Greetings:
My grandfather was a professional musician and played several instruments. I inherited his 1947 Martin 00-17 which is in beautiful condition. I’ve tried many times to learn on it but the action seems too high for me and I invariably quit my practice. I don’t want to have the action lowered as I want to keep it pristine as he played it. So do any of you have a recommendation for a good beginner acoustic guitar that is easy to play? I’ve seen positive posts about small Fenders and Taylors and Larivees (those are somewhat listed in order of cost). I like the size of the Martin, but am also interested in a parlor size. I’d appreciate any thoughts you all may have.
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Hi Paul, welcome to the community!
This question has come up several times, the earlier threads are worth reading - you can find even easily via the search box. Also, check out Justin’s videos on how to select a beginner guitar, and whether to start with an electric or steel string acoustic or nylon string etc.
A lot depends on your price range and how much of a beginner you are - is the action too high for barre chords for example?
Meanwhile, the Taylor GS Mini is a good quality small size acoustic with a decent action, and it can also travel with you. Lots of people like it, as do I.
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PS: A 1947 Martin is a heirloom - very happy for you!
Thank you for your thoughts…I will definitely search previous topics as well as watch Justin’s video. I do find barre chords on the Martin difficult but I’ve always attributed it to being a rank beginner (I have managed to stumble my way through some John Prine tunes, but I’m still at square one). Price wise, I’d like to stay below $500, and the Taylor GS Mini has one option about that level.
I’ll check out the topics and videos before making a decision. And yes, the Martin is beautiful…wish I could do it justice.
Hi Paul -
I think your best bet would be to visit a physical guitar shop and try some different guitars. See what feels good to you. There are a lot of good choices around the $500 mark these days, but there’s no substitute for getting your hands on them to choose.
There’s a pretty reasonable chance the Martin will need a neck reset - it’s pretty much inevitable with wooden acoustics given enough time. Personally I think it would be nice to get it playable, but I understand your desire not to touch it.
A couple of things here are important.
First, guitars are not static and change over time and with playing. This may mean it needs a tune up which can mean anything from a simple truss rod adjustment, to fret work and/or nut and saddle work all the way to the dreaded neck reset. These are normal maintenance issues for guitars as they are used and age. We don’t currently know what your Martin needs.
Second, the guitar is likely not “pristine as he played it”. It needs work (that he would have had done) to keep playing it.
Third, that is a very nice guitar and heirloom and if it can easily be set up to be played, THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOUR GRANDFATHER WOULD WANT YOU TO DO. Make it playable, play it and enjoy it. It is a bonus that you will remember him every time you play it. He does not want his lovely heirloom guitar to flounder unplayable on a wall.
There is no point spending cash on a different guitar yet. Take this in to a good luthier who knows vintage instruments. See what needs to be done. Even if it were to need a neck reset, it may be worth it if you can afford to do so.
If it just needs a small tune up, it won’t cost much, it is routine maintenance and you will have a wonderful instrument.
If it needs too much, ok, keep the wall art, but knowing what it needs to be functional then learn on something else.
If it is excellent shape and he was a professional, he took care of it and will understand and be happy you will use and take care of it, it may not be need much at all, it may need more than you like. Find out.
I like 00 size and have a Pono (The Ukulele Store). I haven’t played many Parlors. There may be a little less bass, I suppose. Larrivees are great, I am a fan. Inexpensive and well regarded are Kala parlor guitars, another Ukulele maker’s guitar offerings. Lots of options, but you will have trouble matching the Martin you already have.
Remember, guitars are meant to be played!
Keep us posted!
PS. Where are you located, in case a community member is close by?
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Set it up properly. Keep the old saddle, put a new one, shave it off until the action is right.
Better, take it to a luthier and express to him your wish to keep it in its original state as much as possible.
Hi Paul and welcome to the Community.
+1 from me on getting the Martin set up properly. Your Grandfather wouldn’t want his guitar sitting around unplayed. Why spend pounds/dollars/euros on a mediocre beginners guitar when you could spend that cash on getting what sounds like a pretty priceless instrument up and running.
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Plus one for a refurb. Find a decent luthier and get it playing again. Plenty of folk out there playing really old acoustics and a few of them are members here. Fix it play it let it live.
I’m with Joshua here, there are specialists who deal with classic Martins.
