Great Restraint: Martin 0-18

I made a pilgrimage to a "local-ish" music store, Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, California. It is a mere 45-minute drive at 10:30 AM from my house, and it is a big industrial building in a part of Palo Alto that is somewhat gentrifying. Not in a residential sense, but in a business sense. On Lambert off of Park, there is no parking lot, but parking on the street wasn't too bad.

Down Park are some modern office buildings, and a WeWork facility (I was surprised that is still a thing TBH). And a lot of people living in their RV's and campers. That is the curse of Silicon valley, a lot of people who are near homeless, but still likely earning near 6 figures.

The signage is modest, the storefront is plain, but once you walk in, you see row after row of guitars. A small room to the left with Mandolins and classical guitars, a second room with the Mexican made Martins (I played several, and for the dollar, they are AMAZING instruments - I have one on my wall now), and then there are the main event. Mostly Taylors and Martins. The higher value Martins are behind velvet ropes that politely advise you to ask for assistance. In there were several -45's and custom shop specials, but also the 17 series (they were above, and you need to ask the staff for a footstool to pull them down, a wise precaution), and the -18 series that are the Sitka spruce tops, with Honduran Mahogany back and sides. These were my main interest.

I spied in the back, in a corner, a rare beast, the 0-18. The 0 is the smallest body style, neck attached to the body at the 14th fret, with simple binding and rosette. A tortoise shell (plastic) pickguard, glossy finish, with the X-bracing inside, and otherwise, a solid instrument.

I got the attention of the staff, it was extracted, and holy sheeeee-it, was it a gem. Light, easy to play sitting down, it was tugging at my heartstrings. $2,799 + Tax and it would be mine.

I can afford it. But, truth be told, I do not need it, nor would I play it enough to justify the money.

But it was sweet.

I did play its neighbor, a 00-18, a slightly larger bodied version, all the other particulars the same, and it just felt ... not right in my hands. Same price.

I also picked up one of their made in Mexico Dreadnaught, and while it sounded great, it is a HUGE guitar, and now something I would enjoy. Nope, the smaller bodied guitars are for me where I am at.

I will not buy one of those 0-18's, but I will dream about them.