A vintage 1952 Martin 5-18 acoustic guitar. Serial #125091. Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides, and a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

This guitar is unique in that it is the smallest guitar in the Martin catalog. However, its small size doesn't mean small sound, as the guitar has a fair amount of volume and projection, sometimes even more projection than a standard-sized guitar. Martin guitars, beginning in the late 1800s, became increasingly standardized in their sizes, and went through 1-5, with 1 being the largest and 5 the smallest. The "5" designates this acoustic's unique size, which is slightly smaller than 3/4 size. The 5-18 is actually considered a "Terz" guitar, a German tradition of guitars tuned a minor third higher. 5-18s can certainly be played with standard tuning, but tuned at least two frets above standard pitch, their sound comes alive. It has a 16" body length with a 21.5" scale. It has an 11.25" lower bout and an 8.25" upper bout. C.F. Martin, Sr. was deeply influenced by the designs of Johan Stauffer, an important Austrian luthier, and was familiar with Stauffer’s terz guitars. Some surviving Martins of the 1830s and ’40s are terz guitars, and have a scale of 22".The guitar is in good condition. There are several nicks and scratches on the body of the guitar from use.

The guitar is in good condition. There are several nicks and scratches on the body of the guitar from use.