Martin Guitars

1943 Martin D-18, Serial Number 83225

Posted on

Serial number 83225 was stamped on January 20, 1943 and cleared final inspection on March 12 that year. The tuners are Kluson 502 machines with white celluloid buttons. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Lines Binding: Black celluloid Other period features: Rear-X scalloped bracing Ebony fingerboard Ebony belly bridge […]

Martin Guitars

1945 Martin 000-28, Serial Number 90987

Posted on

Serial number 90987 was stamped on March 28, 1945 and cleared final inspection on June 25 that year. This guitar is one of the earlier war-time Martin guitars that got the re-issued steel T-bar neck reinforcement. Martin, due to war-time restrictions, had been forced to eliminate the steel T-bar neck reinforcement in early 1942 and […]

Martin Guitars

1950 Martin 00-18 Dark Top, Serial Number 116146

Posted on

Serial number 116146 was stamped on August 11, 1950 and cleared final inspection on November 13 that year. Guitars from the 1950s are rarely encountered with dark tops and only one from this batch of 25 guitars got the sunburst finish. The tuners are Kluson K-210 machines with metal buttons. Style 18 features: Back and […]

Martin Guitars

1937 Martin D-28, Serial Number 66724

Posted on

Serial number 66724 was stamped on June 24, 1937 and cleared final inspection on October 7 that year. This guitar has advanced X-bracing and a 1-3/4″ wide neck. The tuners are Grover G-98 pointed plate machines with unseamed butterbean buttons. Style 28 features: Back and sides: Brazilian rosewood Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Purfling: Herringbone Binding: […]

Martin Guitars

1947 Martin 5-18, Serial Number 99590

Posted on

Serial number 99590 was stamped on April 2, 1947 and cleared final inspection on August 1 that year. The tuners are probably three-on-a-side D & J (Dinsmore & Jager) #31 machines. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) – Although Sitka spruce was the norm for Martin guitars at the time, […]

Martin Guitars

1940 Martin 00-18, Serial Number 74767

Posted on

Serial number 74767 was stamped on April 11, 1940 and cleared final inspection on October 8 that year. The tuners are Waverly 5038 mchines with rounded metal buttons. These tuners have a distinctive backing plate and are sometimes called “Yoda head” machines. Style 18 features: Back and sides: Mahogany Top: Red spruce (Adirondack) Binding: Tortoiseshell […]