Fender Banjo Serial Numbers
Most Martin guitars made are “flat top” models. That is, they have a round sound hole in approximately the center of the flat top of the guitar, with a “pin” style bridge. Martin also made some vintage instruments like archtop models during the 1930s.
These can have a round sound hole, or two “f” style sound holes (one on each side of the top of the body), and have an arched top, with a “trapeze” style bridge. Martin also made ukuleles. If a guitar only has four strings (and is not a ukulele), this is known as a Tenor guitar. Uke size instruments with ten string are Tiples.
Uke size instruments with eight strings are Taropatches. Martin also made mandolins, which have eight strings. To summarize: • 4 Strings: a ukulele or tenor guitar. • 10 Strings: Tiple.
• Uke size with 8 strings: Taropatch • 8 strings (not a Uke): Mandolin. • Archtop: an arched top to the guitar with either a round soundhole, or two “f” holes on either side of the body. Trapeze style bridge. Made only during the 1930s.
• Flattop: a flat top to the guitar, and a single round sound hole under the strings. Pin style bridge. Body Size Martin flat top guitars were made in various sizes. The bigger the vintage instrument body, the better and more collectible the guitar.
Fender Product Registration - Serial number lookup.
This is why guitar body size is so important to identify on a Martin flat top guitar. Starting in October 1930, Martin stamped the guitar body size right above the serial number inside the guitar. This makes identifying body size on October 1930 and later guitar very easy. Body sizes, pretty much from smallest to biggest, include O, OO, OOO, OM, D. Martin Vintage Instruments – Styles Nearly all Martin instruments come in different styles.
The higher the style number, the more fancy (and collectible) the instrument. Again starting in October 1930, Martin stamped all flat top guitars with the style number, directly after the body size (and above the serial number). Style numbers can range from 15 to 45.
A letter can follow the style number too, giving some additional info about the instrument. For example, a “T” after the style number indicates a Tenor guitar. Determine the Originality Originality of an instrument is very important. Modifications (any modifications), are a bad thing in the eyes of a collector. This will greatly influence value.
Modifications can often be determined by looking at the model specs for a particular year guitar in this web page, and compare to your instrument. On flat top martins, the most common modifications are a replaced bridge, replaced tuners, or replaced frets. Filed Under:,, September 13, 2012 By. Everything you should know about the benefits of music. Do you like tribute bands? Are you looking for a live band to sing a range of different favourites are you most interested in a particular genre? Rock, pop, hip hop, heavy metal, country, contemporary, classical, rap, reggae, wedding music, 80s, 90s, blues, jazz?
What would be your ideal choice? Do you have the space for a small DJ or a band to really get your party going? What would fit in with your theme and what would you and your guests really want to hear? Also, what sort of budget are you looking? You may want to set the mood and theme around your band or try and find a band to fit an existing theme. Either way, there are a lot of different factors to consider. Fortunately, at least one part has been made easier for you – there are music management websites that will cater for all your needs in finding that perfect band, taking into account genre, religion, occasion and many other factors.
There is nothing better than listening to your favourite music. After a hard day at the office, listening to your favourite band on the way home seems to ease any tension that has built up throughout the day. It’s also hard to beat that feeling you get after purchasing the tickets for a concert and beginning the countdown to the event. Music is even being used in therapy now as a way to reduce stress by slowing your breathing and relaxing your muscles, lifting your mood. Music can stimulate your body, causing it to produce serotonin, known as the happy hormone, and it can alter your brain waves even after you have finished listening. Also, everyone knows that it can motivate you – that’s why the gyms of today are filled with people with personal stereos.
Music reminds you of particular times and places – happy memories. It’s not just adults who can benefits from listening to music. Children who listen to music from a young age often learn how to read quicker than normal and are shown to do better in school because they can concentrate for long periods of time. These benefits will help to boost your child’s self-esteem and confidence.
Another good idea is to get your child into learning an instrument which can help with discipline, teamwork and will also show the benefits of practice. You never know, one day someone could be booking your son or daughter’s band for their wedding. Tina O’Carroll is a music-lover writing on behalf of Filed Under: January 7, 2011 By. Martin Flat Top Body Sizes “Size” is the body size designation that Martin uses, as stamped inside the guitar on the neck block starting in October 1930. All measurements are in inches. “Frets” represents the frets clear of the body.
“Introduced” was the year of introduction. All sizes are in inches.
Style 40 flat top – Martin Guitar, Vintage Collectibility Rating: B (would be higher but most models were made in Hawaiian style). • • German silver tuners with pearl buttons. • Ivory bound fingerboard and peghead. • Ivory bridge • Ivoroid bound top and back.
• Snowflake inlays beginning at 5th fret. • Unbound fingerboard and peghead.
• Style 40 discontinued. • Style 40 reintroduced. • Ebony bridge.
• Most often seen as the Martin 00-40H (hawaiian) with 12 frets clear of the body and a sloted peghead. The 00-40H maintained this configuration until 1941 when it was discontinued. • Style 40 discontinued. Reintroduced in 1985 with slightly different specs. Rosewood back and sides, abalone (pearl) inlay around top edge and soundhole (but not on top around the fingerboard like a style 41,42,45 would have), inlaid bridge pins. Fancy backstripe of horizontal lines between two rows of diagonal lines (like style 45). Most style 40 models made were hawaiian style with flat fingerboard radius, flat flush frets, high string action, and no bridge saddle compensation.
