Custom Shop Build Overview

This Martin Custom Shop 000-18 is a beautifully executed take on the classic mahogany 000 platform, combining vintage-inspired appointments with premium Custom Shop tonewoods.

The guitar features a hand-selected Adirondack spruce top paired with traditional mahogany back and sides. Adirondack spruce is prized for its stiffness and dynamic range, producing excellent projection and headroom while maintaining clarity under both light and aggressive playing styles.

A unique visual highlight is the CFM logo rendered in select abalone, adding an elegant Custom Shop touch to the headstock.

Tone & Performance

The 000 body size is well known for its balanced voice and comfortable feel. Paired with an Adirondack top and forward-shifted Golden Era bracing, this guitar delivers strong projection, clear note separation, and excellent responsiveness.

Focused midrange with excellent clarity
Warm, woody mahogany character
Excellent articulation for fingerstyle playing
Strong dynamic range for flatpicking and strumming

The slightly shorter 24.9" scale length gives the guitar a relaxed feel under the fingers while maintaining the responsiveness players expect from a premium Martin.

Custom Shop Craftsmanship

Built in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, this Custom Shop instrument incorporates Martin’s traditional dovetail neck joint and solid tonewood construction to maximize resonance and long-term stability.

The guitar features forward-shifted Golden Era scalloped Adirondack bracing, allowing the top to vibrate freely while producing a lively and powerful voice.

The modern straightline bridge adds a vintage aesthetic while maintaining excellent structural stability and tonal transfer.