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 […]
Serial number 57921 was stamped on October 8, 1934 and cleared final inspection on Jun 26, 1935 (a long time in production for the period) There must have been a fall-off in demand for the 000-18 around that time. At least eleven of twenty-five guitars in this batch had dark tops. It was shipped […]
Serial number 64676 was stamped on October 21, 1936 and cleared final inspection on December 31 that year. The tuners are pointed plate G-98 machines with rounded metal buttons. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid Backstripe: None Other period features: Advanced X-bracing (scalloped) Ebony fingerboard […]
Serial number 69345 was stamped on February 9, 1938 and cleared final inspection on July 7 that year. The guitar and case have decals for Wittich’s Music Shop. The Wittich’s branch in Reading PA were Martin dealers from 1929 to 1962 and this guitar was ordered by them on April 28, 1939. The tuners are […]
Serial number 111404 was stamped on September 7, 1949 and cleared final inspection on October 28 that year. The tuners are Kluson 210 machines with rounded metal buttons. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Sitka spruce Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid No backstripe Other period features: Straight X-bracing Rosewood fingerboard Rosewood belly bridge […]
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. […]
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 83391 was stamped on February 10, 1943 and cleared final inspection on April 9 that year. The tuners are Kluson 502 machines with white celluloid buttons. The backing plates still retain the stamped rim seen in earlier Klusons machines. Later war-time Klusons had plain backing plates. Typical of war time Martin guitars the […]
Serial number 59229 was stamped on February 23, 1935 and cleared final inspection on May 8 that year. The tuners are clipped plate Grover G-98 machines with rounded metal buttons. Style 17 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Mahogany Purfling: Single white line Binding: Mahogany (?) Other period features: Scalloped X-bracing Rosewood fingerboard Dot inlays […]
1932 Martin 0-18S Guitar, Serial Number 50053 This guitar is one of the very rare and much sought after 14-fret long scale (25.4”) 0-18S guitars from 1932. A total of six 0-18S guitars were made in early 1932 (stamped between. The first five had the long scale neck and the last had a “0 scale” […]