Most popular was the OO-40H (though they did made 2-40, 0-40, 000-40 and 000-40H models prior to WW2). Sometimes these are converted to regular “spanish” style guitar (fingerboard radiused, refretted, neck reset, bridge saddle angled). Made from the 1860s to 1917, then 1928 to 1941, then 1985 to present. 1860s Style 40 Introduction specs: 1909 Style 40 specs: 1917 Style 40 specs: 1928 Style 40 reintroduction specs: 1941 Style 40 specs: Filed Under:,, March 28, 2010 By. Learn to Play Guitar by Yourself When you decide to begin a learn self guitar program whether its through reading books on the subject or taking a program that you learn all by yourself, it can be somewhat hard. However, it isn’t that hard. It’s like learning Spanish or any language.
It takes years to get good at and even more years to be able to fluently speak in the language. Music is a language that is very beneficial to have. You can express yourself without even talking. Learning the guitar takes nothing more than dedication, passion, and an instrument. There are so many melodies and songs out there that many people try to learn.
The problem is that people try to learn these songs in an inefficient way. Nevertheless, learning those songs in a good manner is not hard and can be very satisfying. Following the right guidelines one can teach self guitar and reap many noticeable improvements fast. How To Self Learn Play Guitar Practicing Practicing the guitar will make you better.
Not practicing will leave you where you left off last. Practice will get your fingers stronger so you can play better songs.
When you first start out your fingers may hurt from the metal or nylon strings, however, still continue to practice as the fingers will adjust to this and get stronger. If you practice every day for a month then by the end of that month you’ll not only be a much better musician but will probably enjoy it even more. The guitar is a very exciting and beneficial hobby that anybody can do and anybody can use to reap the rewards it has. Not only does playing provide satisfaction for the guitarist but it can be used to give others enjoyment as well. Play for old folks at the retirement center, play for charities, play for free.
Record a song and give it out for others to listen to. Music is a great thing to have and can benefit everyone.
Filed Under: March 28, 2010 By. K.I.S.S Guitar Book What Made the KISS Guitar Book Popular Every hard rock fan knows the rock band legend KISS. This is the most popular rock band that shocked the music scene when they first started in the seventies. They had the trademark of wearing leather suits and face paint in their radical performances. Aside from the good music which earned them 22 gold albums and sold millions of copies, they were also known for the wild live performances where smoke comes out from their guitars and pyrotechnics firing-off everywhere. The band was very popular in that it was the first rock band that was able to make a lot of money marketing themselves with KISS merchandise. There are a lot of original merchandise products to choose from.
They offer the rock band sweatshirt, cards, t-shirts, cups, books, and even a coffin. And there are a lot of people who remain to be avid fans of the group.
As I see it the numbers keep on growing as well. With the band members starting to show some age, the partying days and glamorous rock concerts might come to an end soon – this has had the effect of doubling the value of all the KISS collectibles in the market. Among the memorabilia and merchandise of the band, the k.i.s.s guitar book seems to be the one that makes the most money for KISS. Download Free Software Texas A M Red White And Blue Gamecube there. Shop here: K.I.S.S Guitar Book Advantages Official KISS merchandise is offered to fans so they can show their appreciation for the band and their music; fans love it.
But the real reason KISS does it is to promote the band and make more money. We fans don’t care about why they do it just as long as they keep putting out those crazy cool painted KISS designs on apparel and merchandise so we can live and relive good times. But aside from getting something that you can just simply display, why not be practical and get a memento that you can actually use? This is one of the reasons why the k.i.s.s.
Guitar book is doing so well as a collectible among the other KISS apparel and merchandise. Shop here: Filed Under: December 27, 2009 By. Martin & Company is one of the oldest, if not the oldest guitar company in the United States. Christian Frederick Martin founded the company in 1833.
After years of developing their guitars and setting a standard for excellence, it is easy to say that Martin is one of the most popular acoustic guitar companies in the world. Despite the fact that the company was founded around 175 years ago, it still remains a family operation. The current company chairman and CEO is ‘CF’ Chris Martin IV. He continues the tradition started by his family in creating high quality acoustic guitars. As a side note, they also produce some electric guitars and basses.
Christian Frederick Martin, Sr. Was actually born in Germany. His family made cabinets for a living, and that was to be his future. But at the age of 15, he left Germany and traveled to Austria to apprentice with Johann Stauffer who was an expert luthier. He learned his trade well, and returned to Germany to set up shop. He was met with serious resistance. Not from his family, but from the Violin Makers Guild.
Martin wasn’t the only cabinet maker who was showing an aptitude for making stringed instruments. The violin makers feared it would hurt their business. Eventually, Martin left for the United States, where he started his illustrious guitar making company. Martin has both a regular line of guitars and a custom shop. The Dreadnought is possibly one of their most popular guitar series and many consider Martin’s Dreadnought series to be amongst the best. Other acoustic guitars include their Limited Editions, The Backpacker, the Road Series, the X Series, the Golden Era Marquis, and the Vintage series.
They have plenty of other styles and options so you may want to visit their website to take a look. A lot of guitarists swear.
These include Beck, Jimmy Buffet, Eric Clapton, Sting, Nancy Wilson, Norman Blake, Bob Shane, Steve Miller, the late Johnny Cash, Buddy Guy, and Paul Simon. However, this is an incomplete list. Visit their website for more names and their profiles.
Here is what people have to say about their. About the Martin HD-28 Acoustic Simply, the guitar sounds amazing.
Very well balanced, bass, mids, and treble all come out very clearly but don’t step on each other at all. Sounds especially nice capoed up a few frets. I got the guitar about 2 and a half years ago and I have noticed it starting to open up since I play it a lot. About the Martin D-18 This is without a doubt the best guitar I have owned or played. Over forty years of playing I have had the opportunity to play many guitars.
