Serial number was stamped around mid-June 1920. One interesting feature of this guitar is the coarse grain structure of the wood used for the neck. This type of wood is Philippine Mahogany (genus Shorea) which is not considered a true mahogany (genus Swietenia). It was used for the necks of Martin guitars circa 1919 to […]
Serial number 8972 is an uncommon 00-30 guitar. A total of 102 Martin 00-30 guitars were made between 1898 and 1921. This guitar is dated August 27, 1900 under the top and is signed with a small rubber stamp “HLK”. Harry L. Keller worked for Martin from 1898 to 1901 and it probably a relative […]
This guitar has a rarely seen Type 4 label, I have been able to confirm only one other example. The type 4 label was only used from about September 1836 to the end of March 1837 (the type 5 label came into use on April 1, 1837). The label in this guitar has no serial […]
This is a rare bird indeed! It is one of only two OM-42 guitars ever made, both in 1930. Serial number 43708 was stamped on August 22, 1930 and cleared final inspection on September 12 (only 3 weeks later!) As an early example of an OM guitar it has banjo tuners and the small OM […]
An early Martin ledger book contains an entry for an “Amadill” guitar sold on August 8, 1836. I have not been able to find any reference to explain the term amadill. However, I am quite confident that this instrument is the amadill guitar from the ledger, as will be explained. The cittern shape of the […]
Here is one of the few harp guitars made by Martin in the early 20th century. Serial number 9392 was shipped to Grinnell Brothers in Detroit on April 18, 1902. It was based on the then relatively new 000 size body. Martin made harp guitars with either 10, 12 or 16 strings. One was even […]
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 […]