Here is one of the rarely seen 12-fret D-28 guitars. It is also one of the very last regular 12-fret D-28s made (although a few more 12-fretters were made on special order in subsequent years). Serial number 55082 was stamped on December 29, 1933 and cleared final inspection on January 23, 1934. This might also […]
Serial number 52348 was stamped on November 28, 1932 and cleared final inspection on August 25, 1933 (a very long time in production for the period). The OM-18 guitars made in 1932 were called “Model 32” and all had a “dark top”, in Martin terminology. These are now commonly known as amberburst, honeyburst or teaburst […]
Martin made 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. (It should be remembered Martin also used OM when referring to 0, 00 and Dreadnought guitars with 14-fret necks.) However, for a time in 1934 continued […]
Serial number 65224 was stamped on January 7, 1937 and cleared final inspection on May 10 that year. The neck is 1-3/4″ wide at the nut with a 24.9″ scale length. The straight bridge is made of Brazilian rosewood. The tuners are Grover G-98 clipped plate machines with rounded metal buttons. This is a little […]
Here is one of the very early 1932 14-fret 0-18 “Model 32” guitars. The “Model 32” guitars received what Martin referred to as a “dark top” finish but is now commonly known as honeyburst, amberburst or shaded top. Serial number 50739 was stamped on April 13, 1932 and cleared final inspection on July 12 that […]
Serial number 59395 was stamped on March 19, 1935 and cleared final inspection on August 15 that year. Being an early D-28 it has advanced X-bracing and an 1-3/4″ wide neck (string specing at the bridge is 2-5/16″). Like all pre-war D-28 guitars, it has herringbone purfling around the top of the guitar and the […]
The F-9 guitars were the most expensive guitars offered by Martin in the pre-war period, surpassing even the price of D-45 guitars. In 1941 the F-9s had a retail price of $250 compared to $225 for the D-45. A total of 72 F-9 guitars were made between 1935 and 1942 but sales in 1935 and […]
A total of sixteen 000-45 guitars were made in 1936, in three batches of 6. Serial number 62276 was stamped on February 7, 1936 and cleared final inspection on June 23 that year. This guitar has an insteresting set of gold-plated and engraved Grover G-98G tuning machines. The Grovers are a late use of the […]