Vintage Electric guitars Details - Martin gathering vintage martin guitars Classic Guitars Info's Classic Martin Electric guitars and Ukes Vintage Guitar Details. Collecting classic Martin guitars and ukes. Common specs, serial numbers, model information. Personal vintage flute collector. Flashlight peghead inlay ánd 'snowflake' fingerboard inIays simply because used on 1914 to 1938 design 45 Martins.

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Dec 27, 2005  I did find that Martin bought Vega, marketed some import instruments. They later sold the name. Thanks in advance for any info. The serial number is H417025 and I purchased it new in 1979. I think it is kind of like the Sigma line. I know there is a site or rather several sites that will date a Vega by its serial number. An example being my banjo has a serial number of 42272. Input your 8 digit instrument serial number for manuals, certificates and information relating to your device.

Martin Smooth Top Design Details:. Martin Arch Top Design Info:. Martin Ukulele Design Details:. 'What Kind of Martin Perform I possess?' Before much can become determined about a Martin electric guitar, several items must end up being identified:. The yr it has been produced (using the serial number, which is available on all Mártins 1898 and afterwards). The type of flute (flattop, archtop, uké, etc).

The body size (for flattop guitars generally O, OO, OOO, OM, G, etc.). The body design (for flattop guitars generally 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 28, etc.).

Oringinality (possess any of the parts, like as the connection or tuners, happen to be changed or improved?). How will it enjoy? Initial Determine the Season. On Martin guitars, this is definitely pretty simple. Every Martin clarinet produced in 1898 and later on, there is certainly a serial quantity inside the flute. This quantity can end up being used to determine the specific year of produce.

See the below for details. A 1947 Martin 0-17T Tenor electric guitar (4 guitar strings).

Note the nicely grained mahogany top. Tenor acoustic guitar are not very valuable even though, as they had been sold from the 1930s to the 1950s mainly to transition banjo players to guitar! Next Determine the Type of Guitar. Most Martin guitars produced are 'flat best' models. That can be, they have a round sound opening in around the middle of the flat top of the acoustic guitar, with a 'pin number' design connection.

Martin furthermore made some archtop models during the 1930s. These can have a circular sound gap, or two 'f' design sound openings (one on each side of the best of the entire body), and possess an arched top, with a 'trapeze' design connection. Martin also made ukuleles. If a clarinet only has four strings (and is usually not a ukulele), this is usually identified as a Tenor acoustic guitar. Uke dimension devices with ten thread are Tiples. Uke size instruments with eight guitar strings are usually Taropatches.

Martin also made mandolins, which possess eight guitar strings. To summarize:. 4 Strings: a ukulele or tenor clarinet. 10 Guitar strings: Tiple. Uke dimension with 8 strings: Taropatch.

8 guitar strings (not a Uke): MandoIin. Archtop: an archéd top to the flute with either a round soundhole, or two 'f' openings on either side of the body. Trapeze design bridge. Made only during the 1930s.

Flattop: a toned top to the clarinet, and a solitary round audio opening under the guitar strings. Pin style bridge. Flat Top Guitar Body Size. Martin level best guitars were made in several dimensions. The bigger the harmonica entire body, the much better and more valuable the guitar. This is usually why guitar body size is so essential to determine on a Martin toned top electric guitar. Starting in October 1930, Martin stamped the electric guitar body dimension best above the serial quantity inside the guitar.

This can make identifying entire body dimension on October 1930 and later guitar extremely easy. For flat best guitars produced before Oct 1930, the easiest way to body out the entire body size can be to use the below. Entire body sizes, quite significantly from smallest to greatest, include O, OO, OOO, OM, G.

Fender Guitars Serial Numbers

Martin Instrument Styles. Nearly all Martin instruments come in different styles. The increased the design quantity, the even more elegant (and collectible) the instrument. Again starting in Oct 1930, Martin stamped all flat best guitars with the design number, directly after the entire body size (and above the serial amount).