I can’t think of one that I would consider trading for my D-18 including my 1962 Stratocaster purchased from the same music store as my Martin. The strat is long gone but the D-18 is still herethank God. Bill McRea is the publisher of Guitar Warehouse the best place to Buy Guitar and learn Guitar Playing Techniques. Visit our site for over 60 Free Guitar Lessons and Information about playing Guitar. Article Source: Filed Under:, November 21, 2009 By. I think the heart of every guitarist falls in love instantly upon seeing a Martin 1833 logo decal upon an acoustic guitar’s headstock, no matter how it looks there’s something that makes it irresistible to play and hear how it sounds.
Although the factory may not put as much time and effort into every guitar they build these days they still are capable of producing wonderfully beautiful instruments and in this article we’re going to have a look at the Martin D-35. It’s got a price tag so is worth it? Well the first thing that strikes you is it’s appearance with a 3 piece rosewood back, it looks gorgeous enough to eat! Adding to it’s overall appearance is a bound ebony fretboard. It’s a dreadnought and with such a huge top the bass in its sound is strong and punchy without being overbearing.
To balance this Martin have used ¼” bracing which actually makes the treble sing out more. Let’s take a quick run down of the woods behind much of this guitars beautiful tone. There’s a spruce top and 3 piece rosewood back, the sides are also of rosewood and the fingerboard is ebony. Like any good acoustic guitar maker Martin take much care in their wood selection and the quality is consistently good across the range. Martin guitar cases are always of a high quality and the case which comes with the D-35 is a deluxe case. The guitar fits into it perfectly and of course anyone who owns a Martin acoustic guitar and case will know what I mean when I mention the smell! Delicious right?
It’s something only us devoted guitar players can understand and appreciate. So if you’re looking for a Martin dreadnought be sure to add the D-35 to your list of models to check out.
Fredrich Gretsch passed away while on a trip to his homeland leaving the company to the enterprising mind of his teeneage son still in school, still in knickers. When young Fred Gretsch, Sr. Entertained customers at a nearby restaurant, the waiter took the drink order but quickly advised the boy: “No matter what you order, you’re going to drink milk!” Energetic as he was enterprising, Fred Gretsch, Sr. Built the business on a reputation for precision and quality. Two decades after he had assumed direction as the boy in knickers, he had moved the operation to a mammoth 10 story building at 60 Broadway in Brooklyn, where it remained until the company moved to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1972. Fred Gretsch, Sr.
Retired from the company in 1942, his attire now the pressed suits of a successful businessman. His sons, Fred, Jr. And William “Bill” were well prepared to assume leadership.
Both had been active in the business since 1927. From these headquarters he responding to the growing demand for more and more spacialized guitars: The first acoustics becoming popular with country western performers, the age of electronics. Fred Gretsch, Jr. Managed the operations briefly, then left the company to serve with distinction as a commander in the Navy, and Bill Gretsch became president. Duke Kramer recalls, “Bill was a man with a subtle talent for inspiring people to do their best and a genius for constructive counsel. His sense of humor was irresistible. When he passed away in 1948, a legion of individuals felt they lost their best friend.” Determined to return the company to family ownership, it was in 1985, when Fred W.
Gretsch, the great-grandson of the company founder, made good on his promise. The Gretsch Company was once again in capable family hands.
Operations moved to Savannah, where the revitalized company began to offer new, vintage styled, Gretsch guitars and classic Gretsch drums. The success of the new products was immediate and Gretsch instruments were quickly back in demand. Today there is much to celebrate as the Gretsch Company has truly come full circle now spanning over 120 years and four generations! A career in banking, computer software design and ownership of her own credit bureau prepared Dinah for her far reaching responsibilities at Gretsch. Dinah is Executive Vice President for Fred Gretsch Enterprises and handles all computer and accounting functions of the company as well as artist relations. July 2002; The Gretsch family recently celebrated Fred’s Birthday and another year continuing the tradition of “That Great Gretsch Sound!” Here, Fred and Dinah are joined by their eleven grand children for the annual celebration. Wow, what a difference 2 years makes!
From gretschdrums.com Filed Under: September 22, 2009 By. The size of the Martin Arch Top C-2 body is equal to the 000 size of the flat top type and it is 15” wide. The top is carved but the back is arched. The sides and the back are made of rosewood. The has a trapeze styled tail piece and all its parts are made of nickel. The scale of arch tops of the C-series was long just like the 000 model, till 1934. In some cases, the arch top was converted into 000 styled flat top in a C model.
The conversion of the short scale C-2 will not be similar to the 000 style if it was made after 1934. The neck of Martin Arch Top C-2 creates the entire difference, since it has to be shortened in length to get the desired shallow angle to have a flat top. Thus, the fret of the neck must be 1/3, but the guitar, in the process, gets a 13 2/3 fret.
This causes the bridge on these to be at a lower position just like the OM bridge. However, it is not precisely same. Even the back arch and also the back braces are not the same in the Martin C models as compared to Martin 000 models. The arch top contains more arches in their backs and has tall #3 and #4 back braces. The neck inlay is pearloid of the C-2 models that are made in the year 1939 or later. They also don’t have abalone.
Filed Under:,, September 15, 2009 By. The Style 28 Martin guitar includes the D-28, 000-28, OM-18, 0-28, 00-28 models which have a spruce top and a rosewood body. This theme has been the most popular line of since the late 1800s. It has an awesome sound which is the main reason why these guitars have been the favorite of several big stars as well. All the style-28 models including the D-28 model have been higher-end models which have a rosewood body along with a great sound. All the Martin style 28 models which were made before 1947 have a herribone trim look that appears extremely trendy. All the models which are made from Brazilian rosewood look more sleek and better than the models which are made from Indian rosewood.
The number ‘28’ indicates the style of the guitar model. The letters that are prefixed before ‘28’ mark the body size. 0-28 is the smallest in the range, 00-28, OM-28,000-28 are bigger than 0-28 and D-28 is the largest of the lot.
