Serial number 55622 was stamped on February 27, 1934 and cleared final inspection on May 22 that year. It was shipped to Carl Fischer Inc in Boston MA on July 19, 1934. This is one of the three guitars from the batch of six that were made with gut strings. That does not means the […]
Martin 1-28P guitars are scarce with only 19 being made. This example is the last 1-28P and the only one made as a 1-28PS (S=Special). This special guitar was ordered on May 7, 1930 by Humphreys Music Co. of Long Beach CA. It was stamped on May 10, 1930 and cleared final inspection on May […]
Serial number 55662 was stamped on March 3, 1934 and cleared final inspection on Jun 13 that year. The tuners are Grover G-97 machines with seamed butterbean metal buttons. Style 21 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Rosewood Sound hole decoration: Herringbone Back stripe: Herringbone Other period features: […]
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 […]
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 […]
In the late 1920s tenor guitars became a major part of Martin’s product line. Initially, Martin mostly based their tenor models on size 5 and 2 guitars. Putting the short tenor scale on a size 5 guitar worked reasonably well but the short scale on the relatively long body of a size 2 guitar resulted […]
Serial number 44124 was stamped on September 26, 1930 and cleared final inspection on November 22 that year. The tuners are Grover #89 Deluxe banjo pegs. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Herringbone Binding: White ivoroid Backstripe: Zig-zag pattern Other period features: Scalloped X-bracing Ebony fingerboard Ebony belly […]
Martin made the 14-fret Ochestra Model (OM) guitars from 1929 to the end of 1933. Beginning in 1934 the OM designation was dropped and these guitars reverted to the 000 designation. However, for a time in 1934 continued to use long scale (25.4″) necks on 000-18 guitars. In effect, these can be considered OM guitars. […]
Serial number 11219 was stamped on January 11, 1911 and was shipped t0 Eilere Music House in Seattle WA on December 15, 1911. The tuners are German silver Handel machines with inlaid ivory buttons. Style 42 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Abalone and lines on top and around fingerboard […]