Martin Custom 000 (000-18 Norman Blake-ish) REDUCED

[hesson11]

Price Reduced: $2,550 plus shipping
Payment: PayPal or cashiers/personal check after clearance

This Custom-Shop 000’s specs are almost identical to those of the now-discontinued 000-18 Norman Blake. The only significant exceptions are a low-profile neck rather than the original modified-V and the absence of a pickguard (full specs below). It was ordered through My Favorite Guitars and delivered in January of 2009. It is in superb condition, as is the original hardshell case.

The guitar is set up with a low action for my fingerstyle playing with a light touch (4/64” treble, 5/64” bass, very little relief). And it is an absolute cannon, certainly among the loudest, most responsive guitars I’ve ever played. No pick has ever been used on this guitar, and it has been played only in my home. Apologies for the sorry photo quality; I obviously am clueless about photography.

After receiving the guitar, I had a new nut made, reducing the string spacing at the nut very slightly to spacing that is typical of a 1-3/4” nut width. String spacing is now 1.49” as opposed to the original 1.56” (center E to center e).

(Note: I’m a long-time forum member, but to avoid temptation, my appearances here have fallen off lately because my hand injuries have made it a bit more difficult for me to play, especially steel-string guitars—also the reason for this sale, along with unexpected recent medical bills).

http://www.martinguitar.com/model/it...man-blake.html

Below are the specs for the standard 000-18 NB, with the changes made to my custom guitar noted in boldface:
CONSTRUCTION: Mahogany Blocks/Dovetail Neck Joint
BODY SIZE: 000-14 Fret
TOP: Solid Italian Alpine Spruce
ROSETTE: Style 28 - Black/White Fiber
TOP BRACING PATTERN: Unique Top Bracing Pattern
TOP BRACES: Solid Sitka Spruce 1/4''
BACK MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany
BACK PURFLING: Style 18
SIDE MATERIAL: Solid Genuine Mahogany
ENDPIECE: Delmar Tortoise Color - Brown
ENDPIECE INLAY: none
BINDING: Tortoise Color
TOP INLAY STYLE: Multiple Black/White Boltaron
SIDE INLAY: none
BACK INLAY: none
NECK MATERIAL: Select Hardwood
NECK SHAPE: Low Profile Rather than stock Modified V
NUT MATERIAL: Bone
HEADSTOCK: Solid/Square Taper
HEADPLATE: Solid East Indian Rosewood /Golden Era Style
HEELCAP: Tortoise Color
FINGERBOARD MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
SCALE LENGTH: 24.9''
# OF FRETS CLEAR: 12
# OF FRETS TOTAL: 19
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT NUT: 1-13/16''
FINGERBOARD WIDTH AT 12TH FRET: 2-5/16''
FINGERBOARD POSITION INLAYS: Diamonds & Squares - Long Pattern Golden Era (Just Diamonds & Squares, no Long Pattern)
FINGERBOARD BINDING: none
FINISH BACK & SIDES: Polished Gloss
FINISH TOP: Polished Gloss
FINISH NECK: Satin
BRIDGE MATERIAL: Solid Black Ebony
BRIDGE STYLE: Pyramid w/ Drop-In Saddle
BRIDGE STRING SPACING: 2-5/16''
SADDLE: 16'' Radius/Compensated/Bone
TUNING MACHINES: Waverly Nickel w/ Ivoroid Butterbean Knobs
RECOMMENDED STRINGS: Martin Studio Performance Light Phosphor Bronze
BRIDGE & END PINS: Solid Black Ebony
PICKGUARD: None
CASE: 532 Geib style
INTERIOR LABEL: Simply "Custom" rather than stock 000-18 NB label

Thanks very much, and feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Thanks a lot.
-Bob

[capemjs]

Wow this is an awesome guitar! For on lookers Id like to see more pictures.

[Creekside Guitar]

Nice guitar but you should avoid USPS shipping. Their tracking is terrible and they constantly delay shipments.

[dhcod]

Originally Posted by Creekside Guitar

Nice guitar but you should avoid USPS shipping. Their tracking is terrible and they constantly delay shipments.

Unless you do the Priority one day. That's the best way of shipping a guitar that I've found. Other services will leave it outside and let it freeze. Had that problem with both UPS and Fedex ground this winter.

[hesson11]

Originally Posted by capemjs

Wow this is an awesome guitar! For on lookers Id like to see more pictures.

By popular demand! These may be just a tiny bit better. The top appears more orange/yellow in the photos than it does in person, though. It's aging quite nicely (unlike me).









Regarding shipping, I'd be glad to use other services. I know you hear horror stories about every service, but I've had nothing but absolutely stellar experiences with the good ole Postal Service on several shipments. And an acquaintance who ships dozens of guitars a year swears by them.

Thanks very much for your interest.
-Bob

[capemjs]

Another bump! Goregous guitar!

[bigshoe]

They won't if you require a signature.

Originally Posted by dhcod

Unless you do the Priority one day. That's the best way of shipping a guitar that I've found. Other services will leave it outside and let it freeze. Had that problem with both UPS and Fedex ground this winter.

[hesson11]

I promised myself I would not be overdo the bumping thing, but this is a really fine guitar that I'm sure will make someone very happy. Thanks for looking.
-Bob

[woodbox]

Here I am again, beseeching help from my fellow AGF members.
Yasee, it's like this: if one of you buys this, I'll stop thinking about buying it, and I'll congratulate you publicly.

I have no affiliation here, (yet) with seller other than one PM exchange, so let's help out here by bumping it up so ONE OF YOU buys this very interesting and rare instrument.

[hesson11]

Love the post, woodbox. But there's no need to stop thinking about buying it! Go right ahead. :-)

-Bob

[hesson11]

Still available. I know—I can't believe it, either!!

Thanks so much for looking.
-Bob

[hesson11]

Price reduced to $2,700 plus shipping for a great guitar.

-Bob

[pg60]

Truly shocked this is still here! The Norman Blake's get snapped up quick and this seems even better with your customizations. I can't do 1 13/16" nut, but the spacing adjustment you made to the nut sure makes it tempting...

Do you have this up @ UMGF? Somebody needs to buy this so I stop drooling over it.

[hesson11]

Thanks, PG60. Yes, I listed it a while ago on UMGF but have not re-listed it in a while (they've got that no-bump rule, you know). Thanks.
-Bob

[hesson11]

Still available, folks!
-Bob