Product Overview
Martin Custom Shop 000-18 1955 CFM IV 70th with Case Limited to 70 Worldwide
Contact us and find out why you should buy your next guitar from Liberty Music! We fully inspect your instrument more than once, when received and when shipped. We also will SETUP your instrument at no additional charge prior to shipping your order.
We offer the follwing to help you secure your next dream guitar;
TRADE FROM ANYWHERE PROGRAM
- We accept trades on any musical instruments from anywhere simply reach out and we take care of all the logitics.
FINANCING UP TO 48 Months
- We offer financing up to 48 Month with Affirm, Synchrony, and Klarna, contact us today to find out more!
90 DAY LAYAWAY!
- With a 20% deposit you have 90 days to pay the balance if the guitar is in stock, if it is a pre-order simply put 20% down to secure your guitar and the remainder due once it arrives.
We buy, sell and trade with financing options with Klarna, Affirm and Synchrony available.
We will also beat any competitor's price.
We are an AUTHORIZED Martin DEALER. This comes with a full manufacturer’s warranty and is inspected upon receipt from the supplier and again prior to shipping your order.
-
Martin Custom Shop 000-18 1955 CFM IV 70th with Case Limited to 70 Worldwide
To mark Chris Martin IV’s 70th birthday, we’re proud to introduce the 000-18 1955 CFM IV 70th — inspired by an original 1955 000-18 recently acquired at auction. That guitar, serial number 145102, was part of Heritage Auctions’ Guitar Shop Collection, a curated selection of historically significant and well-preserved instruments that speak to the enduring appeal of vintage acoustics. This particular 000-18 stood out for its unmistakable wear—nicks, dings, and scratches that show decades of play—and for the honest, soulful voice that made it a favorite among players of its era. Its aesthetic and tonal character served as the blueprint for this limited-edition model. The all new 000-18 1955 CFM IV 70th captures the essence of that mid-century Martin with the unmistakable tone and feel of a true classic. Limited to just 70 instruments, it’s a tribute to legacy, artistry, and the enduring spirit of the world’s most respected acoustic guitar maker. The gloss 000 body, crafted with mahogany back and sides, provides a warm, punchy midrange and a bright treble response. The top is made from reclaimed spruce sourced from old-growth trees salvaged both on land and in water around Prince of Wales Island in Alaska.
These include wind-felled trees, dead standing timber, bridge stringers from dismantled log bridges, and massive spruce logs that were once used to build barge ramps and log floats. These log floats, which served as mobile platforms for remote logging operations, were dismantled in the early 2000s. This is the first time Martin has incorporated this rare and storied wood into a guitar. Printed to replicate the wear of the original 1955 model, the top adds both tonal richness and a deep connection to history. Paired with non-scalloped Sitka spruce X-bracing, it delivers a precise, focused sound with remarkable clarity and control. 1955 wasn’t just a turning point for the Martin family—it was a pivotal moment in American music. As the folk boom swept across the country, guitars like the 000-18 helped shape a new era of sound. This model carries that spirit forward. In addition to the visual wear on its top, the brown faux tortoise binding and Old Style 18 multi-stripe rosette nod to the original 1955 aesthetic. The FSC®-certified rosewood fingerboard features mother-of-pearl 1955 Style 18 dots, and the satin select hardwood neck is shaped in a Golden Era (GE) Modified Low Oval profile for smooth, comfortable playability. Vintage-style Kluson® Waffleback® nickel tuners complete the look, blending timeless style with modern reliability.
With only 70 guitars available, each includes a hardshell case and an embossed paper label hand-signed by Chris Martin IV, chairman of the board and the sixth generation leader of Martin. Chris’ vision has shaped the company’s identity for over 50 years, and this guitar is a fitting tribute to his family’s dedication to quality, tradition, and innovation. Released alongside the D-18 1955 CFM IV 70th, it celebrates Chris’ 70th—by doingwhat we do best. And with its roots in vintage history, this guitar carries more than just tone—it carries a legacy.
back-and-side-finish: Gloss
back-and-sides-color: Dark Mahogany
back-material: Mahogany
back-purfling_strip: Style 18 Madagascar Rosewood
binding: Brown Faux Tortoise
body-size: 000-14 Fret
brace-material: Sitka Spruce
brace-shape: Non-Scalloped
brace-size: 1/4"
bracing-pattern: X Brace
bridge-material: FSC Certified Rosewood
bridge-pin-material: Ebony
bridge-string-spacing: 2 1/8"
bridge-style: GE Modern Belly- Drop in Long Saddle
case: Hardshell
construction: Dovetail Neck Joint
endpiece: Brown Faux Tortoise
fingerboard-inlay-material: Mother of Pearl
fingerboard-inlay-style: 1955 Style 18 Dots
fingerboard-material: FSC Certified Rosewood
fingerboard-width-at-12th-fret: 2 1/8''
fingerboard-width-at-nut: 1 11/16''
finish-neck: Satin
finish-top: Gloss
headplate-logo-style: Authentic Style Script Overlay
headplate-material: East Indian Rosewood
headstock-shape: Solid with Square Taper and 1950s Rounded Corners
heelcap: East Indian Rosewood
knob: Oval
label: Paper Embossed w/Model Name and CFM IV Signature, Numbered in Sequence w/Total, 1 of 70, 2 of, etc.
neck color: Dark Mahogany
neck-joins-body-at: 14th Fret
neck-material: Select Hardwood
neck-shape: GE Modified Low Oval
neck-taper: Standard Taper
number-of-frets-total: 20
nut-material: Bone
pickguard: Faux Tortoise
recommended-strings: Authentic Acoustic Lifespan 2.0 - Light (MA540T)
rosette: Old Style 18 Multi-Stripe
saddle: Bone
saddle-radius: 16"
scale-length: 24.9"
side-dots: White
side-material: Mahogany
top-detail: Aged
top-material: Reclaimed Spruce
tuning-machines: Kluson Nickel Vintage Waffleback
