The Shape of Things to Come
C.F. Martin Guitar Shapes
These are various shapes in which the Style 28 was produced.
12 Fret 1-28, 0-28, 00-28, and 000-28, 14 fret OM-28, and Dreadnaught D-28
Until 1929, Martin guitars had necks with 12 frets clear of the body.
In 1929, the Carl Fischer stores special ordered a tenor guitar called the Carl Fischer Model with a shortened upper bout to allow greater access to 14 frets clear of the body.
Later in 1929, Perry Bechtel of the Cable Piano Company requested a fourteen fret clear six string guitar, and the Orchestra Model was born. The OM-28 was soon followed by the OM-18 and the OM-18P Plectrum Guitar appeared in 1930. In 1931 Martin added a handful of plectrum guitars in the C-1 and C-2 round hole archtop styles. By the end of 1931, Martin had built it's last Plectrum Guitar.
By 1930, the Carl Fisher Model had become the standard 0-18T. By 1934, what was formerly known as the OM-18 and OM-28 had become the standard Martin 000-18 and 000-28.
Here you can see the difference in shape between Martin's 12 fret and 14 fret bodies:
The 12 Fret 1928 000-28 and early 1930 OM-28
Martin OM-28, OM-18P and OM-18T
These are the special shapes in which Martin produced guitars for the Oliver Ditson Company.
Size 1, size 11, and size 111
The 14 fret Style 18
Martin 0-18. 00-18, 000-18, and D-18, all from 1945.
Early Martins Shapes
Early Martins, from a Martin Stauffer and Hudson Street Martin to various assorted parlor size guitars, roughly equivalent to but from before the standardization of the size 2, 2 1/2 and 3, to a size 1 with alternative X bracing, with an early 14 fret Orchestra Model on the far left for comparison. In context, the size 1 is a surprisingly large guitar, as with the 000 above, making up for in length a good part of what it lacks in width compared to a modern 14 fret guitar.
earlymartin.com
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
C.F. Martin Guitar Shapes
These are various shapes in which the Style 28 was produced.
12 Fret 1-28, 0-28, 00-28, and 000-28, 14 fret OM-28, and Dreadnaught D-28
Until 1929, Martin guitars had necks with 12 frets clear of the body.
In 1929, the Carl Fischer stores special ordered a tenor guitar called the Carl Fischer Model with a shortened upper bout to allow greater access to 14 frets clear of the body.
Later in 1929, Perry Bechtel of the Cable Piano Company requested a fourteen fret clear six string guitar, and the Orchestra Model was born. The OM-28 was soon followed by the OM-18 and the OM-18P Plectrum Guitar appeared in 1930. In 1931 Martin added a handful of plectrum guitars in the C-1 and C-2 round hole archtop styles. By the end of 1931, Martin had built it's last Plectrum Guitar.
By 1930, the Carl Fisher Model had become the standard 0-18T. By 1934, what was formerly known as the OM-18 and OM-28 had become the standard Martin 000-18 and 000-28.
Here you can see the difference in shape between Martin's 12 fret and 14 fret bodies:
The 12 Fret 1928 000-28 and early 1930 OM-28
Martin OM-28, OM-18P and OM-18T
These are the special shapes in which Martin produced guitars for the Oliver Ditson Company.
Size 1, size 11, and size 111
The 14 fret Style 18
Martin 0-18. 00-18, 000-18, and D-18, all from 1945.
Early Martins Shapes
Early Martins, from a Martin Stauffer and Hudson Street Martin to various assorted parlor size guitars, roughly equivalent to but from before the standardization of the size 2, 2 1/2 and 3, to a size 1 with alternative X bracing, with an early 14 fret Orchestra Model on the far left for comparison. In context, the size 1 is a surprisingly large guitar, as with the 000 above, making up for in length a good part of what it lacks in width compared to a modern 14 fret guitar.
earlymartin.com
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
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If You Have Questions About An Early Martin Guitar:
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