Martin 5-18 Terz 1949

The Martin 5-18 Terz is a special guitar, with the charm and tonal beauty that only a vintage Martin can offer. This parlor-sized guitar, known for its comfortable playability and rich tone, showcases the expert craftsmanship and quality materials for which Martin is renowned.

Originally designed as part of the Germanic tradition of "terz" guitars, it was intended to be tuned a minor third higher than standard pitch, ideal for solo performances and harmonies. This instrument gained further recognition in the 1950s and 1960s thanks to its association with Marty Robbins, who frequently used its distinctive sound on stage.

The guitar features a mahogany neck and back and sides with a Sitka spruce top, as Martin stopped using Adirondacks as standard on its guitars after World War II. Underneath the top, we find non-scalloped bracing, while the guitar's exterior features typical 18-style adornments in the form of a tortoiseshell binding and pickguard, and a multi-line rosette and purfling.

The neck has a soft V profile and a rosewood fingerboard with a 16-inch radius, ensuring smooth playability and comfort. Mother-of-pearl dot inlays and a rosewood headstock overlay contribute to the guitar's vintage aesthetic. The original open-gear tuners ensure stable tuning and accurate intonation, while the rosewood bridge offers excellent string action and sustain.

The guitar has been thoroughly overhauled, with several repairs. For example, we see a large patch on the bass side of the soundboard, and a crack has been repaired on the bass side of the headstock. The bridge and fingerboard have also been reglued, and the tuners have a new gear and screw, easily identifiable by their color. Furthermore, a cleat has been glued in the inside of the soundboard, several braces have been reglued, and the bridge plate has been repaired with a plate mate. The body has also been refinished, and the top has been oversprayed.

Technically, the action higher up the neck is a bit high, with a bridge saddle. A neck reset may be necessary in the future to optimally adjust the neck angle. However, the guitar currently plays well and has the tone you expect from a vintage Martin.