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
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
earlymartin.com
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
For Information on Photography for
Exhibition, Publication, CD's, Promotion, Web Pages, Tour Books,
to Purchase Photographic Prints, or
If You Have Questions About An Early Martin Guitar:
e-mail: Robert Corwinentire site copyright ©1998 through 2010 Robert Corwin/Photo-Arts. All rights reserved.