Considering today’s music trends, D-28, OM-28 and 000-28 are considered to be the best sized models. The OM-28 was manufactured between 1929 and 1933 and is a very interesting model because its novel design bears some impressive modern features. There are some other 18 models like the OO-28C (1966-1976), OOO-28C (1962-1966), and OO-28 G (1936-1962), which are actually different from other Martin guitar lines. OO-28K is the coolest of them all and the most desirable. The classical tenor and gut models are especially popular among people throughout the world. Filed Under:,, September 13, 2009 By. Purchasing a Vintage Martin Guitar If like millions others, you too are a fan of the vintage Martin guitars and are planning to buy one for yourself, then you need to take care of some important points before making the deal.
Observing the Manufacturing Year: It is very easy to determine the year of making in case of the vintage Martin guitars. The year should be 1898 or later. There is a unique serial number inside every guitar. The year can be determined by this number. Considering the Guitar Type: ‘Flat Top’ is a trademark of the Martin guitars. ‘Flat Top’ means that these guitars have a sound hole in the centre of the guitar along with the “pin” type bridge.
Along with the ‘Flat Top’ models, Martin also created some novel Archtop models in 1930s. These guitars either had a one sound hole or two “f” style holes, one on either side of the arched top, along with a bridge that was “trapeze” styled.
There were other famous vintage styles manufactured by Martin like the Ukuleles, the Tenor Guitar, and the Taropatches. Determining the Authenticity of the Guitar: The originality and authenticity of a guitar is the most desired component for the collector. Any change or any modification in the original will not be liked by any Martin fan. Linguatec Personal Translator V14.0 Professional *MULTiLANGUAGE*. Once you have determined the year of the, you can look for the snap of the original model on the net and then compare the guitar and the snap and thus, find the difference (if any) all by yourself. It is the bridge, tuners, or the frets which are generally replaced or modified. Filed Under:, August 17, 2009 By. Martin Guitar’s Other Brands Since 1900, Martin did make guitars, mandolins and ukes for other brands and guitar studios.
No, this was not “common”. Just because your guitar looks like a Martin, doesn’t mean it is. Even if your instrument is one of the brands listed below, that does NOT mean it was necessarily made by Martin either!
Just keep that in mind. • Bacon: a few made for Bacon Banjos in 1924. • Belltone: fifteen guitars, ten mandolins and twelve Style 3k ukes were made for Belltone. • Bitting Special: Martin made some mandolins for this Bethlehem, PA teacher in 1916 to 1919. • Ditson: in 1917 to 1919, and 1923 to 1930, Martin made some guitars for the Ditson company in Boston.
Early models only have a “Ditson” stamp, later models have both the “Ditson” and “Martin” stamps. The 1923 to 1930 models have Martin serial numbers. Prior to this, 483 guitars of the original 1917 to 1919 series have been documented.
• Foden: In 1912 to 1917, Martin made guitars for concert guitarist William Foden. These are similar to the standard Martin models, but have simple soundhole rings and a 20 fret fingerboard (instead of 19). Made in sizes 0 and 00, the styles were similar to Martin’s Style 18, 21, 28, and a pearl trim model. Only 27 of these guitars have been documented to date.
• Jenkins: Martin made Style 1 and 2 ukes for this Kansas City mail order company. • Olcott-Bickford: 32 guitars made for this guitarist. • Paramount: Around 1930 Martin made about 36 guitars with strange construction.
A style 2 size body mounted into a larger rim and back of rosewood, small round soundholes around a “lip” that joins the outer rims to the inner rims, no soundhole in the top, 14 frets clear, dot fingerboard inlays to the 15th fret, rounded peak peghead with standard Paramount banjo peghead inlay, banjo-style tuners, four or six strings. • Schoenberg: In 1987 to 1994, Martin made some guitars similar to their OM-18, OM-28 OM-45, some 12 fret 000 models, and a few D models.
The last Schoenberg/Martin was made in October 1994, serial number 541742. Stewart: Martin made ukes for this company in 1923 to 1925. • Rolando: In 1916 to 1918 Martin made 261 guitar (numbered 1 to 261), and some later guitars with standard Martin serial numbers.
• Vega: Martin bought Vega Banjos in 1970 and moved production to their property in 1971. In 1979, Martin sold the Vega name. Some guitars were made under the Vega name during this period (but they mostly made banjos). • Weymann: Around 1925 Martin made some Ukes for this company, but no guitars. • Wurlitzer: In 1922 to 1925, Martin made 297 standard Martin models (but with a simplier soundhole rosette) for Wurlitzer. These have the Wurlitzer name and model number on the back of the peghead. As you can see, Martin did not make very many guitars for other companies.
So the chance that your non-Martin guitar is really a “Martin” is very unlikely! Filed Under:, August 16, 2009 By.
Last Serial No. 18 112 1897 153 1898 359 1899 577 1900 800 1901 881 1902 1171 1903 1348 1904 1507 1905 1669 1906 2026 1907 2357 1908 2510 1909 2786 1910 3098 1911 3431 1912 3847 1913 4162 1914 4462 1915 4767 1916 5007 1917 5752 1918 6370 1919 7237 1920 8761 1921 9627 1922 17405.
Last Serial No. 1946 260020* 1977 509122** 1993 533213 Filed Under: July 29, 2009 By. A 1932 Martin C-1 Archtop with round sound hole.
Style C-1 arch top. Collectibility Rating: D– Arch top body size is equivalent to the flat top 000 body size, 15″ wide across the top, carved spruce top, back is not carved but is arched by bracing, mahogany back and sides, style 18 flat top trim, trapeze tail piece, rosewood fingerboard, nickel plated parts, sunburst top finish. • 1931 Style C-1 specs: • Vertical pearl “Martin” peghead logo on early models. • Round sound hole. • • f-holes introduced instead of round sound hole. Made either way this year.
