Martin Style 27, 30, and 34 Guitars
While C.F. Martin Styles 40 and above have a combination of a pearl ring in the ring in the rosette around the soundhole and a pearl border around the top of the guitar, the Style 27, 30, and 34 can be identified by the combination of pearl in the rosette with fancy wood marquetry around the top border of the guitar.
Styles 27 and 30 have an ebony wood pyramid bridge, while a style 34 differs mainly in having a solid ivory pyramid bridge.
The styles 27 and 30 differ little. In fact, the Style 27 of some years is almost exactly the same as the style 30 of other years. The only consistent distinguishing feature is the use of brass tuner plates on the Style 27 and silver tuners on the Style 30. The Style 27 was typically made in size 2, while the Style 30 was typically made in size 0.
Here we can see a Style 27 from 1893 with a Style 30 made in 1917.
The Style names are derived from the price of the instrument, so it may seem odd that a Style 27 appears fancier than a Style 28, and it is! The plainer Martin 0-28 was more expensive than the pearl adorned Martin 2-27 because of it's larger size.
The Martin Style 27
C.F. Martin 1850's 2-27
The Martin 2-27 was one of the earliest, consistent, and longest lasting models in the Martin line. This early example can be distinguished by the spruce lined back, covered with a fine Brazilian Roswood veneer, a poular feature of fine early Martin guitars. This early example also has Jerome tuners, as do many early Martins. This model always had a cedar neck and was X-braced.
This example was built before Martin started appying inlays to the fingerboards. Dots can bee seen in the photograph of this guitar in Evans "From Renaissance to Rock", but were later removed, as they were not original to the guitar
.
Multicolored purfling on border of top. Abolone inlaid soundhole rosette. Spruce lined Brazilian rosewood back and solid rosewood sides with red spruce top, all bound in ivory. Spanish cedar neck, with ebony fretboard bound in ivory. Original finish.
The Martin Style 30
The Style 30 was typically made in size 0.
C.F. Martin 1917 0-30
Abalone inlay around soundhole. Colored marquetry border. The back and sides are French Polished Brazilian Rosewood, the top is red spruce, and the fingerboard is ebony, with snowflake inlays on three frets. Dove tail joined headstock and mahogany neck with volute. Scalloped X style braces. Nut, saddle, top, back body binding, and tuner buttons all made of ivory.
"C. F. Martin & Co. New York" is stamped inside the guitar on the neck block and on the center strip inside the back. "CF Martin, New York" stamped on the back of the headstock.
Serial number 129xx.
The Martin Style 34
The Style 34, with the added ivory bridge, was comonly seen in both size 2 and in size 0.
C.F. Martin 1889 2-34
C.F. Martin 0-34, unkown date.
This unusual Martin 0-34 has a wide pearl ring in the rosette which we cannot remember seeing in another example of a Martin of this style or any other. It is also unusual in having a repair noted inside the guitar with the signature of John Deichmann, and the date 1885. Deichmann was the noted foreman of Martin who was largely responsible for some of Martin's greatest achivements, including the OM and the Dreadnaught.
George Gruhn, being told of the date inside the guitar, erroneously thought the guitar to be made in that year.
The back and sides are French Polished Brazilian Rosewood, the top is red spruce, and the fingerboard is simple ebony, without diamond inlays. Dove tail joined headstock and cedar neck with volute. Scalloped X style braces. Unusual broad band of abalone inlay around soundhole. Colored marquetry border. Ivory bridge. Flat style headstock with ivory tuners. Nut, saddle, top and back body binding, all made of ivory.
"C. F. Martin & Co. New York" is stamped inside the guitar on the neck block and on the center strip inside the back. "CF Martin, New York" stamped on the back of the headstock. Dated January 6, 1895 in pencil on underside of top.
Appraised as follows by George Gruhn in 2004:
"I have examined the attached emailed digital photos of the instrument described below, but have not seen the instrument itself. Below is my estimate, based on those photos, of the instrument's value, however, it is not possible to judge from photos alone the exact state of originality and need of repair, so my appraisal is only accurate insofar as the photos are representative of the actual condition of the instrument.
We certify that the guitar below is, in our opinion, a Martin style O-34 made in the year 1885.
Description: We have been provided the following description "Appears to be a 1885 Style 34 Martin...O size (13 1/2" lower bout) Penciled under top "1/6/85" and what looks like "JHD". Appears all original including ivory bridge pins and violin style tuners. Structurally sound w/ 3 old top crack repairs & 2 3' side cracks. Colored wood trim missing from lower 1/4 of the top. Finnish appears original although back finish shows scratch and swirl marks in possible "clean up" attempt somewhere along the way. Looks like 45 style backstripe. Very playable w/ straight neck, resonable string height. (Strung w/ nylon) Comes in original Martin labled Coffin case" This instrument features a solid peghead with ivory friction pegs. This was a special option and was designed strictly for use with gut strings. The instrument conforms to the typical specifications of the model with a 13 1/2" wide body, Adirondack spruce top, abalone soundhole rosette, multicolor wood trim around the edge of the top, Brazilian rosewood back, sides and peghead veneer, cedar neck, grafted peghead, solid ivory bridge, ebony fingerboard, and ivory bindings on the edge of the fingerboard and top and back edges of the body. This is an extremely rare instrument which would be of interest to collectors as well as musicians.
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