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 […]
The popularity of 12-fret 00-28 guitars began to waver in 1929 as the first Martin 14-fret six-string guitars appeared on the market. The 00-28 models had been a very popular up-market guitar for some time and were what Martin considered one of their best sounding guitars they made, being in their opinion better balanced than […]
Serial number 33002 was stamped on September 15, 1927 at the beginning of the production process. The tuners are Waverly G-32 chrome plated machines with ivoroid buttons. Style 45 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Abalone Binding: Ivoroid Back Stripe: Style 45 Other period features: Scalloped X-bracing Ebony fingerboard Ebony […]
Serial number 39272 was stamped on April 4, 1929 and cleared final inspection on October 22 that year, just two days before “Black Thursday” of the 1929 Stock Market Crash and truly marking the very end of the “roaring 20’s”. The tuners are Waverly G-30 machines. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red […]
Serial number 12915 was stamped during October/November 1917 and was shipped to William Lewis & Son in Chicago on December 26, 1917. Although the tuners are reported as newer, they do appear to be period-correct Dinsmore & Jager #26 machines. The ebony pyramid bridge is a replacement. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood […]
Serial number 51978 was ordered on October 7, 1932 by Chicago Musical Instrument Co. It stamped on October 11, 1932 and cleared final inspection on October 22 that year (only 11 days in production!) The neck is a replacement. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid […]
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 […]
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 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 […]