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 […]
Serial number 41999 was stamped on March 28, 1930 and cleared final inspection on April 15 that year. It is from the first batch of four 0-28T guitars made. The o-28T guitars were made in 1930 and 1931 with a total production of 70. The tuners are Grover #90 banjo tuners. Style 28 features: Back […]
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 […]
This guitar is a special order 1-18P guitar with a 5-string neck. Only two 5-string Martin guitars were ever made, this being the earlier example. The second 5-string, a 1-17PS, was made in 1939. It will be noted that the guitar has a neck that joins the body at the 15th fret. Serial number 38979 […]
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 […]
Here is a guitar from the very beginning of the Dreadnought era! Serial number 175 was part of the very first batch of Ditson Dreadnoughts shipped to Charles H. Ditson & Co. of New York on December 30, 1916, the first batch comprising three D-111 and three D-222 guitars. (To be exactly correct, a prototype […]
Serial number 151874 was stamped on October 4, 1956 and cleared final inspection on January 23, 1957. The tuners are Kluson K-500 “waffleback” machines with rounded metal buttons. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Sitka spruce Purfling: Lines Binding: White celluloid Backstripe: Zipper pattern Other period features: Straight X-bracing Ebony fingerboard Ebony […]
Serial number 81120 was stamped on March 24, 1942 and cleared final inspection on October 22 that year. The tuners are Waverly 5038N (nickel plated) machines with rounded metal buttons. These are sometimes referred to as “Yoda head” machines due to the shape of the ends of the backing plate. Style 28 features: Back and […]
I wish I had more photos to share on this guitar but it is so interesting and rare it is worth having at least something to look at! Serial number 47052 was stamped on May 22, 1931 and cleared final inspection on June 2 that year. Only two D-1 guitars were ever made. They were […]
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 […]