Serial number 83225 was stamped on January 20, 1943 and cleared final inspection on March 12 that year. The tuners are Kluson 502 machines with white celluloid buttons. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid Other period features: Rear-X scalloped bracing Ebony fingerboard Ebony belly bridge […]
Martin guitars did not have serial numbers before 1898 but from about 1885 many guitars were dated in pencil (or crayon) under the top. This guitar is dated in 1892. The 00-28 model was Martin’s largest “professional” guitar at the time. This guitar originally had ivory friction pegs which have been replaced with moden machines. […]
Serial number 90987 was stamped on March 28, 1945 and cleared final inspection on June 25 that year. This guitar is one of the earlier war-time Martin guitars that got the re-issued steel T-bar neck reinforcement. Martin, due to war-time restrictions, had been forced to eliminate the steel T-bar neck reinforcement in early 1942 and […]
Serial number 116146 was stamped on August 11, 1950 and cleared final inspection on November 13 that year. Guitars from the 1950s are rarely encountered with dark tops and only one from this batch of 25 guitars got the sunburst finish. The tuners are Kluson K-210 machines with metal buttons. Style 18 features: Back and […]
Serial number 41927 was stamped on March 21, 1930 and cleared final inspection on May 13 that year. The banjo tuners are modern replacements while the white celluloid buttons are original. The ebony pyramid bridge is a modern replacement made by luthier TJ Thompson. OM-28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) […]
Serial number 66724 was stamped on June 24, 1937 and cleared final inspection on October 7 that year. This guitar has advanced X-bracing and a 1-3/4″ wide neck. The tuners are Grover G-98 pointed plate machines with unseamed butterbean buttons. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Herringbone Binding: […]
Between 1916 and 1921 Martin made a special line of guitars for Charles H. Ditson & Co. in New York. These guitars had a wide-waisted design since they were meant to played Hawaiian style and the normal narrow waist was no longer necessary. These guitars did not have a flat fingerboard or high saddle as […]
Serial number 33324 was stamped on October 11, 1927. The tuners are Waverly chrome-plated G-32 machines with white ivoroid buttons. The bridge is a replacement made by noted luthier TJ Thompson. Style 45 features: Back and side: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Abalone purfling on the top, back, sides and sound hole Style 45 […]
Serial number 44066 was stamped on September 23, 1930 and cleared final inspection on October 7 that year. A small number of 1930 00-21 guitars were made with a “dark top” but this sunburst finish is so subtle is often referred to as amberburst or teaburst. Style 21 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: […]
Serial number 99590 was stamped on April 2, 1947 and cleared final inspection on August 1 that year. The tuners are probably three-on-a-side D & J (Dinsmore & Jager) #31 machines. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) – Although Sitka spruce was the norm for Martin guitars at the time, […]