1937 Martin 00-18H Shadetop - Conversion

For your consideration, Garrett Park Guitars presents this exceptional 1937 Martin 00-18H Shadetop, expertly converted for Spanish-style playing while preserving its unmistakable pre-war character.

Produced between approximately 1935 and 1941, with total output of only around 250 instruments, the 00-18H stands among the rarer pre-war 00-size Martins. Originally conceived as a 12-fret Hawaiian-style steel-string for lap playing, it was built with a solid Adirondack spruce top, mahogany back and sides, scalloped Adirondack X-bracing, a mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard and bridge. Factory specifications included a high nut and straight saddle for slide technique, reflecting the Hawaiian music craze of the era. Even so, the platform itself—lightly built, short-scale, and remarkably responsive—has long made these guitars ideal candidates for thoughtful Spanish conversions.

Visually, this example embodies the understated Style 18 elegance. The original Shadetop nitrocellulose finish has aged gracefully, highlighting the tight Adirondack grain beneath. Appointments include tortoise celluloid binding, a black-and-white multi-ring rosette, simple purfling, and a thin fiber back strip—all hallmarks of Martin’s restrained mid-’30s aesthetic. The slotted peghead retains its original nickel strip tuners, completing the classic pre-war presentation.

Converted by master luthier Taras Andre of Annapolis, the instrument now features a properly radiused 16" ebony fingerboard, fitted with bar frets for an authentically vintage feel. A precise neck reset and newly cut, compensated bone saddle ensure excellent action and spot-on intonation across its 24.9" short scale. The result is an instrument that feels cohesive and purpose-built—responsive, balanced, and articulate, with the dry, woody immediacy that defines great pre-war mahogany Martins.

This 1937 00-18H represents a rare opportunity to acquire a thoughtfully converted, structurally excellent example of one of Martin’s most elusive pre-war models—equally compelling to the discerning collector and the serious player seeking uncompromising vintage tone.

It comes complete with a hardshell case.

Specifications

Model & Year

• Model: 00-18H converted to Spanish-style
• Year of Manufacture: 1937, converted in 2026
• Serial Number: 65789

Top

• Wood: Adirondack spruce
• Finish: Sunburst ("Shadetop") nitrocellulose
• Rosette: Style 18 muti-ring
• Purfling: Style 18 W/B/W
• Bracing: Scalloped Adirondack spruce
• Bridge Plate: Original maple

Body

• Size/Shape: 00
• Back & Sides: Mahogany
• Binding: Tortoise
• Back Strip: Thin fiber

Neck

• Wood: Mahogany
• Peghead: Slotted
• Shape / Profile: Rounded “V”
• Nut Width: 1.93"
• Scale Length: 24.9"

Fingerboard & Bridge

• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Fingerboard Binding: None
• Bridge: Ebony
• Saddle & Nut: Bone

Hardware

• Tuners: Original strip
• Pickguard: Tortoise

Condition

• Cosmetic: Average play-wear and blemishing for its age
• Structural: Excellent — no cracks, repairs (neck reset notwithstanding), or issues of any kind

Case & Accessories

• Case: Hardshell case