1931 Paramount Style L Guitar, Serial Number 130

The Paramount Style L guitars are far more complicated and interesting than previously thought.

Style L guitars are often discussed as one type but occur in two completely different designs: a six-string guitar and a tenor guitar. The Spanish-style six string guitars have a size 2 guitar shape as the inner body while the resonator width is the same as a size 0 guitar. The tenor guitars have a totally different shape as the body length was reduced in order to accommodate a 14 fret neck with the shorter tenor scale. The bottom of the fingerboard on the tenor guitars is also located closer to the sound hole than the Spanish guitars.

As well, style L guitars are known with and without a sound hole, with a tailpiece or with a glued-on bridge, different number of holes in the resonator rim (18 for the tenor guitars and 20 or 38 for six string guitars) and with natural or shaded tops. One style L is even known with extra deep sides.

Some of the Style L guitars with sound holes have no decoration around the hole at all while others have a white celluloid ring circling the inside edge of the hole.

In 1930 William L. Lange Music Co., manufacturer of Paramount banjos, contracted with C. F. Martin & Co. to make some special guitars of Lange’s own design. Lange marketed them as Paramount Style L guitars and they were available as either 6-string Spanish guitars (with regular or Hawaiian set-up) or as 4-string tenors.

The first batch was stamped in October 1930 and the Style L guitar, in several variations, continued in production until mid-1932.

Martin always referred to these internally as “Paramount 0-21” even though the peg head veneer, supplied by Lange, identified them as Paramount “Style L” (one “Model L” veneer is known).

A total of 72 Paramount 0-21 guitars were built although only 71 were ordered. The discrepancy occurred in the first batch where three were ordered but four made, the extra guitar was most likely a prototype or a sample instrument.

Martin did not record serial numbers for these guitars as the serial numbers were applied by Lange. A “PATENT PENDING” stamp was also added by Lange and appears on the back of the head stock or on the rim of the resonator section at the bottom of the guitar. The serial numbers on examined Style L guitars vary from 101 to 160 which fit well with the number ordered. It will probably be found that the serial numbers range from 100 to 170.

The tuners are Waverly G-31 three-on-a-side tuner strips.

Style 21 features:

Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood

Top: Red spruce (Adirondack)

Purfling: Celluloid lines

Binding: Black celluloid

Shaded top finish

No sound hole

Unlike other style 21 models the Paramount Style L guitars did not have a herringbone sound hole ring or a strip of herringbone for the backstripe.

20 holes in resonator rim

Other period features:

Scalloped X-bracing