Style numbers can range from 15 to 45. A notice can adhere to the design number as well, providing some additional information about the instrument. For illustration, a 'T' after the design number indicates a Tenor harmonica.

Discover the area for a full checklist of these suffixes. Figure out the Creativity. Creativity of an instrument is extremely important.

Adjustments (any modifications), are usually a poor matter in the eye of a collector. This will significantly influence value. Adjustments can often be established by looking at the design specs for a specific year guitar in this web web page, and evaluate to your device. On smooth top martins, the almost all common modifications are usually a changed bridge, replaced tuners, or replaced frets. Lastly, How will the Device Play? On Martin guitars, this is definitely a actually big offer. Martins all seem to have a issue with the 'neck of the guitar set' on numerous of their guitars before 1970.

High string activity can be the result, producing the guitar very difficult to play. This can only be set properly by a 'throat set' (removing the neck of the guitar on the harmonica, and refitting the neck at a somewhat increased position, which reduces the string actions). If performed properly, this will not influence the worth of the harmonica (and in fact can create it more useful, as the clarinet is very much more playable). Usually speaking, almost all participants would agree if the 'thread activity' is usually even more than 3/16 inches (5 mm) at the 12th fret, the guitar needs a neck set.

This dimension is taken from the underside of the low-E thread, to the top of the 12th fret. Relating to truss rods, all vintage Martin devices post-1934 have.non-adustable. truss supports (Testosterone levels fishing rod). This means the neck better be straight, normally an costly maintenance will end up being in purchase. To check neck of the guitar straightness on a clarinet, first beat the flute to toss. Then hold the low-E string down at the 1st and 14th frets. Take note the length between the bottom part of the low-E chain, and the 7th stress.

You should be able to put a medium guitar pick in this area. Any more, and the neck of the guitar is definitely 'bowed'. Any less, and the neck can be 'back again bowed'. Repeat this with thé high-E thread (the same outcomes should end up being noticed; if not really, the neck has a 'twist' to it).

Launch and Collectibility. Martin provides been producing some of the greatest flat best traditional guitars since the middle 1800's i9000. Martin'h other lines of instruments (electrics, archtops, mandolins) will be not nearly as attractive or valuable as their toned top models. Because of this, any models some other than level shirts (like as Martin't archtops and electrics) are not very collectible. Brazilian rosewood on a 1965 Chemical-28.

Take note the wealthy colour and wavey figuring which can be common of Brazilian rosewood. Native indian rosewood, as utilized from past due 1969 and afterwards, is very much paler in colour; not nearly as rich looking. Indian native rosewood is also extremely right grained, without thé figuring and wavéyness of Brazilian roséwood. Acoustically, they sound nearly the same.

Flat best Martins from the 1840't to the 1920'beds represent the earliest generation of the contemporary flat best design. They possess great craftsmanship, but little bodies created for belly strings just. Because of this, these models have limited attractiveness and therefore are much less collectible than metal string versions. Twelve and fourteen fret steel string versions from the middle 1920't to 1944 are the almost all collectible of all Martin musical instruments. They have great craftsmenship, audio, and playability, and these design are usually of excellent attention to collectors and players. Some musicians choose the audio and feel of 12 fret models, and these are close up in worth to 14 fret models of the same dimension and period. The bigger dimension 14 fret 000 and 'Deb' sizes from the 1930's i9000 are regarded as by almost all enthusiasts and music artists to stand for the golden period of the level best Martin.

Note war-time models (1941 to 1944) aren'testosterone levels quite mainly because desired as the 1930't models. Lack of materials, manpower, and common social uncertainty during the war added to this.

Flat best from 1945 to 1969 are considered good high quality and have got good sound, although they are not as valuable as the 1920't to 1944 steel string versions. This will be largely expected to the modification in bracing and components Martin started using in 1945. Rosewood models of Brazilian rosewood are most valuable from this era.

