Martin guitar was founded by German immigrant named Christian Freidrich Martin whose father was also an instrument maker. Martin was based in New York City before moving to the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania in 1839. By the 1840’s Martin Guitar was producing the Flat top looking guitar with the bright sound that they are known for today.
The Martin Dreadnaught Vintage Acoustic Guitar
It wasn’t until the 1850’s that they actually started to name and identify their guitars. The system used for identifying the guitars was a numbering system. That system was scraped in 1929 for a new identification system, which is the model number stamped just above the Martin serial numbers.This is the same system they use today
The OM or Orchestra model or the D model that stood for Martin Dreadnought which was named for a battleship and were developed in 1929. Some of the most collectable Martin flat top vintage acoustic guitars were the pre-war Martin Dreadnaughts from the 1930’s. These vintage Martin guitars were the ones that many of the world famous musicians thought were the Stradivariuses of vintage Martin guitars.
Another type of vintage guitars to look out for is guitars made from the post war years to the late 1960’s. This is when Brazilian Rosewood was replaced by Indian Rosewood. Indian Rosewood in antique guitars lacked the visual richness that Brazilian Rosewood had. Indian Rosewood is much paler in color and straight grained without the figuring and waviness of the Brazilian Rosewood. Acoustically they are the same.
The Collectable Martin Vintage Guitar-The Martin Used Acoustic Guitar
Martin has been making some of the best flat top acoustic guitars since the mid 1800’s. Martin’s other line of stringed instruments (electrics, mandolins, ukuleles and arch tops) are not nearly desirable for collecting as the flattop. Martin Flat tops from the 1840’s to the 1920’s represent the earliest models of flat top guitar. Smaller in shape than the modern flat top and not as collectable, with less appeal
The 12 and 14 fret steel string models from the mid 1920’s to 1944 are the most collectable of all vintage Martin guitars. They are known for excellent craftsmanship, sound and playability. These models are of the most interest to collectors. The larger size 14 fret 000 and D sizes from the 1930’s are considered by most collectors and musicians to represent the golden era of the Martin flat top.
Martin flat tops acoustic guitars from 1945 -1969 are considered to have good sound and quality like this 1946 Martin D-28, but are not as collectable as the 1920 to 1944 steel string models. The Brazilian Rosewood used in the models are more desirable then the Indian Rosewood used in the model starting in 1970.
Martin Flat tops from 1970 to the present are considered excellent instruments but not collectable. Since the 1970’s Martin has been producing some of its best guitars in the last 30 years. While currently not a collectors item they are still known for their excellent workmanship, sound and playability.
Sources
Vintage guitars Info http://home.provide.net/~cfh/index.html
Jim Galloway - Professional Musician/Published Songwriter for 30 yrs. With over 200 Articles in Recording/Music Buisness/ Resources/Vintage Instruments
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