I don’t blame you for looking at another guitar but they are not static items and a bit of setup won’t hurt it
In fact it should help esp if there are any developing issues
Hi Paul,
I can understand your idea to buy a cheaper and easier guitar first and also the recommendation to have your grandfather’s guitar set up well and learn on that one. Nice idea!
I think that I’d be like you - to buy another, cheaper guitar first - in that case my recommendation would be one that’s a bit different to your grandfathers. Like a bit wider neck, like 45mm for example, maybe a bit shorter scale length, like 60 to 63cm and have it set up low if you want to. You can still set it up higher later, if you’d like to. (A new nut and bridge inlay isn’t that costly)
Maybe also you could borrow one to start with, so you’ll soon have a better idea what feels nice when you try something in a shop?
The bad thing is that you’ll only really know later (after having practiced for some time) what the right parameters are for you.
In any case, good luck!
You’re in good company here,
Dominique
Welcome to the forum Paul.
Welcome to the vintage guitar club(I have a 1947 Gibson) your grandfather left you a great guitar.
Buying a new guitar to learn on would be a good idea for a couple reasons. You can have it set up with a lower action and lighter strings and you’ll beable to take it where ever you want and not have to worry about something happening to it. Set a budget and go play as many guitars that you can in you price range.
It would be a good idea to have a qualifying Martin tech look at it. He will tell you what the guitar need to make it playable and what it will cost. Don’t get bad advice off the internet from people who mean well but have no idea what they are talking about. Martin did start putting truss rods in their guitars until 1985 so yours won’t have one.
I agree with @mathsjunky there is a good chance your Martin may need a neck reset and it is worth the money to have it done on a guitar of this vintage. You don’t need to have the work done right away but once you can play you’ll want to have it done.
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These guitars in good shape are worth $4-6k. Easily worth a neck reset.
A '47 Martin 00-17 is worth thousands of dollars. I recommend taking it to a luthier that works on this kind of vintage instrument and getting it looked at to see if it needs any work and what, exactly, it might need. I know you said you’d like to keep it as is, but I think that’s probably doing the instrument a disservice. It’s also likely that the guitar’s current state is not the same as your grandfather played it. Acoustic guitars move over time, and need periodic tweaks. You wouldn’t be dishonoring your grandfather’s memory by having the guitar set up, again. I’d venture to guess that he’d want you to have the guitar put into the best state possible.
So that’s my first recommendation: have the Martin looked at and made playable, if possible. What an instrument to learn on! And even doubly impactful because of the family connection.
With that said, if you want to get another guitar you might consider one of the Alvarez parlor models. I believe the AP66 is in your price range. I have two Alvarez parlor guitars (an MPA66ESHB and a LP70E) and both are excellent instruments.
Thank you all so much for the great advice! I live in Bend, Oregon and will most likely have to send the guitar off to have it looked at and serviced. I’ll contact Martin to see if they can recommend a luthier in the vicinity, or at least not too far afield. I’ll also plan to head over to Portland where there are several guitar shops in order to play (I use the term loosely as I’m a rank beginner) several instruments to see how they feel and sound as compared with the Martin.
What a great forum this is…I really do appreciate you sharing your knowledge!
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If you get the Martin playable you certainly won’t regret it. I had a 1928 oo18 which I never should have sold - it wasn’t the easiest thing to play, but it sounded divine.
EDIT - you might not have to travel far. Looks like there is an authorised repair shop in Bend, https://bendinstrumentrepair.com/
No recommendation, just found them on the Martin guitar website.
Paul, the clear consensus is that you should repair that guitar AND buy a new one to play. Because that is how we are! We love our guitars and want more of them.
Some folks have more knowledge than I do and I haven’t played (more than momentarily) a guitar this old. I believe it is definitely worth having it set up and brought to playing condition, but with a $500 budget you wouldn’t be able to do a neck reset if it needed it and have any money left over for another easier playing guitar if that is what you need.
So, use your judgement once you know what it will take to make the 00-17 playable. A newer beginner parlor and a project for a few years down the line is not too bad. By then, if you are still with us, I bet you start wanting to play that Martin pretty badly.
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What gives you that ideas ?? 
Look what they’re asking for this one:
Definitely get it gone over by a competent luthier, if for no other reason than you are now responsible for a quality, sought-after instrument.
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And maybe check your insurance coverage too.
Cheers,
Keith
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