The guitar featured in this entry is one of the very last 12-fret 0-18 guitars made by Martin. The guitar was stamped on January 4, 1932 and cleared final inspection on September 13 that year. Nine months was a very long time in production for the period. The long delay was the result of Martin […]
Serial number 57921 was stamped on October 8, 1934 and cleared final inspection on Jun 26, 1935 (a long time in production for the period) There must have been a fall-off in demand for the 000-18 around that time. At least eleven of twenty-five guitars in this batch had dark tops. It was shipped […]
Martin launched its carved-top guitars in June 1931. They were offered in three models; C-1, C-2 and C-3, with the C-3 guitars being the most expensive. These carved-top guitars were based on the same 000-size body used for the flat top guitars. However, Martin took a different approach to making arched-top guitars compared to its […]
Serial number 69345 was stamped on February 9, 1938 and cleared final inspection on July 7 that year. The guitar and case have decals for Wittich’s Music Shop. The Wittich’s branch in Reading PA were Martin dealers from 1929 to 1962 and this guitar was ordered by them on April 28, 1939. The tuners are […]
Serial number 50306 is a 1932 dark top 00-40H. It was stamped on February 29, 1932 and cleared final inspection on June 14 that year. At least two 00-40H guitars were made with dark tops around this period but there may be more since Martin did not always record this feature, especially if a customer […]
Serial number 65836 was stamped on March 18, 1937 and cleared final inspection on June 17 that year. Like all 00-18H guitars it originally had a flat fingerboard, raised nut and saddle and a “dark top” (sunburst) finish. Also, like many 00-18H guitars it has been converted to Spanish playing by replacing the flat fingerboard […]
Here is an interesting early 12-fret D-28 that was once owned by Norman Blake. Serial number 54950 was ordered by Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. in Milwaukee WI on December 9, 1933. It stamped on December 15, 1933 and cleared final inspection on December 21 that year, manufactured and shipped in only 6 days! Three more 12-fret […]
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 […]
Serial number 44066 was stamped on September 23, 1930 and cleared final inspection on October 7 that year. A small number of 1930 00-21 guitars were made with a “dark top” but this sunburst finish is so subtle is often referred to as amberburst or teaburst. Style 21 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: […]
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 […]