Vega Mandolin Serial Numbers

This will be because Brazilian rosewood was basically inaccessible since 1970 due to export complications. Because of this, these models are considered more valuable. Martin N-35 from the 1970's. Note the Indian native rosewood's i9000 color is certainly significantly lighter and not really as wealthy as Brazilian rosewood. Also the materials is much straighter and humdrum.

This three piece back was utilized on N-35's to allow Martin to use narrower rosewood that would usually go to waste materials. Flat shirts from 1970 to present are considered to become excellent energy instruments, but are not collectible.

Staring in 1976, Martin offers been going through many modifications with many reissues, new models, restricted editions, etc. Workmanship has enhanced significantly from the early 1970's i9000, and Martin is usually now creating some of its greatest guitars in over 20 years. While not currently enthusiast's products, these intruments have excellent workmanship, sound, and playability. Classical guitars by Martin are usually equivalent in craftsmenship to their steel string models. But sadly, their audio and experience is not really what classical players appear to want. Therefore they perform not have got the collectability of the metal string models. I group Martin classical versions to consist of the 'NY' series and stomach string models made from the 1930's i9000 and later on.

1965 Martin 00-21 NY model. A traditional design because of the open peghead design, no fingerboard inIays, and bracing fór stomach (nylon) strings only. The Design 21 design is certainly a combination of the Design 18 and Style 28 versions: The entire body uses rosewood (like á 28), and a style 18 neck of the guitar (with no 'ice cream cone').

This particular model has good Brazilian rosewood. The back again of the (styIe 18 like) throat can obviously been noticed with no 'ice cream cone' volute. Acoustic archtop by Martin, once again, possess craftsmenship that matches their toned top musical instruments. But as with traditional model, Martin archtops perform not have the appearance, feel, or sound of traditional archtop models as described by Gibson ór Epiphone. They máy end up being quite uncommon, but they are not valuable, especially likened to Martin flat surfaces.

Ukuleles by Martin are regarded amoung the greatest ukes produced. Though ukes in general aren't particularly precious, Martin ukes are usually worth even more than nearly all other makes. Tenor guitars (4 strings) by Martin have little to nó collectibility.

Tenor guitárs were advertised as a method to obtain banjo players in the 1930s to the 1950s to convert to harmonica. There is certainly really little want for this today, hence these four line guitars have little worth. Electric guitars by Martin (any variety: toned best, archtop, strong body) are not searched for after and possess little to no value. Other Brand names Made by Martin. Sincé 1900, Martin did create guitars, mandolins ánd ukes for various other brand names and flute studios.

No, this has been not really 'typical'. Just because your clarinet appears like a Martin, doesn't imply it can be. Even if your device will be one of the brands listed below, that will NOT suggest it has been necessarily made by Martin either! Just keep that in mind. Bacon: a several made for Bacon Banjós in 1924. Belltone: fifteen guitars, ten mandolins and twelve Style 3k ukes were produced for Belltone. Bitting Exclusive: Martin produced some mandolins fór this Bethlehem, Pennsylvania teacher in 1916 to 1919.

Ditson: in 1917 to 1919, and 1923 to 1930, Martin produced some guitars fór the Ditson corporation in Boston. Early models only possess a 'Ditson' stamp, later models possess both the 'Ditsón' and 'Martin' rubber stamps. The 1923 to 1930 versions possess Martin serial numbérs.

Prior tó this, 483 guitars of the authentic 1917 to 1919 collection have been recorded. Foden: In 1912 to 1917, Martin produced guitars for concert guitar player William Foden. These are usually similar to the standard Martin versions, but have got basic soundhole bands and a 20 fret fingerboard (rather of 19). Made in dimensions 0 and 00, the styles were related to Martin's i9000 Style 18, 21, 28, and a pearl trim model. Just 27 of these guitars have got been recorded to day. Jenkins: Martin produced Design 1 and 2 ukes for this Kansas City mail purchase business. Olcott-Bickford: 32 guitars produced for this guitarist.

