1938 Martin 00-18 | "Little Wing" performed by Vance Gilbert

1938 is a transitional year for Martin flattops: it's when the manufacturer moved to what's known as "rear-shifted" (i.e. a bit further back from the edge of the sound hole) X-bracing. And this 00-18, serial number 71642, is amongst the earliest guitars to receive the new bracing pattern (it was stamped on November 17, 1938, and cleared final inspection on May 31, 1939).
We acquired the guitar from the son of what we sentimentally think of as its original owner. As the story goes, "Dad" purchased the guitar in a pawn shop in 1940; so someone had owned it for about a year before that. Perhaps the first owner was someone who just didn't take to the guitar after receiving it as a gift. Perhaps they were forced to sell due to the tough economic climate of the day. But whatever the case was, "Dad" took to this guitar very much, performing with it and playing it every day up until his passing approximately 25 years ago.
The many hours logged on this 00-18 are evident in its voice: it's an amazing sounding guitar, bafflingly lightweight and responsive, with huge low end for its size alongside beautiful warmth and roundness of tone. The 14-fret 00 may be the ideal small-bodied guitar; and the incredible amount of tone per pound lurking in this one is enough to convince any player it should be their one and only.
View this guitar on our website: themusicempori...
Please follow ‪@vancegilbert1‬ here on KZbin!

[@MrHandleman123]

I wasn’t prepared for his voice. Great stuff all around.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Vance is the man!

[@kevinc5234]

Thank you Mr. Gilbert! Fine, fine, fine!

[@stevelarkin4385]

Not just the beautiful playing, but the voice! Damn!, 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Oh, and the shoes!! 😎

[@themusicemporiumboston]

The shoes :)

[@renmazzolo9676]

So good! Thank you friend. Sending peace and love from sunny Sydney Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺❤️

[@failingonthefive]

Great to see and hear you Vance! Much love.

[@Samtzu]

In 1974 a friend found a 00-18 in a thrift store. It had three strings on it and a beat up case, was filthy and stuck in a corner. He was amazed. He asked the lady "How much for the guitar?" and she said $15..... he stood there speechless, so she said, "Remeber, that's WITH the case..." Best deal I've ever heard of. It had a sweet, sweet sound and played easily. Rudy, if yop're out there, I haven't forgotten.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

What a story!

[@dhulbert855]

Very very nice!! Great acoustic guitar! Great voice! Great arrangement!

[@zenbuddha3818]

I enjoy people expressing themselves freely without an agenda or trying to sound or be a certain way for self perceived public approval. Somewhere along the way, we lost that. Thank you.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Thanks for noticing!

[@vladi7441]

WOW such good playing and voice!

[@FrankDeLalla]

This is great! 🫶🇺🇸🙏👊🫵👑

[@321novrain]

Outstanding!!!!

[@ravingcyclist624]

Awesome! I have the 1959 version of this guitar. Bought it in Monterey CA. Excellent rich sound. Thanks for the video!

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Glad you enjoyed the performance!

[@dextersloan]

perfection

[@gbretz9494]

So rocking!

[@JohnAdamsofBraintree]

Love the sound

[@tylerjewell7561]

Would love to hear a demo where the notes really ring out like an Alison Krauss-type song. I can tell this thing is musical as all get out!

[@markphelps588]

Awesome. Thanks, Vance.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

You're welcome!

[@euan724]

Wow, great interpretation, thanks.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Glad you liked it!

[@michealofloinn2539]

Beautiful indeed 👍

[@gregoryrekitt9375]

Thank you brother, loved it!❤

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@5thlevelweb887]

Cool interpretation!

[@jimmypilgrim]

Superb rendition.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Thanks a lot

[@kd_kissed]

Supernice! 😍

[@Time.Space.Heal.]

Beautiful

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@lloydthayer9093]

💜🙏🏼💜 thanks Vance

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@nicogilio]

Tasty and very touching

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Thanks a lot!

[@daniele.82]

Wow ❤

[@tagzedawg]

I'm so sorry we never got to hear Hendrix's fabled follow-up to this, Regular-Size Wing. It was said to be very much like this song, but just that much better.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

HA!

[@joelsrebnick4011]

For those of you just discovering Vance Gilbert here, go find a video of him performing his song "Unfamiliar Moon." You will not be disappointed.

[@johnsipple4113]

Beautiful !!!

[@tednruth453]

Shoes 🎉

[@jeffhildreth9244]

Excellent ! I have owned 16 Martin guitars since 1964.. the first one a 1939 00-17 with a 1 3/4 nut width. Spectacular, sadly stolen in 1965. Purchased for $4 (four) dollars. I had Martin build a custom replica of this guitar with upgrades such as ebony finger board and bridge. When it arrived and it was built so badly it was never played. Not for 1 minute. Returned for warranty repair. Months went buy.. enough.. where is my guitar.. to quote "customer service" dept. (not remotely) "oh, the guitar was unrepairable and destroyed. They did not own it, I did, I gave them no such permission. In the time they had it they could have built another and did not. I struggled to get a refund. Lost $275 to not own this guitar. Though I will never buy another new Martin owing to their decline in materials, workmanship and customer service.. I will still buy used. I currently have a 1997 0000-1 and a 2015 00-18V with highly figured mahogany backs and sides. I have never seen another like it. Unfortunately it has exhibited one of the failings common to many Martins of the this era, "shrinkng" binding. For which they should, but will not, call all of them in, whether original or subsequent owner, and fix them no charge. That is the New Martin Corp.

[@themusicemporiumboston]

Thanks for sharing your experience, that's really unfortunate!

[@jeffhildreth9244]

@@themusicemporiumboston I gave you the short version. Between 2000 and 211 I bought 8 new Martins. Of the eight, 5 required returning to Martin.. of those only one was corrected. Example.. Custom D-18 VS.. Arrived. Opened case all the braces had separated from the top and back The glue had turned to white powder.. D-18 Golden Era. After one month the guitar was all but impossible to play. According to the owner/dealer, Bob November.. owner Mac Kenzie River Music, the neck had twisted and needed replacement. Guitar was returned.

[@dougjardine-r9e]

what is the mic please? perfecto performio

[@themusicemporiumboston]

AKG C414

[@dougjardine-r9e]

@@themusicemporiumboston thank you sounds amazing

[@SuperEdge67]

He needs more colourful shoes.

[@ilgenio1813]

se aggiusta un po la chitarra (meno scale) se la cava

[@Gamerooster51]

Ill take Tuck and Patti's version.

[@petecholes422]

take em all dude

[@vancegilbert1958]

Hahahah. Note that It took two of them. I think they’d approve- they’re friends mine and I used to tour with them- they played on my first album, Mr. 🐔 Roostergame

[@JoeandAngie]

Old hippie lol. I grew up.

[@rede5426]

Shame had to play an electric classic on an acoustic. Doesn't compare. Better to do an acoustic classic on an acoustic guitar ala Warm & Windy, Angie, etc.

[@petecholes422]

not a shame at all except on you