Need Some Mahogany 00 Recs

[EnsgnOfIndustry]

I'm more of an electric player, and while I love my old Taylor 810, it served its purpose in the 90's as a loud flat-picking strummer, and I've since changed my style. It's also too large for me in the body.

I am now looking for a concert sized one and done acoustic, definitely short scale, and likely 12 fret to give it a little more oomph. I play single note finger style, blues, and light strumming, and tend to have a light touch. No blue-grass or chickin' pickin'. I dig the Otis Taylor sound. Haunting and dark

Have had a chance to play a Martin 00-17 Authentic for some time. Things that sold me:
1) lightweight and resonant
2) exceptional fit and finish.
3) <25" short scale
4) plenty of volume for my needs (finger style and pickless strumming).
5) Emphasis on the mids with a nice dark growl but not muffled when pushed.
6) Absence of brassy treble response. No "ride cymbal" sharpness.

The things that won't work for me at this price point:
1) neck is too wide. I like beefier strat necks and can tolerate an R9 but this neck is too wide for me despite having a tapered V.
2) String spacing is too wide at the bridge.
3) Action is a bit high out the box.

I guess that's it. Only three issues but they are big issues, especially since I play electric 80% of the time and switching back-and-forth between my electric necks and this neck probably won't work for me if this would be my only acoustic.

So, what are my options? I do like mahogany back and sides. Is there another top wood other than hog that wouldn't excentaute the brass? A softer spruce (Engelmann?) a stiffer spruce (Adirondack?), redwood? Consider vintage 00-17s with 1 3/4" nut? I'd like to stay south of $5k.
Thanks in advance.

[coopman]

Hey Ensgn,

I have no affiliation with the seller (though he had a very good reputation here!), but check out McKnight that's for sale in the classifieds. That should check all the boxes for you, and some you haven't realized yet! I recently sold another McKnight 00, and I can assure you that Tim's work is stellar.

Happy hunting,

John

[Cameleye]

I absolutely love my Collings Waterloo WL-12 Mh, a shore scale all mahogany 12 fretter. I have several old Martins here at home for comparison but the WL gets all the play time lately. Couldn't be more pleased.

[brandall10]

Originally Posted by EnsgnOfIndustry

Consider vintage 00-17s with 1 3/4" nut? I'd like to stay south of $5k.

The main issue is vintage 1 3/4" Martins are 14 frets (and on the pricey side, but doable in your range). But good ones will sound shockingly good so I think it's a worthwhile journey to take.

If that's okay, you probably should focus on wartime 00-17s... a bit cheaper than prewars, and you'll get a narrower neck/bridge spacing. (1 11/16 / 2 1/8). Most 30s Martins will have the 1 3/4" nut, but also the 2 5/16" spacing which is on the wide side and pretty close to what you experienced with the authentic.

The main drawback is the 2 1/8 at the bridge is somewhat narrow for fingerstyle. What you can do is simply nudge the strings a bit further apart at the saddle and they should hold fine with friction, or you could get a new saddle and have a tech notch a 2 3/16" spacing.

You should be able to get a really good narrow necked, scalloped braced 00-17 ('39-'44) in the 3-4k area, minimal issues, recently serviced, if you're willing to hunt a bit from a private seller, and easily under $5k from a dealer. For some reason none are popping up on Reverb right now, but typically there are at least a few for sale.

[leinad]

taylor 322ce 12fret-i have one and is so sweet sounding-does not sound like the typical taylor

gibson studio L00 i've played this and liked it- also a standard and deluxe- i also own a gibson parlor ag (small bodied guitar)and is a cutaway that i really enjoy playing

martin ceo7 or 9 are on my short list, and i have not plated either

i'm a lefty so i have limited chances to play many of the fine 00 size guitars

[Eryc74]

If you get a chance to try out a Bourgeois OO Country Boy.

It has Mahogany back and sides, is short scale, and plays like a dream - it will be a very comfortable guitar to play for someone coming from the electric side of things.

[MWB5007]

Both the Collings and Santa Cruz (my decided preference is for the Don Edwards over the 1929 - yours will be too if you value the fretboard real estate) ....can be had for under $5k.

Both are exceptional guitars - I have owned both more than once.

The 00-18 Authentic can be had used for under $5K and it might just be Martins best current Mahogany guitar in the Martin lineup - Adirondack top adds to the power but gives up some woodiness.

The Martin Norman Blake is also a fantastic guitar but a bit harder to find.

Three guitars are really nice instruments in every way and you couldn't go wrong with one of them.

[MBee]

I have a Webber 14 Fret OO mahogany sitka that is wonderful -- light, resonant, clear, amazingly well finished. If you can find a used one they are puzzingly cheap.

[M Hayden]

Just about every maker does a mahogany 12-fret 00 now - SCGC, Collings, Huss and Dalton, Bourgeois, Martin, et cetera. They’re all pretty good, too. I’ve played some 00-17s that have had smaller necks, and that’s nice, and then I have a 00-29 with a larger neck that’s not bad, either.

[Lillis]

Check out the custom Martin 0015S at LA guitars. 24.9 scale but it does have the 1 3/4 neck but it’s the MLO. 2k for satin 2.3k for gloss.

[FreDrummer]

I just recently picked this up used: a Martin 00-17s used for $1100 (2015 serial number). Martin was shooting for the 1930’s “catalog guitar look,” but updated it for us modern guys with the MLO neck. I’m loving it. It oozes the old bluesmen’s sound often played on cheaper guitars, but, hey, it’s a Martin, and there is a lot more “there” there with Martin tonal complexity. Put another way, it’s meant to look like a cheap guitar, but has the Martin quality and mojo.

Does it sound like a Dred? Of course not! It’s a parlor sized guitar. Great bass response for it’s size, and well balanced across the strings. Scooped mids. Oh yeah...it’s amazingly loud when strummed.

On the right, next to a Dred:






I just made a StewMac Tortoloid pickguard for it (I’m a pickguard guy):

[FreDrummer]

Originally Posted by Lillis

Check out the custom Martin 0015S at LA guitars. 24.9 scale but it does have the 1 3/4 neck but it’s the MLO. 2k for satin 2.3k for gloss.

I saw those also. Very cool.

I know a lot of players feel like a 12-fretter should have the slotted headstock, but from my research, isn’t a paddle headstock (as on my 00-17s) more accurate for a 1930’s-ish guitar? Not to mention, string changes are a lot more straightforward...

[brandall10]

Originally Posted by Eryc74

If you get a chance to try out a Bourgeois OO Country Boy.

It has Mahogany back and sides, is short scale, and plays like a dream - it will be a very comfortable guitar to play for someone coming from the electric side of things.

Ooh... that actually reminds me that Dana has the Deuce Coupe. That's basically like a Norman Blake 00, which is a 12 fret in a 14 fret body. Bridge right in the sweet spot.

And the great thing about the smaller Bourgeois's is they often come with a goldilocks nut and string spacing (not all, but the default does), which is 1.72" nut, 2.22" string spacing.

The only issue is I don't think I've seen one with a hog top, and to get one custom ordered would be north of $5k. Very cool guitar for sure.

Beyond that, as mentioned above, the SCGC 1929 OO would be an excellent choice. On the used market you can get these just under $3k, all hog, and get an electric player friendly 2 3/16" spacing.

[pegleghowell]

I wouldn`t discount looking at a Gibson L-00 of some sort.

[Blueser100]

Martin 00-18?