'54 Martin 00-17 mahogany...anybody know about these?

charlie chitlin · Feb 16, 2018

A friend asked me to give it a tune up.
BIG divots by the cowboy chords, but it was her grandpa's guitar and I'm not making any big changes.
1 really worn nut slot that I'll fill.
Here's the biggy...
Is there no truss rod?
The neck has a bit of back bow, but it's got light strings...11's I think.
I'm pretty sure I strung this up for her a couple years (!!) ago and gave it light strings because she doesn't play much.
I'll probably string it with 13s.
BTW...I LOVE this guitar.
The old mahogany sounds so sweet, yet punchy.
Nice honk from the small body.
Pronounced V to the neck.
Just gorgeous.
Grandpa's homemade picks in the case pocket.
Remnants of a rattlesnake rattle inside.
He was a full-blood Arapaho, and was quite a guy.

Viejo · Feb 16, 2018

There should be a non adjustable metal tube truss rod. I think the only way to adjust the neck is compression fretting.

Stubee · Feb 17, 2018

I had a ‘53. Punchy little thing, great for recording. No adjustable truss rod. 13s might be a bit much for the top & bracing, maybe try 12s and let her go for awhile. It can easily handle 12s.

toomuchfun · Feb 19, 2018

The truss rod should be a T shaped steel non adjustable truss rod. You can verify with a magnet. There are a few '53 models with ebony truss rods, not sure about '54. It should take mediums strings (.013), I'd make sure the bridge plate isn't too chewed up first.

A lot of people used to put snake rattles in their guitars. There are a variety of stories why, I go with it removes spider webs on the inside of guitars that usually stay out of their cases.

Please post a photo, I love those old mahogany tops.

CK Dexter Haven · Feb 19, 2018

I had a '57 on consignment in the shop a few years back, would have like to grabbed it , but they wanted a good bit, too much apparently as it went back to the owner after a while. Nice guitar though it could have used a neck set. Played Ok w/ lights.

charlie chitlin · Feb 19, 2018

I'm thinking that there wasn't much available lighter than 13s when this one was made; but this will be the first time I've set relief with string gauge.
I'll start with 12s and keep a set of 13s at the ready.
I love the sound of this guitar!
I must be a mahogany guy...some of my favorite electrics are made of it, too.

Random1643 · Feb 19, 2018

Just 2 cents from someone who has never been much impressed with Martin guitars, but really liked a few of their 00 and 000 all mahogany instruments over the years. I'm a percussive, bare-fingers picker and that small body mahogany guitar just seems to suit me; like Stubee says, they're "punchy" sounding. That said, watch for level of fretboard friendliness. While I played a couple that had 1 7/8" width at the nut, many of the 1950s and 60s vintage models seem to be 1 11/16" at the nut and >something< - string spacing? - really cramps my not very large fretting hand. Make sure you have room to move. Again, just my experience.

Paul in Colorado · Feb 19, 2018

I bought one some years ago, It might have been from the '30's. It had been damaged. Lots of cracks. At some point it had been refinished and gold Grover tuning keys were added. I had it restored and gave it to one of my best buddies in appreciation for all the times he helped me out and took care of me over the years. It was a sweet little guitar.

Guild made an all mahogany guitar, too. I can't remember the model. I dated at least three woman who owned them. I sort of think of them as "girl guitars" because of that. Well, I did know one guy who had one, too. I just thought it funny when I came over to see someone and when she told me she had a guitar it was one of those Guilds. Maybe I'll make that a requirement if I ever go on a dating website.

CK Dexter Haven · Feb 19, 2018

Paul in Colorado said:
Guild made an all mahogany guitar, too. I can't remember the model. I dated at least three woman who owned them. I sort of think of them as "girl guitars" because of that. Well, I did know one guy who had one, too. I just thought it funny when I came over to see someone and when she told me she had a guitar it was one of those Guilds. Maybe I'll make that a requirement if I ever go on a dating website.

M-20 I belive they were a bit smaller more like a 0 size or at least they had a narrower waist, I had a MIC version a few years ago I got from MF S&D for next to nothing, I repaired the top crack, and it played great, excellent case was included, I sold it when I began the journey to "all Vintage" but I probably should have maed an exception.

charlie chitlin · Feb 19, 2018

Paul in Colorado said:
I bought one some years ago, It might have been from the '30's. It had been damaged. Lots of cracks. At some point it had been refinished and gold Grover tuning keys were added. I had it restored and gave it to one of my best buddies in appreciation for all the times he helped me out and took care of me over the years. It was a sweet little guitar.

Guild made an all mahogany guitar, too. I can't remember the model. I dated at least three woman who owned them. I sort of think of them as "girl guitars" because of that. Well, I did know one guy who had one, too. I just thought it funny when I came over to see someone and when she told me she had a guitar it was one of those Guilds. Maybe I'll make that a requirement if I ever go on a dating website.

Well...chalk up another one for the ladies!

Vizcaster · Feb 20, 2018

Martin did not use adjustable truss rods then, only reinforcements of ebony or, more likely, steel.
The backbow might need to be addressed with fret leveling.
I don't know much about heat-press treatment but I'm told it can be done although chances are it's not necessary.

I have a '67 D-35 that's just had a neck reset and refret. There's still a visible hump in the fretboard and zero relief on the bass side, BUT it plays beautifully so be careful not to let the notched straightedge rule your world.

nojazzhere · Feb 20, 2018

My all-time favorite acoustic, because it sounded great and there is sentimental attachment, is a 000-17 (all mahogany) that belongs to an uncle of mine. Don't know exact age, but probably late 1940's-early 1950's. I haven't even seen it since very early '70's....one of his kids has it now, and NONE of them play. Last time I saw it, it was in excellent condition, except it always had high action. Probably never set up properly. (we never knew about that stuff back then) Another cousin, sometime in early 1960's had used a mechanical capo to help the action. Rather than a spring clamp or strap, the capo screwed from the back to clamp onto strings. He had screwed it so tight, it actually dug "divots" into the back of the neck in several places. I had always been told if a Martin neck needed adjusting, the only way to go was a complete "re-set".....major surgery. Thanks for the memories....now I'm going to have to inquire about it.

nojazzhere · Feb 20, 2018

charlie chitlin said:
I'm thinking that there wasn't much available lighter than 13s when this one was made; but this will be the first time I've set relief with string gauge.
I'll start with 12s and keep a set of 13s at the ready.
I love the sound of this guitar!
I must be a mahogany guy...some of my favorite electrics are made of it, too.

Charlie....I, too, love mahogany guitars....Les Paul Jrs, my PRS SE One, and mahogany acoustics. When I ordered a neck for my Telecaster from Warmoth, I specified mahogany. I think about an all mahogany Telecaster, body and neck. I just find it wonderfully resonant....great "tonewood".

charlie chitlin · Feb 20, 2018

That's it...I'm getting mahogany underpants.

noah330 · Feb 20, 2018

I would not put 13s on it. Here is my 50s 00-21. It's a glorious sounding guitar:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/114oM8eRJyLmK2WwDPyl_F0_sDL8MSiEx/view?usp=sharing

I use 11s on it. These aren't really braced for really heavy strings.

charlie chitlin · Feb 22, 2018

12s worked. 11s didn't.
Such an amazing guitar.
When strummed hard the sound just jumps out.
I feel like other acoustics I've played had tube rectifiers and this one is solid state.
It also reacts to different picks more noticeably than anything I've ever played.
It loves thin picks.
Grandpa knew...they were in the case pocket.