• Decal style peghead logo (vertical pearl logo dropped). 1932 Style C-1 specs: 1933 Style C-1 specs: Round sound hole completely dropped in favor of f-holes.
1935 Style C-1 specs: White body binding instead of tortoise. 1942 Style C-1 specs: Style C-1 discontinued. From: Filed Under:,, July 26, 2009 By. SOME IMPORTANT DATES 1620- Explorer Richard Jobson mentions “gourd with neck and strings”in Africa 1678- “Banza” noted in Martinique as played by blacks 1769- white banjo players performed in blackface 1813-1860 Joel Walker Sweeney 1843-first documented minstrel show by Dan Emmett & Virginia Minstrels 1840s-1850s Minstrel Craze; Banjo becomes urban instrument 1830s to 1850s Boucher of Baltimore first “shop-made” banjos 1850’s- metal strings invented;James Ashhorn, guitar and banjo maker between 1851-56 made silver wound silk guitar strings at factory in Wolcottsville, Connecticut. 1851-Stephen Foster writes “Old Folks at Home” 1855-Thomas Briggs Banjo Primer published 1858-Philip Rice’s banjo method published 1859-Dan Emmett writes “Dixie” 1859- Stephen Van Hagen patents 7 string (1 short) guitar banjo with frets 1860s-1870s first closed back banjos and first top tension banjos marketed by Dobson (i.e.
Buckbee) in US & England 1865- Frank Converse Banjo primer published 1863-1897 James H. Buckbee Co., of New York largest maker. 1870-Uncle Dave Macon born in Tennessee 1878-Henry Dobson produces 5 string with frets (made by Buckbee) 1880-1890 Fairbanks and Cole of Boston. 1881-Dobson patents a tone ring 1890s-Steel strings widely available: cheaper than gut 1890-1904 Fairbanks Co. Of Philadelphia Made 25,000 banjos!
1880s- first banjos documented in “the hills” 1892-Charlie Poole born in North Carolina 1894-first patent for a banjo mute 1894-first Grover bridge patent 1898-Dock Boggs born 1901-Whyte Laydie introduced by Fairbanks 1904-1970 Vega of Boston 1907- J. Schall of Chicago invents Tenor Banjo or 4 string banjo tuned like a mandolin. 1909-Vega Tubaphone introduced 1910- Tango craze reached America. Tenor, corruption of Tango Banjos; Cole said to have perfected Mandolin-Banjo 1914-Dave Akeman “Stringbean” born. 1918- First Gibson Banjos 1921-first modern flange and resonator by William Lange & Paramount Banjos 1921- Mc Hugh of Gibson company patents adjustable truss rod for guitar and Mando, adjustable tension rods for banjo & adjustable bridge.
1923-first geared tuners patented by C. Kremp 1924-Earl Scruggs born 1925-31-Charlie Poole popular rural recording artist 1925- Gibson “Mastertone” introduced 1927-Ralph Stanley born 1929-modern banjo arm rest invented by L.A. Elkington 1929- Stock market collapse 1930-1945 5 string Banjo almost disappears. No strings available 1939 -Bill Monroe & Bluegrass Boys on Grand Ole Opry without banjo 1940s- Earl Scruggs develops his 3 finger style based on classical style 1941-Bill Monroe adds banjo to band-“Stringbean” Ackeman. 2 finger style 1940s- renewed urban interest in banjo, beginning of “folk-revival” 1943- Seeger creates,long-neck 1945- Scruggs joins Monroe band with 3 finger style 1948-Seeger published “How to Play 5 string Banjo” 1950s-plastic heads become available 1960s when folk boom hit, Gibson and Vega were only companies to still have banjos in their catalogues as compared to 200 makers in 1900, and only Vega still had banjos in production.
From bluegrassbanjo.org Filed Under: July 24, 2009 By. History of the Banjo – Part 3 – THE FIFTH STRING from Joel Walker Sweeney of The Sweeney Minstrels, born 1810, was often credited with the invention of the short fifth string. Scholars know that this is not the case.
A painting entitled The Old Plantation painted between 1777 and 1800 shows a black gourd banjo player with a banjo having the fifth string peg half-way up the neck. If Sweeney did add a fifth string to the banjo it was probably the lowest string, or fourth string by today’s reckoning. This would parallel the development of the banjo elsewhere for example in England, where the tendency was to add more of the long strings with seven and ten strings being common. Sweeney was responsible for the spread of the banjo and probably contracted with a drum maker in Baltimore, William Boucher, to start producing for public sales. These banjos are basically drums with necks attached. A number have survived and a couple of them are in the collections of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington.
Other makers like Jacobs of New York or Morrell who moved his shop to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, helped to supply the growing demand for the instrument in the mid 1840s as the minstrel shows traveled Westward to entertain the gold diggers. Filed Under: July 11, 2009 By.
From bluegrassbanjo.org White men began using blackface as a comic gimmick before the American Revolution. The banjo became a prop for these entertainers, either individually or in groups. By the early part of the 19th century, minstrelsy became a very popular form of entertainment. Joel Walker Sweeney and his Sweeney Minstrels were already popular by the 1830s.
By 1843 the Virginia Minstrels began to do an entire show of this blackface entertainment and this is usually the date used to mark the beginning of the minstrel era. The Virginia Minstrels had 2 Banjo players, Dan Emmett and Billy Whitlock, a pupil of Sweeney. In addition Minstrel shows usually had a fiddler, a bones player and a drum/tambourine. We know from early Banjo instruction books by performers like Thomas Briggs, 1855, Philip Rice, 1858 and Frank Converse, 1865, that the minstrel style of playing was the “downstroke”, what we call frailing today.
