Members OliverKlohzoff Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 I'm a electric guitar guy, I know almost nothing about acoustic guitars. I had a guy bring this guitar by to show me because he knew I was into guitars. We looked up the Martin serial numbers and found it to be a 1916 model. Othere than that, I know nothing. All you Martin experts, what can you tell me about this guitar. Of course, I'm sure it needs a complete restoration. What model is it and what would it be worth in the current condition ? Thanks in advance for the help.
Members DonK Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 I don't have any idea, but would suggest you contact Gruhn Guitars in Nashville, TN - send them an e-mail with pics. Also contact Elderly Instruments (Michigan). Both have websites with contact info. George Gruhn is the guru on vintage guitars, and Martins in particular. Elderly does a big vintage business as well. You want at least two opinions on anything that old - and possibly somewhat unique.
Members Freeman Keller Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 + 1 on what Don says. Could have significant value - be careful how you handle the whole process. Here is a subforum of the Martin forum that deal with vintage instruments, if you would like their comments I could post a link to this thread http://p082.ezboard.com/ftheunofficialmartinguitarforumfrm97
Members DonK Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 + 1 on what Don says. Could have significant value - be careful how you handle the whole process. Here is a subforum of the Martin forum that deal with vintage instruments, if you would like their comments I could post a link to this threadhttp://p082.ezboard.com/ftheunofficialmartinguitarforumfrm97 Elderly had a cool story in one of their vintage catalogues a few years ago. A guy brought in a Martin that he'd bought at a yard sale for $5 in the early '70's. It was in rough shape when he bought it, but he was just looking for a beater to learn on. The next week he slammed a car door on his hand and the prolonged recovery made him abandon the idea of learning to play the guitar, so he stuck it in a closet - no case - where it stayed for the next 30 years completely undisturbed. At that point he once again began kicking around the idea of learning to play, but wanted to paint the guitar green to make it look "better". He asked a friend about the idea, and when he showed the friend the guitar, the guy said something like, "hmm, that's a Martin...I think those are pretty good guitars and it might be worth a few bucks, so maybe you oughta find out before you paint it." The owner took it to Elderly. It was a 1939 D-28. They did some repair work and then put the guitar up for sale on consignment for $40,000!
Members Freeman Keller Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 I wish my story was that good. My dad had heard that I had a Martin and he called and said he had found a "little martin" at a yard sale, was I interested. I said "sure, what does it look like"? He said "well, it's pretty small and its the same reddish wood all over". Thinking "mmmm.... prewar 00-17 maybe" I agreed to buy him lunch if he would get it for me. Its the one in the middle
Members LaurentB Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 Please let us know when you find out more about this guitar, I'm very curious!
Members OliverKlohzoff Posted April 5, 2007 Author Members Posted April 5, 2007 This thing had been in the family for years and years and years. You should see some of the music books in the case. They look like they're from the 40's & 50's.
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 I've never heard of a Martin guitar w/ a tailpiece, originally...looks more like a Lyon-Healey or something along those lines...
Members OliverKlohzoff Posted April 5, 2007 Author Members Posted April 5, 2007 It's definitely a Martin. Has the correct Martin logos, correct serial number. The bridge and tailpiece may have been added to use steel strings ??? At least that's what someone on the Martin forum is saying.
Members DonK Posted April 5, 2007 Members Posted April 5, 2007 It's definitely a Martin. Has the correct Martin logos, correct serial number. The bridge and tailpiece may have been added to use steel strings ??? At least that's what someone on the Martin forum is saying. That was my thought too. No way that that thing is braced for steel strings. Probably part of the reason the top has so much cracking (in addition to being 90 years old!).
Members bjorn-fjord Posted April 6, 2007 Members Posted April 6, 2007 It looks to me like a 1-size parlor in Brazilian with an aftermarket tailpiece. Pretty darn cool!
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