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 74163 was stamped on January 15, 1940 and cleared final inspection on March 27 that year. This guitar is in remarkable condition. Many original D-45 guitars were owned by working musicians and were often returned to Martin to be “refreshed”, which usually involved refinishing. The tuners are gold plated Grover G-111G machines. The […]
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 […]
A total of six D-2 guitars were made in 1931 and 1932, of which this guitar was the last regular D-2 built. A seventh D-2 was made in 1934 with a carved top, being basically a C-2 up-sized to a Dreadnought 12-fret body. Clearly the D-2 a very rare guitar but adding to the story […]
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″) […]
Serial number 92250 was stamped on August 24, 1945 and cleared final inspection on November 30 that year. The tuners are Kluson 502N machines with white celluloid buttons. The guitar still retains the war-time ebony neck reinforcement while the top is now braced with straight braces instead of scalloped braces. Style 21 features: Back and […]