Martin 000-1 / Stickers, smoke and more stickers...

[Daniel P]

I can't pass up an interesting project, even when my bench is already full. I think the OM is the most versatile acoustic body/scale length combo. Easily fits under your arm, and with the longer 25.4" scale length, has the projection and power that I like. I posted about this elsewhere, but thought you all might enjoy this little project as well.


So when a mid-'90s Martin 000-1 popped up for a deal, I couldn't pass it up. They gave this guitar a 000 designation, but with the long 25.4' scale, its by all measure an OM. These were only made for a few years - solid spruce top, solid mahogany back, mahogany laminate sides, tortoise binding, rosewood bridge and fingerboard. A-frame bracing being the primary difference from a standard 000-18.

Covered with stickers, and wreaking of smoke, this is not a show piece. It's a players guitar, through and through. Clearly there are a few layers to peel back to see what I've really got...

[Daniel P]

Great news is that the previous owner didn't change strings very often, and the bridge plate is in really good shape.
Pickup popped right off - I love removing pickups from acoustics - set them free! I try to remove 2 for every one I install.

[Daniel P]

[Daniel P]

Most of the stickers peeled off with ease. I used naphtha to get any stubborn residue, and it cleaned up pretty well.

The top has some interesting bear claw figure. There are, of course some cracks in the back, and one in the top that will bee to be glued and cleated - easy.

This guitar has had a lot of hours of play over the last 20+ years. Some pick wear "mojo" around the sound hole.



I ended up using Ozium to help reduce the smoke smell inside the box- sprayed onto a folded paper towel, suspended inside the body, hanging from the strings so that it wouldn't touch the wood. Laid the guitar on it's back, and draped a towel over the sound hole to keep the Ozium fumes in. Smells like its working pretty well to neutralize the previous smoke smell. I'm doing a second overnight treatment, and we'll see whats left of the old smoker.

I do not know if Ozium fumes would effect lacquer, so I'm not yet ready to recommend this for use on a nice guitar. But I was willing to take a risk with one. I did not spray it anywhere near the instrument - only onto a paper towel that I hung inside the instrument.

This is the stuff:
https://www.amazon.com/Ozium-Air-Saniti ... B000CSWCAG

[Daniel P]

There were a few loose braces and a back crack (right at the kerfing) to deal with.

[Daniel P]

[John Parchem]

nice repair and restoration. Look better than new.