The Tenor of the Times
C. F. Martin Tenor and Plectrum Guitars
The first Martin to have the upper bout shortened to leave the neck with clear access to fourteen frets was the 0-18T tenor guitar.
The Martin tenor guitar first appeared with a 12 fret shaped size 5 body in 1927. In 1929 the size 0 tenor appeared in several trim levels. The Plectrum Guitar appeared in 1930, mostly as a 000-18.
By late 1929, the Carl Fischer stores had special ordered a tenor guitar called the Carl Fischer Model with a shortened upper bout with 14 frets clear.
Soon after, 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.
OM-28, OM-18P and 0-18T
The 0-18T was the first Martin to receive a flat headstock with machines, which were in the style of banjo tuners:
The 0-18T was also one of the first Martins to receive the new belly style bridge.
...and also one of the first Martins to receive a standard pickguard, in the small teardrop shape:
earlymartin.com
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