{"id":145131,"date":"2024-10-06T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/?p=145131"},"modified":"2024-10-06T08:38:30","modified_gmt":"2024-10-06T15:38:30","slug":"great-acoustisc-1931-martin-om-18-owned-by-conway-twitty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/great-acoustisc-1931-martin-om-18-owned-by-conway-twitty\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Acoustics: A Cutting-Edge 1931 Martin OM-18 Owned by Country Legend Conway Twitty"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Conway Twitty Martin OM 1931\" class=\"wp-image-145134\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18. Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Country entertainer Conway Twitty was renowned for his voice, his hair, and songs like \u201cIt\u2019s Only Make Believe,\u201d but he also had excellent taste in acoustic guitars. One instrument that found its way to auction after his 1993 death was this 1931 Martin OM-18, recently spotted at RetroFret Vintage Guitars in Brooklyn, New York.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145154\" data-id=\"145154\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_01.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145153\" data-id=\"145153\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_02.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145152\" data-id=\"145152\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_03.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145151\" data-id=\"145151\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_04.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145147\" data-id=\"145147\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_08.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145146\" data-id=\"145146\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_09.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145150\" data-id=\"145150\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_05.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145149\" data-id=\"145149\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_06.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145136\" data-id=\"145136\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_20.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_20.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_20.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_20.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_20.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_20.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145148\" data-id=\"145148\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_07.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145145\" data-id=\"145145\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_10.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_10.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_10.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_10.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_10.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_10.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18-case, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145144\" data-id=\"145144\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_11.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_11.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_11.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_11.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_11.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_11.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18 case, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"1931 Martin OM-18-worn-case-handle, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145138\" data-id=\"145138\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_17.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_17.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_17.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_17.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_17.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_17.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">1931 Martin OM-18 original case handle, Photo: George Aslaender-Retrofret<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Cord use as a guitar strap\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145140\" data-id=\"145140\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_15.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_15.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_15.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_15.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_15.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_15.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Cord use as a guitar strap<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" alt=\"Repair tags\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145139\" data-id=\"145139\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_16.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_16.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_16.jpg?resize=500%2C333&amp;ssl=1 500w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_16.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_16.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_16.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Repair tags<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Letter to Conway Twitty form Martin repair person\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145143\" data-id=\"145143\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_12.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Letter to Conway Twitty form Martin repair person<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Letter to Conway Twitty form Martin repair person\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145142\" data-id=\"145142\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_13.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Letter to Conway Twitty form Martin repair person<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Letter to Conway Twitty form Martin repair person\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-145141\" data-id=\"145141\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?resize=683%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 683w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?resize=333%2C500&amp;ssl=1 333w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?resize=768%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?resize=200%2C300&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?resize=1024%2C1536&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/11783_14.jpg?w=1200&amp;ssl=1 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Letter to Conway Twitty form Martin repair person<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In its day, this instrument was cutting edge. The 14-fret, long-scale neck with a shortened 000 mahogany body was a new combination; the Adirondack spruce top\u2019s X bracing was sophisticated; and the updates\u2014new Grover single-unit guitar machines, a slightly larger tortoiseshell pickguard, as well as the first iteration of the silkscreened C.F. Martin logo\u2014set a new standard. In 1931, with the average national wage at $1,850 a year, this guitar was priced at $50.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Changes were afoot, however. The OM-18\u2019s bar frets were soon phased out, and after 1933, the year Twitty was born, Martin renamed this model the 000-18 and shortened the scale length from 25-1\/4 inches to 24.9. The OM-18 from 1930\u201433 would ultimately become one of the most desired of all mahogany Martins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Twitty owned this instrument for decades, and in 1975, he hired guitar-repair icon Don Teeter to do some work on it. Ten years after Twitty\u2019s death, OM expert Eric Schoenberg had it restored at Gruhn Guitars to its original state, with a correct reproduction bridge and bridge plate. The soft V profile neck (with a 1-3\/4\u2013inch\u2013wide nut) has been reset, the original frets on the ebony fingerboard are recrowned, and there have been practically invisible repairs to its mahogany back, sides, and neck. But despite the tiny dings and scratches\u2014including a small, discolored spot on the soundhole edge\u2014this OM-18 seems to have been cared for supremely well. Best of all, it sounds great.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cCompared to my favorite Martins, which are usually late-\u201920s 12-fret 00s and 000s, I often find original OMs a little disappointing,\u201d says RetroFret\u2019s Peter Kohman. \u201cBut this OM-18 has a lot of punch and ring, with substantial depth, too. I\u2019m not sure if Twitty had anything to do with this, but it does seem to have had a lot of sound played into it for a relatively clean 93-year-old guitar. I can say honestly this is the best-sounding OM-18 I\u2019ve had the pleasure of playing. And, of course, I\u2019ve played \u2018It\u2019s Only Make Believe\u2019 on it more than once!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/no-348-sep-oct-2024\" name=\"magazine\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"width: 150px; height: 198px; margin: 0px 20px 10px 0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/001_348_Cover-150px.jpg?w=1290&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Acoustic Guitar magazine cover for issue 348\"><\/a>\n<p style=\"font-family: sans-serif; margin: 0px 0px 15px 0px;\">This article originally appeared in the <a href=\"https:\/\/store.acousticguitar.com\/products\/no-348-sep-oct-2024\">September\/October 2024<\/a> issue of <em>Acoustic Guitar<\/em> magazine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Twitty was renowned for his voice, his hair, and songs like \u201cIt\u2019s Only Make Believe,\u201d but he also had excellent taste in acoustic guitars.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":145134,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"Twitty was renowned for his voice, his hair, and songs like \u201cIt\u2019s Only Make Believe,\u201d but he also had excellent taste in acoustic guitars.","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1146],"tags":[524,1951],"ppma_author":[1561],"class_list":["post-145131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vintage-and-collectible-guitars","tag-great-acoustics","tag-september-october-2024"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Conway-Twitty-Martin-OM-1931-photo-George-Aslaender-Retrofret11783_19.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1","authors":[{"term_id":1561,"user_id":0,"is_guest":1,"slug":"e-e-bradman","display_name":"E.E. Bradman","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/E.E.-Bradman-2020-scaled.jpeg","url2x":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/E.E.-Bradman-2020-scaled.jpeg"},"user_url":"https:\/\/eltonsounds.com\/bass\/","last_name":"","first_name":"","job_title":"","description":"E.E. Bradman is a word nerd and music journalist, a Grammy-nominated bassist, a musical midwife for childbirth and the dying, and an award-winning sound designer\/composer."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=145131"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145131\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":146053,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/145131\/revisions\/146053"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/145134"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=145131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=145131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=145131"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/acousticguitar.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=145131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}