial number its a 1942

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ?

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

Ever hear of a guy/store named Vince Hockey (http://www.martinguitar.com/dealers/services.php?state=INAT)?

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.

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 .

I would not worry about the bridge being shaved. That's not unusual for older Martins and it is better to retain the original bridge. I could be wrong but I don't think they scalloped braces on -18's.

If you could post some pics, I'm sure we'd all like to see them. Especially before and after. Keep us posted.

I've been a busy today, contacted Martin and they recommend Vince Hockey the other name that came up was Dave King anyone with any experience ?

Yes this guitar is scalloped braced they all were upto 1944. I'll try and shoot some photos.

Do a search for Dave King Acoustic Guitars. His web site shows a model he makes that is based on a OOO Martin. Nice website. YMMV. Good Luck leebman.

I got some quotes for the work looks like £350.

I also bumped into a friend and brought up the subject his take was that the planed bridge dodgy saddle all adds to the guitars story and why it sounds so good he even suggested leaving the refret ? I quizzed him on that last remark and he said "I heard you playing the other night no buzzes sounded great, give it another ten years or so".

Confused still undecided I'd be absolutely gutted to spend the money and not like the result.

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 ?

I don't own a "vintage" Martin, but if I did I would want it to be as playable as possible. It sounds like you are more concerned with tone than with originality. I wouldn't think a neck reset and a bridge replacement would alter the tone in any undesirable way. I say get all the work done at once from a qualified luthier.

For a guitar of that vintage and that value, that estimate of the work is really not a lot to put into the guitar.
And having it set up properly with a proper neck angle and a good bridge and new frets will make it a joy to play and will significantly improve the tone.

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 ?

You could pop over to the UMGF ( Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum) and ask for luthier info for the UK. A tremendous amount of knowledgable folks there and many members from the UK. They will know.

The last couple of '41-'42 Martin 000-18s in fine condition that I have run into went in the $5K to $6K range. Had the chance last year to pick up a '42 with a top crack and needing a neck reset for around $2,500.

The shaved bridge ain't good news - a good replacement that fits in the original footprint can only make the guitar sound better.

If it were me I would go ahead and spring for both a replacement bridge (keep the old one even though it has been altered) and neck reset.

I've seen a lot of martins with top cracks especially the B-string one which mine has repaired probably about 20 years ago. I would snap another for $2500 in a heart beat.

A shaved bridge is what a repair luthier does when he or she does not want to --or has been asked not to-- do a neck reset. Given the pedigree of your guitar, shaving the bridge was, iMHO, a nearly unforgivable sin.

If I owned your guitar, I would have the bridge and saddle replaced and the neck reset.
Caveats:
• Make sure the luthier who does the work protects the finish of the guitar carefully.
• Make sure the new bridge is the exact same size as the old bridge and that it's shape is authentic to Martin design.

Go ahead and interview luthiers. Ask around. Talk to people. You want the best person in Britain for the job! Check with these people: http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/ The proprietor hangs out at http://www.mandolincafe.com and he knows his acoustic instruments very well. He may have a good recommendation for you.

Getting the guitar fixed well with appropriate sensitivity to its vintage will not reduce the value of the guitar, even though the bridge should be replaced. In fact it should increase the value a little. No one wants to buy a guitar that needs repair, unless they're looking for a bargain that they will have repaired.

Most acoustic guitars with dovetail neck joints will need a neck reset after 20 to 25 years. This fact is usually taken into account in the vintage guitar market.

You'll be amazed at how much better the guitar will sound with a good setup after the neck reset. The break angle over the saddle will be sharper and will thus improve the transmission of string vibration to the top of the guitar.

In short, the money spent on the repairs will be positively affect both the resale value of the guitar and the sound of the guitar. A win-win.

Daniel

Reset the neck.
Shaved bridges are a mistake.
Those little guitars sound fine when the neck is set correctly.
Martin is not necessarily the best place or only place to get your Martin repaired.
Not anymore.
You don't want the guitar re-manufactured ,you want it restored.
Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
There must be people qualified to do the work in the UK. They aren't hiding, ask respected dealers who they use and or ,as has been said ask Martin for a name or two and then ask them for their references. Not every authorized repair center is the same.

A couple of pics of the bridge.
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/leebman/S3400083.jpg
http://i256.photobucket.com/albums/hh170/leebman/S3400084.jpg