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 […]
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 13602 was stamped on April 8, 1919. It was shipped to Southern California Music Co. in Los Angeles CA on July 30, 1919, which explains the Southern California Music Co. metal plaque on the back of the headstock. Style 45 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Abalone and […]
Here is one of the few harp guitars made by Martin in the early 20th century. Serial number 9392 was shipped to Grinnell Brothers in Detroit on April 18, 1902. It was based on the then relatively new 000 size body. Martin made harp guitars with either 10, 12 or 16 strings. One was even […]
Martin guitars did not have serial numbers before 1898 but from about 1885 many guitars were dated in pencil (or crayon) under the top. This guitar is dated in 1892. The 00-28 model was Martin’s largest “professional” guitar at the time. This guitar originally had ivory friction pegs which have been replaced with moden machines. […]
Between 1916 and 1921 Martin made a special line of guitars for Charles H. Ditson & Co. in New York. These guitars had a wide-waisted design since they were meant to played Hawaiian style and the normal narrow waist was no longer necessary. These guitars did not have a flat fingerboard or high saddle as […]
Serial number 33324 was stamped on October 11, 1927. The tuners are Waverly chrome-plated G-32 machines with white ivoroid buttons. The bridge is a replacement made by noted luthier TJ Thompson. Style 45 features: Back and side: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Abalone purfling on the top, back, sides and sound hole Style 45 […]