This style was learned from the slave performers themselves. Briggs in Banjo Instructor of 1855 describes playing as follows: “In playing the thumb and first finger only of the right hand are used; the 5th string is touched by the thumb only; this string is always played open, the other strings are touched by the thumb and first fingerThe strings are touched by the ball of the thumb and the nail of the 1st finger. The first finger should strike the strings with the back of the nail and then slide to.” Frank Converse in his Banjo Without a Master describes the style of playing as follows: “Partly close the hand, allowing the first finger to project a little in advance of the others. Hold the fingers firm in this position. Slightly curve the thumb. Strike the strings with the first finger (nail) and pull with the thumb.” Filed Under:, June 23, 2009 By. EARLY STAGES – by William Reese Banjos belong to a family of instruments that are very old.
Drums with strings stretched over them can be traced throughout the Far East, the Middle East and Africa almost from the beginning. They can be played like the banjo, bowed or plucked like a harp depending on their development. These instruments were spread, in “modern” times, to Europe through the Arab conquest of Spain, and the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans. The banjo, as we can begin to recognize it, was made by African slaves based on instruments that were indigenous to their parts of Africa. These early “banjos” were spread to the colonies of those countries engaged in the slave trade. Scholars have found that many of these instruments have names that are related to the modern word “banjo”, such as “banjar”, “banjil”, “banza”, “bangoe”, “bangie”, “banshaw”.
Some historians mention the diaries of Richard Jobson as the first record of the instrument. While exploring the Gambra River in Africa in 1620 he recorded an instrument “made of a great gourd and a neck, thereunto was fastened strings.” The first mention of the name for these instruments in the Western Hemisphere is from Martinique in a document dated 1678.
It mentions slave gatherings where an instrument called the “banza” is used. Further mentions are fairly frequent and documented. One such is quoted in Grove’s Dictionary of Music and Musicians from a poem by an Englishman in the British West Indies in 1763: “Permit thy slaves to lead the choral dance/To the wild banshaw’s melancholy sound/”. The best known is probably that of Thomas Jefferson in 1781: “The instrument proper to them (i.e. The slaves) is the Banjar, which they brought hither from Africa.” Filed Under:, June 19, 2009 By. A 1942 Martin C-2 Archtop.
Style C-2 arch top. Arch top body size is equivalent to the flat top 000 body size, 15″ wide across the top, carved sruce top, back is not carved but is arched by bracing, rosewood back and sides, unbound elevated tortoise pickguard, style 28 type multiple bound top and back with white outer layer, zipper zigzag backstripe, trapeze tail piece, rosewood fingerboard, vertical “Martin” peghead logo, nickel plated parts, sunburst top finish. The C-series archtops were long scale until mid-1934, same as the 000 models. Sometimes a C model is converted from an archtop to a 000 style flat top.
A conversion of a short scale C-2 (mid-1934 and later) won’t exactly be a 000 either. The neck must be shortened to get the shallower angle required for a flat top. This amounts to about 1/3 of a fret, so the guitar ends up having a 13 2/3 fret neck. This puts the bridge position a little lower on the top, closer to the OM bridge position (but not exactly the same).
The other feature on the C models that is different from a 000 is the back arch and the back braces. The archtops have more arch in the back and taller #3 and #4 back braces.
Note the 1939 and later C-2 models have no abalone, the neck inlays are pearloid. • • Round sound hole. • Unbound fingerboard. • Slotted diamond fingerboard inlays. • f-holes introduced instead of round sound hole.
Made either way this year. • Round sound hole completely dropped in favor of f-holes. • Bound fingerboard. • Scale length shortened (much like the 000 models). • Fingerboard inlays change to hexagonal pearloid inlays at frets 3,5,7,9,12,15. 1931 Martin C-2 guitar introduction specs: 1932 Style C-2 specs: 1933 Style C-2 specs: 1935 Style C-2 specs: 1939 Style C-2 specs: 1942 Martin Style C-2 guitar discontinued.
Filed Under:,, June 13, 2009 By. The only right way to make a “high string action” Martin guitar play correctly is to do a “neck set”. This repair involves removing the neck on the guitar, and refitting the neck at a slightly increased angle, which lowers the string action. If done correctly, this does not affect the value of the guitar (and in fact can make it more valuable, as the guitar is much more playable). Generally speaking, most players would agree if the “string action” is more than 3/16 inch (5 mm) at the 12th fret, the guitar needs a neck set. This measurement is taken from the bottom of the low-E string, to the top of the 12th fret. This is a somewhat expensive and delicate repair.
But it is a repair often needed on many vintage Martins. A proper neck set not only makes the guitar play better, but also will make it *sound* better too. Because a neck set is expensive, some owners/repair people will take “short cuts” to avoid doing a neck set. These short cuts are usually temporary at best, and never give the best outcome. These include lowering the bridge saddle and lowering the bridge. Lowering the Saddle. The original saddle is desirable on a vintage Martin.
So when lowering the saddle, remove the original saddle (and store is safely away), and have a new lower saddle installed (removing material from the saddle is required to lower it, so don’t mess with the original saddle). The problem with lowering a saddle is this: the lower the saddle, the less “drive” there is across the bridge and the top of the guitar. The less “drive”, and the guitar won’t usually sound as good as it could. Remember, on a flat top guitar the strings “drive” the bridge, which vibrates the top of the guitar. This is where the sound and tone come from. The lower the bridge saddle, the less “drive”, and the less potential tone.
