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% […]
Serial number 101621 was stamped on August 12, 1947 and cleared final inspection on December 23 that year. The tuners are Kluson 210 machines with rounded metal buttons. The bridge is a replacement and the pick guard is oversize and is probably not original. Style 21 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Sitka spruce […]
Serial number 111404 was stamped on September 7, 1949 and cleared final inspection on October 28 that year. The tuners are Kluson 210 machines with rounded metal buttons. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Sitka spruce Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid No backstripe Other period features: Straight X-bracing Rosewood fingerboard Rosewood belly bridge […]
Serial number 48106 was stamped on August 26, 1931 and cleared final inspection on December 1 that year. This guitar was made shortly after the change from banjo tuners to side tuners and the larger pick guard were made. The tuners are replacements but the original tuners would have been Grover G-98 clipped plate machines. […]
Serial number 52200 was stamped on November 9, 1932 and cleared final inspection on May 8, 1933. A total of fifty 00-21 guitars were “stamped” in 1932. Style 21 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Brazilian rosewood Herringbone sound hole ring Backstripe: Herringbone Other period features: Scalloped X-bracing […]
Serial number 55724 was stamped on March 15, 1934 and cleared final inspection on June 8 that year. At the end of Martin dropped OM designation on its large 14-fret guitars and returned to the 000 designation previously used for 12-fret guitars. It is well known that Martin continued to use the long scale (25.4″) […]
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 […]