C.F. Martin 1896 Size 2 Style 42 Guitar

 
Beautiful original condition style 42.  At the time, this was the top of the Martin line.

Tuning pegs, pyramid style bridge, nut, saddle, top and back body binding, and fingerboard binding all made of ivory. An abalone pearl border is inlaid on the top of the guitar.   An additonal connecting link of pearl is inlaid around the end of the fingerboard, and abalone is also inlaid into the soundhole ring, as well as the ivory bridge pins.  End pin, and button on the back of the headstock are made of buffalo horn.   Beautiful wood marquetry of 45 style design in backstripe.  The back and sides are French Polished Brazilian Rosewood, the top is red spruce, and the fingerboard is ebony, with three simple early style inlays, a snowflake, a ten pointed star, and an eight pointed star.  Dove tail joined headstock and neck with volute.  Scalloped X style braces.  
 
 
Serial numbers were not given to Martin guitars until 1898.  "C. F. Martin & Co. New York" is stamped inside the guitar on the neck block and on the center strip inside the back.  "C. F. Martin, New York" is stamped on the back of the headstock.

 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 
 
C.F. Martin 1918 000-42
 
 
In 1918, Martin made their first two Style 42 guitars in the relatively new and larger 000 size.  While one of the two was a rather conventional Style 42 in the 000 size, this 000-42 was special ordered by the Ditson Company in 1918 in the style of Ditson's new Dreadnaught guitars, which were built for Hawaiian style playing with steel strings.  That makes this guitar a rare example of an extremely early 000 size Martin built for steel strings, as well as a rare example of a Martin built for steel strings with an ivory pyramid style bridge.   As was true of the early Martin Dreadnaught, and all of Martin's early Hawaiian steel string guitars, this guitar was built with fan braces.  This guitar was also special ordered with a cloud shaped pickguard inlaid into the top.






Martin Style 40


The Style 40 was an early design, very similar to the pearl bordered style 42, but for a lack of pearl inlay surrounding the fretboard extension.   This combination was revived for the Style E guitar made for William Foden in1913, but his guitars had full inlay surrounding the back and sides, similar to a 45.







The Style 40 was revived by Martin for the 00-40H Hawaiian guitars from 1928 to 1939.



C.F. Martin  1934  00-40H
 
One of 12 made in 1934.  Excellent original condition aside from conversion from original Hawaiian style, and touch up of finish around bridge, by TJ Thompson.

Abalone pearl border inlaid on the top of the guitar and into the soundhole ring.  45 style wood marquetry in backstripe.  Back and sides of Brazilian Rosewood, with top of red spruce, and fingerboard in ebony with abolone inlays. 



From Vintage Instruments:

MARTIN, 00-40H, 1934, 12-fret, slotted-head, nicely converted to standard playing, set-up & new bridge by T.J.Thompson, bar-frets, open Grover G-98s with butterbean knobs, 1-7/8"width at nut, the back & sides are nearly perfect but there are 2 repaired hairline top cracks & some light overspray below the bridge, otherwise excellent condition, later "Geib"hard case, converted 00-40H Martins are always big full sounding guitars & this one is better than most, (Our #25395)

 
Serial number 56430
 
 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 


 
 
 
 

 
 
56430 with 56433

 
 

   
 
 
 earlymartin.com


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