The ideal bridge saddle height should be about 1/8″ to 3/16″ (4 to 5 mm) above the top surface of the bridge. Lowering the Bridge (yikes!) Again, as with the bridge saddle, too low of a bridge will decrease the “drive” of the strings. Thus the sound and tone will suffer. Also a low bridge is structurally not a good idea, as the bridge can more easily crack (and damage the top of the guitar). Most original Martin guitar bridges are about 3/8″ tall (from bottom to the highest part of the bridge). After lowering the bridge (usually in a failed attempt at getting lower string action), the owner will eventually realize this is not the best solution.
When this happens and a neck reset is preformed, the original bridge will now be *useless* (because it is too low!) The repair guy won’t reset the neck to a low bridge, so a new replacement bridge will be installed. At this point the originality of the instrument is compromised. Again, if a Martin guitar needs a neck set, don’t try and solve the problem of high string action any other way! Take the guitar to a *good* repair person, pay the money, and have a proper neck set done. A good neck set will make the guitar play and sound the best it can. With the correct neck set and bridge and saddle height, the guitar strings will drive the top of the guitar best, giving the best sound possible, and at the ideal playing action.
And after all, isn’t that what it’s all about? Filed Under:, June 7, 2009 By.
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No matter what style you want to play, no matter what level you are at (beginner or intermediate), this information applies to you. I guarantee you will not only amaze your friends and family, but most importantly, you will amaze yourself! Filed Under: June 7, 2009 By. Martin has been making some of the best flat top acoustic guitars since the mid 1800’s.
Martin’s other lines of instruments (electrics, archtops, mandolins) is not nearly as desirable or collectible as their flat top models. Because of this, any models other than flat tops (such as Martin’s archtops and electrics) are not very collectible. Brazilian rosewood on a 1965 D-28. Note the rich color and wavey figuring which is typical of Brazilian rosewood. Indian rosewood, as used from late 1969 and later, is much paler in color; not nearly as rich looking. Indian rosewood is also very straight grained, without the figuring and waveyness of Brazilian rosewood.
Acoustically, they sound nearly the same. Flat top Martins from the 1840’s to the 1920’s represent the earliest generation of the modern flat top design.
They have great workmanship, but small bodies designed for gut strings only. Because of this, these models have limited appeal and hence are less collectible than steel string models. Twelve and fourteen fret steel string models from the mid 1920’s to 1944 are the most collectible of all Martin instruments. They have excellent craftsmenship, sound, and playability, and these model are of great interest to collectors and players. Some musicians prefer the sound and feel of 12 fret models, and these are close in value to 14 fret models of the same size and period. 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 flat top Martin.
Note war-time models (1941 to 1944) aren’t quite as desirable as the 1930’s models. Lack of materials, manpower, and general social uncertainty during the war contributed to this. Flat tops from 1945 to 1969 are considered good quality and have good sound, although they are not as collectible as the 1920’s to 1944 steel string models.
This is largely due to the change in bracing and materials Martin started using in 1945. Rosewood models of Brazilian rosewood are most collectible from this era. This is because Brazilian rosewood was basically unavailable since 1970 due to export problems. Because of this, these models are considered more collectible. Martin D-35 from the 1970’s. Note the Indian rosewood’s color is much lighter and not as rich as Brazilian rosewood.
Also the grain is much straighter and boring. This three piece back was used on D-35’s to allow Martin to use narrower rosewood that would otherwise go to waste. Flat tops from 1970 to present are considered to be excellent utility instruments, but are not collectible.
Staring in 1976, Martin has been undergoing many changes with numerous reissues, new models, limited editions, etc. Workmanship has improved greatly from the early 1970’s, and Martin is now producing some of its best guitars in over 20 years. While not currently collector’s items, these intruments have excellent workmanship, sound, and playability. Classical guitars by Martin are equal in craftsmenship to their steel string models. But unfortunately, their sound and feel is not what classical players seem to want. Therefore they do not have the collectability of the steel string models.
I group Martin classical models to include the “NY” series and gut string models made from the 1930’s and later. 1965 Martin 00-21 NY model. A classical model because of the open peghead style, no fingerboard inlays, and bracing for gut (nylon) strings only. The Style 21 model is a combination of the Style 18 and Style 28 models: The body uses rosewood (like a 28), and a style 18 neck (with no “ice cream cone”).
This particular model has nice Brazilian rosewood. The back of the (style 18 like) neck can clearly been seen with no “ice cream cone” volute. Acoustic archtop by Martin, again, have craftsmenship that matches their flat top instruments. But as with classical model, Martin archtops do not have the look, feel, or sound of traditional archtop models as defined by Gibson or Epiphone. They may be quite rare, but they are not collectible, especially compared to Martin flat tops. Ukuleles by Martin are considered amoung the best ukes made.
Though ukes in general aren’t particularly valuable, Martin ukes are worth more than most other makes. Tenor guitars (4 strings) by Martin have little to no collectibility.
Tenor guitars were marketed as a way to get banjo players in the 1930s to the 1950s to convert to guitar. There is very little need for this today, hence these four string guitars have little value. Electric guitars by Martin (any variety: flat top, archtop, solid body) are not sought after and have little to no value.
Filed Under:,, June 7, 2009 By. Martin Guitar Serial Numbers: Find the Year – Lookup Martin Serial All Martin guitars since 1898 (except solidbody electrics from the 1970s, basses, and tiples) are numbered in consecutive order. Ukuleles do not have serial numbers. Mandolins use a different serial number system than guitars. Martin guitar serial numbers start at 8000 in 1898 because Martin estimated they made 8000 instruments before 1898. Model Numbers stamped above the Serial Number starting in 1930. Starting in October 1930, Martin also stamped the model number just above the serial number.
Martin model numbers are straight forward too. The first set of characters are the body size.
