Martin 00-17 14 fret replica? - Page 2

blindboyjimi · #16 04-15-2021, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Oh dilemma of dilemmas!....But really, for me, for fingerpicking blues, give me a 1937 Martin 00-17 with 1 3/4” nut please! (Would I sell my 44 0-17 if I bought a 37 00-17? Nope, they are too hard to find these days!)
BluesKing777.

The 00-17A is a great guitar and I wouldn’t be put off by the 1 7/8” nut as someone else said, the shape is perfect and it’s like playing a 1 3/4” 14 fret guitar capo’d at the second fret. The least expensive I’ve seen a 00-17A is about $3,500. A good 1934-1939 00-17 will be $4,000-$5,500. The post 1939 guitars will be a lot more affordable but as a big guy too, I have a much easier time going from 1 3/4” to 1 7/8” than I do going from 1 3/4” to 1 11/16”. Also the 2 1/8” saddle on the post 1939 guitars is a bit more tricky to finger pick for me. So if you could afford the Authentic, you can afford the real deal.

I have a 1937 00-17 and have had many small factory copies as well as 7 or 8 0/00/000-15 Martins in 12 and 14 fret. The best all mahogany guitar for the money is a WL-12 Mahogany or a WL-14 Mahogany from Waterloo. I play my WL-12 maple Waterloo as much as my 1935 L-00, 1936 000-18, 1937 00-18H, 1937 000-18 or 1937 00-17. The Waterloo is just as good. They are also making an “aged” version so it’ll look more of the part too. I relic’ed my Waterloo myself.

surfcowboy · #17 04-15-2021, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offkey

I have average size hands and plenty of arthritis yet the 1 and 7/8" nut on my 00 17 Authentic fits me perfectly. Elderly has a used one listed now by the way.

Good to know. My other acoustic and electric are 1 11/16" so I was hoping to avoid the dramatic size difference but I'm sure I could adapt.

surfcowboy · #18 04-15-2021, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindboyjimi

The 00-17A is a great guitar and I wouldnÂ’t be put off by the 1 7/8Â” nut as someone else said, the shape is perfect and itÂ’s like playing a 1 3/4Â” 14 fret guitar capoÂ’d at the second fret. The least expensive IÂ’ve seen a 00-17A is about $3,500. A good 1934-1939 00-17 will be $4,000-$5,500. The post 1939 guitars will be a lot more affordable but as a big guy too, I have a much easier time going from 1 3/4Â” to 1 7/8Â” than I do going from 1 3/4Â” to 1 11/16Â”. Also the 2 1/8Â” saddle on the post 1939 guitars is a bit more tricky to finger pick for me. So if you could afford the Authentic, you can afford the real deal.

I have a 1937 00-17 and have had many small factory copies as well as 7 or 8 0/00/000-15 Martins in 12 and 14 fret. The best all mahogany guitar for the money is a WL-12 Mahogany or a WL-14 Mahogany from Waterloo. I play my WL-12 maple Waterloo as much as my 1935 L-00, 1936 000-18, 1937 00-18H, 1937 000-18 or 1937 00-17. The Waterloo is just as good. They are also making an Â“agedÂ” version so itÂ’ll look more of the part too. I relicÂ’ed my Waterloo myself.

In all honesty, I'm hoping to spend closer to the 2 to 3k range, so the authentic or vintage options would be stretch and availability seems to be low.

I played a friend's Waterloo WL-12 and really liked the feel and sound of it. I like the Waterloo minimal, depression era aesthetic as well. Do you have any photos of your relic'ed waterloo?

blindboyjimi · #19 04-15-2021, 01:39 PM

Here you go:
IMG_1618515529.865511.jpg
IMG_1618515549.474470.jpg
IMG_1618515572.820542.jpg
IMG_1618515587.216945.jpg

zoopeda · #20 04-15-2021, 01:55 PM

You can find the 00-17 Authentic for $3k if you're lucky. I've played 2 Waterloos and thought they were awesome too. Good luck!

BluesKing777 · #21 04-15-2021, 05:00 PM

Of course it would be easier if Martin brought out a mahogany top 00 with full dovetail and 1 3/4 nut, but because of the current 17 series, it would have to be a 00-18 Extra Special or something...it would be good to get some bridge spacing too! Keep the 18 series price!

Custom would be something like this sinker mahogany 00-17 custom:

https://www.themusiczoo.com/products...guitar-natural

P.S. My (early build) Waterloo WL-14s are the perfect neck and space for me, but I kind of think of them as a Gibson/Kalamazoo sound.

BluesKing777.

Maryc-k · #22 04-15-2021, 07:29 PM

Prices on new “aged” models are eclipsing the vintage models. Good on Pre-War to acknowledge that.

surfcowboy · #23 04-17-2021, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maryc-k

Prices on new “aged” models are eclipsing the vintage models. Good on Pre-War to acknowledge that.

I figured this would be their response but I still wanted to know for sure. The price of the 30s 17 series has seemed to rise fairly significantly in the last decade or so. In in my research I found quite a few on old forum threads talking about getting them for around $1-2k. Current reverb price guide is in the $2,500 to 4,500 range.

dnf777 · #24 04-17-2021, 03:27 PM

If it hasnt already been suggested, why not talk with the Martin custom shop? Of course, even with relatively inexpensive tonewoods, and hardly any bling...a custom build would likely be above a vintage model on the market. If they could build what you want, there are certainly advantages to that as well. They *might* even have original spec sheets and plans?

dadio917 · #25 04-17-2021, 04:45 PM

my '37 00-17 is about my favorite guitar. Perfect size and feel and sounds fantastic. Looks like it's been through the ringer which makes me like it even more. If you can swing it, buy one. I've been intrigued the Santa Cruz 1929 00-17 especially in 12 fret. Never played one but hope to one of these days. For the price though I'd find a "real" one.

surfcowboy · #26 04-17-2021, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dnf777

If it hasnt already been suggested, why not talk with the Martin custom shop? Of course, even with relatively inexpensive tonewoods, and hardly any bling...a custom build would likely be above a vintage model on the market. If they could build what you want, there are certainly advantages to that as well. They *might* even have original spec sheets and plans?

The custom shop was my original idea, along the lines of the custom shop created by music villa in the original video I posted. I have inquired about this option and hope to hear back next week. I'm expecting that it'll come in over the cost of vintage though.

BluesKing777 · #27 04-17-2021, 06:07 PM

What about a mahogany Collings used?

Artisan guitars have this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3nHrG2AUj4

Artisan also have a NEW all mahogany OM1 MH.....

BluesKing777.

zoopeda · #28 04-17-2021, 06:33 PM

You know, I’ve never played one, but I’ve heard a lot of great things about the Santa Cruz 00 1929...

https://reverb.com/item/38055728-san...RoCwGAQAvD_BwE

TJNies · #29 04-20-2021, 10:47 AM

A 1958 Martin 00-17 was just posted for sale at UMGF (no affiliation):

https://umgf.com/1958-martin-00-17-t....html#p2597042

By the way, I always felt I needed a 1 3/4" nut, but find with a thicker neck carve than the MLO, it makes the 1 11/16" workable. I adore my recent 1944 00-18 so much I sold a custom shop 00-30 with 1 3/4".