A New Web Site Illustrating the Development of the Acoustic Early Martin Guitar
Created by Folk and Roots Music Photographer Robert Corwin
Featuring Instruments from the Phyllis, Jerry, and Robert Corwin Collection
Please note: This web site has not been publicly announced yet, and is a work in progress, with lots of holes and place holders.
Not all sections are complete - some have not been started yet. Not all links work. If you've stumbled on this site, feel free to enjoy what's here, and check back for further additions, refinements, and corrections as you wish, knowing it will take some time before the site is finished. It's not perfect, but I thought you might want to take advantage of what we have so far.
I look forward to adding thanks to the many friends and experts who have helped make this possible, and links to other helpful resources.
For the time being, let's please keep this web site our little secret, between you and me!
"perfecting the art of 'guitar porn' ...
This site is an amazing labor-of-love, quite possibly the most in-depth, photo-intensive look ever at old, pre-war (and in many cases antique) Martin guitars … All online and for free."
--Jason Verlinde
The Fretboard Journal
This website is a companion to my site:
earlymartin.com
Which concentrates on the early development of Martin Guitars of the 19th century.
Robert's photographs can also be seen in the books "Martin Guitars, a History"
and "Martin Guitars, a Technical Reference" by Johnston, Boak & Longworth
Start here if you're looking for help
Identifying C. F. Martin Acoustic Guitars
A Martin Timeline
Obtaining Proper Permits for Shipping Vintage Instruments Overseas
Complying with
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
and the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
~ FIRST FEATURES ~
Border Patrol
The Head of the Class
Tuner Sandwich
A Stamp of Approval
Pearl Jam
Arrowheads and Other Hidden Treasures
The End Is Near
The Spanish Foot
On Guard!
Speaking Volutes
Feel Like a Heel
A Bridge to Somewhere
All Tied Up
Back in the Saddle
Hear a Pin Drop
Nuts!!!
Something to Fret About
Strung Out
Photo Finish
Knock on Wood
Does Size Matter?
The Shape of Things to Come
We've Got Your Number
X Marks the Spot
Your Biggest Fan
Safe at Home Plate
Case Closed
A Final Nail in the Coffin
~ LATER DEVELOPMENTS ~
Tune Up
Hawaiian Punch
The Tenor of the Times
The Orchestra Model
The Dreadnaught
Double Your Fun
Classical Gas
~ EARLY C. F. MARTIN INSTRUMENTS ~
Before the Styles Were Defined
Martin Stauffer Guitar
Early C.F. Martin Built Hudson Street Viennese Style Guitar
Martin Renaissance Style Guitar
Martin & Coupa Spanish Style Guitar
Martin & Coupa Early Koa Guitar
Martin Spanish Style Guitar
Martin 1840's Alternate X Brace Spanish Style Guitar
Martin Ivory Fingerboard Stauffer Style Guitar
Early Hybrid X Braced Spanish Martin Guitar
Martin & Coupa Alternate X Braced Guitar
Martin X Braced Spanish Guitar
Martin Pearl Rosette and Pendant Guitar
~ MARTIN STYLES ~
As They've Been Defined Since the 1850's
Styles 15, 17 & 18
Styles 20, 21 & 22
Styles 23 & 24
Styles 26 & 28
Styles 27, 30 & 34
Styles 40 & 42
Style 45
Style 45 DeLuxe
Martin Archtop Guitars
Martin Mandolins
Martin Tenor Banjo
~ MARTINS SPECIALLY MADE FOR OTHER FIRMS ~
Buegeleisen & Jacobson S.S. Stewart 2-17 Special
Oliver Ditson Company Style 1-21, Style 2, Style 11, Style 22, and Style 111
Carl Fisher Model Special Tenor
William Foden "Foden Special" Models C, D, and E
Grinnell Brothers "Wolverine" 2-17 and 0-18
Wm. L. Lange Paramount Style L Six String and Tenor Resonator Guitars
Montgomery Wards 0-17S
Vadah Olcott-Bickford Style 0-44 Soloist
Perlburg & Halpin "Beltone"
Southern California Music Company "Nunes" Style 1350 & 1400 and "Rolando" Style 1500
Rudolph Wurlitzer Style 2092
Bitting Special Mandolin
Briggs Special Mandolin
Ditson Style A Mandolin
Ditson Ukuleles
P. H. Louis Brachet Martin Zither
~ CHECKING OUT THE COMPETITION ~
Orville Gibson
James Ashborn for William Hall & Son
Joseph Bohmann
The Gibson Company
Johann Stauffer
Louis Panormo
Schmidt & Maul
Tilton Improvement
The Larson Brothers and Dyer Harp Guitars
Rickenbacher, Gibson and Other Early Electrics
~ CLEANING HOUSE ~
If you would like to buy a nice Martin or Gibson Guitar...
I love these, but I really need to make some room for new ones.
Acoustic Instruments for Sale
Electric Instruments for Sale
I am not in the business of buying and selling guitars, but am interested in purchasing specific unique instruments to round out my collection to present you with a web site with as complete a picture as possible to help you learn. I am interested in substantially original examples made from the 1800's to 1960's by Stauffer, Panormo, Schmidt & Maul, C. F. Martin, Martin & Coupa, Martin & Schatz, Martin & Bruno, Martin & Zoebisch, John Coupa, Oliver Ditson, Southern California Music, John Wanamaker, Wm. J. Smith, Wurlitzer, S.S. Stewart, Orville Gibson, the Gibson Company, and the Larson brothers. I am not hunting for bargains, but seeking quality intstruments at a price that is fair to the buyer and seller alike.
To see Robert's new web site illustrating the development of the Early Martin Guitar, from 1833 to 1898, visit:
earlymartin.com
To see Robert's new web site illustrating the development of the Early Gibson Guitar, visit:
earlygibson.com
To see Robert's new web site illustrating the development of the post-Orville Gibson Guitar, visit:
oldgibson.com
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
robertcorwin.com
For Information on Photography for
Exhibition, Publication, CD's, Promotion, Web Pages, Tour Books,
to Purchase Photographic Prints, or
To Contact Robert With Questions About An Early Martin Guitar:
e-mail: Robert Corwin
I'm more than happy to answer questions to the best of my limited ability about features of the
instruments I've photographed and studied from luthiers restoring vintage Martins or building new instruments.
The Early Martin and Vintage Martin web pages were first created in September, 2009.
Updated 1/1/13
Entire site copyright ©1998 through 2013 Robert Corwin/Photo-Arts. All rights reserved.
Photographs and written material on this site may not be reproduced without permission.