Martin Guitars

1941 Martin D-28

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The guitar in this entry is a 1941 D-28 “herringbone”. It has rear-X bracing and the neck is 1-11/16″ wide at the nut. Typical of other D-28 guitars of the period is has the scalloped braces,”zig-zag” back stripe and the distinctive herringbone purfling. The tuners are period correct Kluson 511 machines. These early Klusons have […]

Martin Guitars

1939 Martin D-45, Serial Number 73128

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Serial number 73128 is one of the 91 pre-war D-45 guitars made by Martin. It was stamped on August 23, 1939 and cleared final inspection on October 18 that year. Since it was begun in August 1939 it displays the features typical of the period; rear-X bracing, 1-11/16″ neck width at the nut and scalloped […]

Martin Guitars

1940 Martin D-45L, Serial Number 75289

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This guitar must be considered the rarest of the rare! It is well known that Martin made 91 D-45 guitars between 1933 and 1942. Of these only ONE was left-handed. The D-45L was ordered on June 10, 1940 by Coast Wholesale Music Co. in Los Angeles. Serial number 75289 was stamped on June 12, 1940 […]

Martin Guitars

1835-1836 Martin & Schatz Guitar

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C. F. Martin Sr. and Henry Schatz had been employed together at Stauffer in Vienna in the 1820s. Schatz left for America a few years before Martin and opened a musical import business in Philadelphia. From early 1835 until about September 1836 the two luthiers formed a partnership under the name Martin & Schatz. The […]

Martin Guitars

1846-1848 Martin & Coupa Guitar

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The Martin & Coupa had business relationship from early 1840 until John Coupa’s death on May 18, 1850. The business did not make guitars but operated a “depot” at 385 Broadway in New York to cater to the large music trade in that city. This guitar does not have a Martin & Coupa label glued […]