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 […]
It is very rare when a vintage Martin guitar can be indentified with the original owner but there is good documentary evidence that this 00-42 was once owned by Bill Boyd, the famous “Cow Boy Rambler” and Western Swing band leader. Serial number 39110 was stamped on July 12, 1929 and cleared final inspection on […]
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 […]
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 & […]
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 […]
This guitar is the unique example of a Paramount style L that has the resonator sides sides as deep as the rest of the guitar. It may well be the Paramount 0-21S stamped on April 10, 1931. The Paramount Style L guitars are far more complicated and interesting than previously thought. Style L guitars are […]