Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV – Limited Edition Hawaiian Koa 12-Fret

Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV Hawaiian Koa | Tobias Music

Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV – Limited Edition Hawaiian Koa 12-Fret

The Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV is a genuinely special Martin—an exceptionally limited Custom Shop model that combines Hawaiian koa construction, vintage-inspired appointments and an important piece of Martin history.

Produced as part of a limited run of only 100 guitars, the 0-18K2 CFM IV celebrates the 100th anniversary of Martin’s adoption of nitrocellulose lacquer as a guitar finish. Appropriately, Martin gives this model a period-correct Vintage Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, contributing to an appearance and feel that beautifully complement its early-Martin-inspired design.

Built with all-solid Hawaiian koa and a traditional 12-fret 0-size body, this is a distinctive instrument with plenty of appeal both as a player’s guitar and as a collectible Martin Custom Shop model.

A hardshell case is included.

💵 Financing Available

Take advantage of our available financing options and make this limited Martin Custom Shop guitar easier to bring home. Contact Tobias Music for current financing details and available plans.

✅ Why We Chose This Guitar

This one is a little different from the Tobias Music Custom Shop guitars we normally feature.

We did not select the woods or develop the specifications for this model. Instead, the 0-18K2 CFM IV was conceived and specified by Martin Custom Shop as a very limited production model.

And that’s exactly what makes it interesting.

With only 100 examples produced, its all-koa construction, compact 12-fret design and historically significant Vintage Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish make this a guitar that stands apart even within Martin’s Custom Shop offerings.

✅ Tobias Music Insight

There is something particularly appealing about a small-bodied, 12-fret Martin built entirely from Hawaiian koa.

The design takes you back to an earlier era of Martin guitar building, while the Custom Shop execution gives it the refinement expected from a modern premium instrument. The 0-size body and 12-fret neck joint create an intimate, responsive playing experience that feels very different from today’s larger dreadnought and auditorium-style guitars.

Then there is the historical connection. Celebrating 100 years since Martin adopted nitrocellulose lacquer gives this guitar a story beyond simply being another limited-edition model.

Only 100 guitars, Hawaiian koa throughout, vintage 12-fret architecture and a finish tied directly to Martin history—that’s a pretty compelling combination.

✅ Our Expert Opinion

The Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV occupies an interesting space because it can be appreciated in two completely different ways.

For the player, it’s a wonderfully distinctive 12-fret Martin with the response and character of Hawaiian koa wrapped into a comfortable, vintage-style 0 body.

For the Martin enthusiast or collector, the combination of 100-piece production, CFM IV designation, anniversary significance and Custom Shop construction gives the guitar long-term interest beyond its musical qualities.

We wouldn’t hesitate to play this guitar every day—but it’s also the kind of Martin you may be very glad you held onto years from now.

✅ Tone Profile

Hawaiian koa is prized for its combination of clarity, articulation and musical warmth. Using koa for the entire body gives this guitar a distinctive voice with excellent note definition and a focused, balanced response.

The smaller 0-size body and traditional 12-fret configuration further shape its personality. Expect a responsive guitar that excels at fingerstyle playing, light flatpicking and nuanced accompaniment, with an intimate character that rewards a controlled touch.

Like many great koa guitars, its tonal personality should continue to develop as the instrument is played.

✅ Vintage-Inspired Martin Character

The 0-18K2 CFM IV draws heavily from Martin’s early guitar-building heritage.

Its compact 0-size proportions, 12-fret neck joint and Hawaiian koa construction immediately evoke instruments from an earlier chapter of Martin history. The Vintage Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish completes that presentation while commemorating a century since Martin’s adoption of nitrocellulose lacquer.

Rather than simply recreating an old guitar, Martin has used the Custom Shop to celebrate that history in a modern, highly limited instrument.

✅ Construction & Specifications

• Model: Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV

• Series: Martin Custom Shop Limited Edition

• Production: Limited to 100 guitars

• Body Size: 0

• Neck Joint: Traditional 12-fret configuration

• Top: Solid Hawaiian Koa

• Back: Solid Hawaiian Koa

• Sides: Solid Hawaiian Koa

• Finish: Period-correct Vintage Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer

• Anniversary Significance: Celebrates the 100th anniversary of Martin’s adoption of nitrocellulose lacquer finish

• Design: Vintage-inspired Martin 12-fret styling

• Case: Hardshell case included

✅ Who It’s Perfect For

The Martin Custom Shop 0-18K2 CFM IV is an especially compelling choice for the guitarist who loves small-bodied vintage-style Martins, the player looking for the distinctive voice and beauty of an all-Hawaiian-koa acoustic, or the Martin enthusiast searching for something considerably less common than a standard-production model.

With production limited to only 100 instruments, it also has obvious appeal to collectors of unusual and historically significant Martin guitars.

✅ Why Buy From Tobias Music

Tobias Music has been helping guitar players find exceptional acoustic instruments for decades, with particular expertise in premium Martin guitars and Martin Custom Shop instruments.

Every guitar we offer is personally evaluated before it reaches our showroom or website. We believe the details matter—playability, setup, construction, tone and, most importantly, whether the guitar delivers the experience its specifications promise.

Limited Custom Shop Martins like the 0-18K2 CFM IV are exactly the type of instruments we enjoy offering: guitars with exceptional craftsmanship, a strong connection to Martin history and something genuinely different to offer the player.