Next there is a “-“. The last set of numbers are the ornamention style. For example, “OO-28″ stamped above the martin guitar serial number tells use the body is “OO” size (14 5/16″ wide for a 14 fret model, 14 1/8″ wide for a 12 fret model), and the ornamention style is “28” (rosewood body, ice cream cone style neck). Left: The model and serial numbers, as seen through the sound hole on the neck block of this 1950 D-28. Prior to October 1930, the model is NOT stamped on the neck block (you have to figure it out yourself!).
Right: The model and serial numbers, as seen through the sound hole of this 1944 D-18, serial number 90067. Notice the “1” in the “18” does somewhat look like a “2”. This confuses a lot of people who think their style 18 guitar is a style 28. Also the “D” is sometimes confused for an “0”. On round hole martin guitars, the serial and model numbers are stamped on the neck block inside the instrument.
The number can be seen by looking inside the sound hole. Look at an angle towards the neck. All f-hole Martin archtops have their serial and model numbers stamped on the inside center of the backstripe, roughly under the shadow of the bridge (and best seen from the bass side “f” hole). The numbers listed here show the LAST serial number produced for that year.
Martin produced all guitar serial number sequentially. These serial number apply to all Martin guitars, flat top and arch top. It does not apply to ukes (except for the first year, they do not have a serial number).
Does not apply to Martin mandolins either (they have their own serial number system). There are very many styles of mandolins made by many manufacturers. But, typically referred to in the USA are those made by the Gibson Co. Prior to about 1900, a typical mandolin was the Neapolitan style. The oldest instrument was made by the Vinaccia family of Naples, Italy around the mid-1700’s. This type of mandolin has a bowl-shaped back and a top from a flat piece of wood bent over a hot poker making a slight kink or ridge about where the bridge fits. This kink is important, and is what marks the advancement of luthiery ny the Neapolitans, because it strengthens the top enough to withstand higher tension strings.
Then around 1900, Orville Gibson of Michigan created two new styles of mandolins. Inspired by the way violins are made, he made his mandolins with a carved back (much flatter than the other bowl-back of the Neapolitans, but carved to shape) and, importantly, the top carved in an arched shape. The plainer of the two he called his “A” style – it has a simple round teardrop shape profile to the body and a plain peghead.
The 1957s were the first of the A5L Model, selling for around $3000.00. Filed Under: Tagged With:,, May 19, 2009 By. The origin of Marimba isn’t known, but it seems it started off as wooden bars laid over a hole on the ground which was struck with some sort of stick. In the myth of Zulus (of South Africa), there is a story about a goddess called “Marimba” who made an instrument by hanging gourds below some wooden bars. It sometimes is referred to as the source of the name of this fine percussive instrument.
Marimba, which was born in South Africa, was brought all the way to South America in the early 16th century by the Africans who were taken there as slaves. There, a Guatemalan called Sebastian Hurtado made a Marimba with a wooden resonator pipe instead of a gourd. This formed the basis of the modern marimba. Marimba, which was improved in South America was brought to the United States eventually, and they started to make marimba around 1910. Deagan of Chicago changed the wooden pipe to the metal pipe. Numerous other improvements were made since then including the rearrangement of the keytop to resemble a piano.
Modern Marimba is now treated not only as an orchestra instrument but also as a solo instrument thanks to the louder sound achieved by the pipe. Most vintage Mirambas go for over $5000, but you can build your own Miramba very cheaply. Filed Under: Tagged With:,, May 18, 2009 By. First introduced in 1960 as the “Deluxe Model”, the Fender Jazz Bass was marketed as a stablemate to the Jazzmaster guitar which was also marketed as a “Deluxe Model” in its own right; however, it was renamed the Fender Jazz Bass as Fender felt that its redesigned neck – narrower and more rounded than that of the Precision Bass – would appeal more to Jazz musicians. The Fender Jazz Bass has two single coil pickups with two pole pieces per string.
This gave the bass a stronger midrange sound to compete with the Rickenbacher bass, which had been introduced in 1957 and which was famously “bright.” As well as having a slightly different, less symmetrical and more contoured body shape (known in Fender advertising as the “Offset Waist Contour” body), the Jazz Bass neck is noticeably narrower at the nut than that of the Fender Precision Bass. While the Precision Bass was originally styled similarly to the Telecaster guitar (and, after 1957, the Stratocaster), the Fender Jazz Bass’ styling was inspired more by the Jazzmaster guitar, with which the Jazz shared its offset body and sculpted edges that differentiate it from other slab-style guitar bodies.
Filed Under: Tagged With:,, May 16, 2009 By. First made in 1955, the D-21 is a rosewood dreadnought that’s just the same as a D-28 except for a few cosmetic elements. Where a D-28 has ebony fingerboard and bridge, the D-21 has rosewood. The D-21 has plainer soundhole rings, and black or tortoise colored binding instead of the white or ivoroid featured on the D-28.
In all other regards, including playability and tone, the D-21 is the equal of the D-28. Basically, the D-21 has all the appointments of the D-18, with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides instead of mahogany. The only exception is that the center decoration on the back of the D-21 and D-28 are identical.
The D-21 was discontinued right at the time the Brazilian rosewood supply ran out in early 1969, so all of the D-21s except the very last 24 were made of Brazilian rosewood. Interestingly, because of the bridge and fingerboard a D-21 has far more Brazilian Rosewood than a D-28. Less than 3000 D-21’s were made.
In today’s market the D-21 remains an underappreciated model. If you’re looking for a vintage Martin dreadnought made of Brazilian rosewood, the D-21 is the one to consider if you’re watching your budget. Whereas a 1950’s D-28 will cost as much as $10,000, you can purchase a D-21 for far less. Filed Under:,, Tagged With.