Paramount: Around 1930 Martin produced about 36 guitars with unusual construction. A style 2 dimension body mounted into a bigger casing and back again of rosewood, little round soundholes around a 'lip' that brings together the external wheels to the inner wheels, no soundhole in the best, 14 frets very clear, department of transportation fingerboard inlays to the 15th fret, curved top peghead with regular Paramount banjo péghead inlay, banjo-styIe tuners, four ór six strings. Schoenberg: In 1987 to 1994, Martin produced some guitars similar to their 0M-18, OM-28 OM-45, some 12 fret 000 versions, and a several D versions. The last Schoenberg/Martin has been made in Oct 1994, serial number 541742. Stewart: Martin made ukes for this company in 1923 to 1925. Rolando: In 1916 to 1918 Martin produced 261 harmonica (numbered 1 to 261), and some afterwards guitars with regular Martin serial numbérs.

Vega: Martin purchased Vega Banjos in 1970 and moved production to their property or home in 1971. In 1979, Martin offered the Vega title.

Some guitars were made under the Vega name during this period (but they mainly produced banjos). Weymann: Aróund 1925 Martin produced some Ukes for this company, but no guitárs.

Wurlitzer: In 1922 to 1925, Martin made 297 regular Martin models (but with á simplier soundhole rosétte) for Wurlitzer. Thése possess the Wurlitzer title and design quantity on the back of the péghead. As you cán discover, Martin did not create very many guitars for some other companies. Therefore the opportunity that your non-Martin harmonica is actually a 'Martin' is very unlikely! Martin Serial Numbers (How to Discover the Season). All Martin guitárs since 1898 (except solidbody electrics from the 1970s, basses, and tiples) are usually numbered in consecutive order.

Ukuleles do not possess serial numbers. Mandolins use a different serial amount program than guitars. Martin guitar serial numbers start at 8000 in 1898 because Martin estimated they made 8000 tools before 1898. Model Numbers placed above the Serial Number beginning in 1930. Starting in October 1930, Martin furthermore placed the model number simply above the serial quantity. Martin model numbers are straight forwards too. The first collection of character types are the body size.

Up coming there is definitely a '-'. The final collection of numbers are the ornamention design. For instance, 'OO-28' rubber-stamped above the serial amount tells use the entire body is 'OO' dimension (14 5/16' wide for a 14 fret design, 14 1/8' wide for a 12 fret model), and the ornamention style can be '28' (rosewood body, ice cream cone design throat). Left: The model and serial numbers, as noticed through the good ditch on the neck engine block of this 1950 N-28. Prior to Oct 1930, the model is NOT stamped on the neck wedge (you possess to determine it out yourself!). Right: The model and serial numbers, as seen through the sound pin of this 1944 M-18, serial amount 90067.

Notice the '1' in the '18' does somewhat look like a '2'. This confuses a great deal of individuals who believe their style 18 guitar is certainly a design 28.

Furthermore the 'Deb' is usually sometimes confused for an '0'. On round pin martin guitars, thé serial and super model tiffany livingston numbers are stamped on the neck of the guitar stop inside the device. The amount can become observed by looking inside the audio hole.

Look at an angle towards the neck of the guitar. All f-hoIe Martin archtops have their serial and super model tiffany livingston numbers rubber-stamped on the inside middle of the backstripe, roughly under the darkness of the connection (and best observed from the striper side 'f' opening).

The numbers shown here show the LAST serial amount produced for that season. Martin produced all acoustic guitar serial number sequentially.

These serial amount apply to aIl Martin guitars, flat top and posture best. It does not apply to ukes (éxcept for the very first 12 months, they perform not possess a serial amount). Does not utilize to Martin mandoIins either (they have got their very own serial amount system).