Serial number 44061 was stamped on September 19, 1930 and cleared final inspection October 27 that year. The original tuners would have been Grover #89 Deluxe banjo pegs. The tuners currently on the guitar are Waverly 5038 “Yoda head” machines that were used between 1940 and 1948. The decal was probably applied to the head […]
A total of six D-2 guitars were made in 1931 and 1932, of which this guitar was the last regular D-2 built. A seventh D-2 was made in 1934 with a carved top, being basically a C-2 up-sized to a Dreadnought 12-fret body. Clearly the D-2 a very rare guitar but adding to the story […]
It is very rare when a vintage Martin guitar can be indentified with the original owner but there is good documentary evidence that this 00-42 was once owned by Bill Boyd, the famous “Cow Boy Rambler” and Western Swing band leader. Serial number 39110 was stamped on July 12, 1929 and cleared final inspection on […]
Martin began making Ditson guitars with the wide-waisted shape in 1915. The initial production guitars were relatively plain guitars with mahogany back and sides. It was not until 1919 that Ditson guitars were made with Brazilian rosewood bodies and the full range of Martin models were offered: styles 21, 28, 30, 42 and 45. (For […]
This guitar was made in May 1839 and may well be the last guitar made by C. F. Martin Sr. in New York. The guitar contains a type 5 Martin label AND a Ludecus & Wolter label. Martin used the type 5 label in two periods, from April 1837 to April 1838 and again from […]
Several other entries for pre-1840 Martins have been posted on this website but this guitar is certainly very interesting from a historical perspective and provides a number of clues about C. F. Martin’s early days in the Cherry Hill PA area. The most important clue is that the guitar contains TWO labels: a Martin & […]
C. F. Martin Sr. formed a business agreement with John B. Coupa in early 1840 that gave Coupa the sale agency for New York City. The Martin & Coupa label was only applied to guitars sold from the depot at 385 Broadway. An examination of about 50 Martin & Coupa period guitars shows that 50% […]