View Full Version : Martin 0-18T8 8 string tenor
Roman Pekar
Nov-05-2020, 6:55am
While looking for the info about Martin tenors (and specifically 0-18T) I've found that there're five 8-string tenor guitars made by Martin. I recall that I've already seen this information somewhere before, but I haven't seen the pictures.
So I've found that one of them was sold quite recently - https://reverb.com/item/36523872-martin-0-18t8-8-string-tenor-1970-natural-ohc-rare. The price is quite high but probably justified for such a rare instrument. Not sure if one of the cafe' residents have it now but I'd not be surprised
I'm not sure how you should call this instrument cause it's probably more 'octave mandolin' in modern terms, but I also wonder how does it sound. It probably should sound close to guitar bodied flat-top octave mandolins, like Northfield for example.
Have you ever seen one? Have you ever tried one? What is your impression?
Hi Roman,
Wow - Nice Martin Octave Mandolin! $5k seems fair for one of only five ever made.
According to Martin Guitars: A Technical Reference: 2 were made in 1969, 3 in 1970.
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Never seen or heard any played.
Steve Pyott created a list of Martins tenors here: http://www.tenorguitar.com/martin.html
Specifically 0 sized tenors: (Bold emphasis is mine.)
O-18T (1929-present), spruce top, now available only by special order from the custom shop. 31 were made in 1930 under the Carl Fisher brand. This instrument is commonly associated with Nick Reynolds of the Kingston Trio, who also played an O-17T (later converted to an 8-string, something he had done to an O-18T as well) and occasionally a 2-18T.
O-18KT (1997), part of the Kingston Trio Limited Edition, consisting of 40 sets of three instruments (the others being the D-28KT six-string, and a Deering Vega long neck banjo).
O-18T8 eight-string version of O-18T (five made, 1969-70)
O-18TE electric version of O-18T (two made, 1959 and 1962)
O-18TD (one made, 1976)*
O-17T (1932-1960) all mahogany, rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
O-28T herringbone (1930-31; one each made, 1941, 1961, 1964) spruce top, some have banjo style tuners
O-21T (three made, 1929; two made, 1930 and 1935; one made, 1961) spruce top
O-15T (1960-63) all mahogany, rosewood fingerboard and bridge.
With the 1976 - 0-18TD, the "D" designation is unknown.
In 1980, one Koa Topped Tenor: 0-18TK2 was built.
Not a Martin, but this has caught my attention as I have a few FT-28's.:
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1964 Epiphone FT-28 Octave Mandolin Conversion
https://www.folkwaymusic.com/museum/mandolins/epiphone-ft-28-1964-0812
http://www.tenorguitar.com/epiphone.html
Gibson made a flattop under the Epiphone label called the Caballero (1963-68) model FT-28; all mahogany, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, very similar to Gibson's own TG-0.
If you are interested in other Epi tenors:
https://dutcharchtopguitarmuseum.nl/epiphone-archtops-new/
https://dutcharchtopguitarmuseum.nl/epiphone-collection/tenor/
So you can see conversions are possible as well. If you search this forum, I believe you will find a few tenor guitar to octave mandolin conversions done by Cafe members.
Huck
Lord of the Badgers
Nov-05-2020, 9:13am
yeah its funny how some need to refer to it as an eight string tenor... and i've actually had people firmly correct me when i point out it's a GBOM (Guitar Bodied Octave Mandolin in case you don't know that one Roman!)
I'd be tempted to play it with only three courses and call it a trichordo or a tres or saz just for the devilment of it all.
nice though!
I also wonder how does it sound.
Roman check this out. May give a good representation of the sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVURh02Xgdk
A few other posts, etc.
189660
https://www.gbase.com/gear/martin-s0-18t8-eight-string-tenor-1969
Sold in July. It was estimated to sell for $800-$1200.
189661
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/11673-Martin-tenor-guitar-with-8-STRINGS-!
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/threads/24890-mando-family-conversions
Badger Rob- I'd love to find a Martin Tres.
189662
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/martin-lxm-tres
Martin LXM Tres Tuning
Bass to Treble:
.0115" Octave g
.024" Low G
.014" c in Unison
.014" c in Unison
.024" Low E (Alternate F)
.0115" Octave e (Alternate f)
Huck
Lord of the Badgers
Nov-05-2020, 1:59pm
Badger Rob- I'd love to find a Martin Tres.
189662
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/folk-traditional-instruments/martin-lxm-tres
Martin LXM Tres Tuning
Bass to Treble:
.0115" Octave g
.024" Low G
.014" c in Unison
.014" c in Unison
.024" Low E (Alternate F)
.0115" Octave e (Alternate f)
Huck
Ha! Who knew?!
Roman Pekar
Nov-05-2020, 3:04pm
Roman check this out. May give a good representation of the sound.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVURh02Xgdk
...
Yes, but Pono has more shallow body and shorter scale length. I can't say I really like the sound though.
I'd probably expect more bouzouki / Andy Irwine sound from longer scale and deeper body of Martin.
May be something similar to this (but here it with capo so harder to judge):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50cDN3-t9dQ
Roman Pekar
Dec-02-2020, 8:57am
Btw, what's your opinion - did Martin reinforce these tenor guitars to accommodate 8 strings or were they built sturdy enough to work well with double tension?
MikeEdgerton
Dec-02-2020, 9:44am
With the courage of the ignorant I was building these from Harmony arch top and flat top tenor guitars in 1967-68 using off the shelf Harmony mandolin parts. All I was trying to get was the high four strings of a 12-string guitar. I'm amazed that I could have simply dropped a ton of money and bought one. :)
I thought it was a unique idea at the time.
Roman Pekar
Dec-02-2020, 10:05am
With the courage of the ignorant I was building these from Harmony arch top and flat top tenor guitars in 1967-68 using off the shelf Harmony mandolin parts. All I was trying to get was the high four strings of a 12-string guitar. I'm amazed that I could have simply dropped a ton of money and bought one. :)
I thought it was a unique idea at the time.
as far as I know they made only 5 of them, but as it was the custom shop you probably could've bought one indeed. Not sure if they had to reinforce the top though
Roman,
There is another one for sale on Reverb: https://reverb.com/item/38625486-martin-s0-18-t8-8-string-tenor-guitar-1969-andy-goessling-railroad-earth (A little cheaper, asking $4,350 shipped.)
Huck