C. F. Martin T-15 Tiple (1955)
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Item # 10217
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C. F. Martin T-15 Model Tiple (1955), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 145591, natural finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black rigid foam case.
This is a nice playing example of a Style T-15, the plainest Martin Tiple from the 1950's. The Tiple was basically a Martin invention, designed to be strung with 10 steel strings in ukulele tuning. Martin's manufacture of "The Uke that went to College!" dates to the early 1920s, but after a long layoff they were perhaps surprisingly revived just after the war and made in very small quantities up into the 1970s. The T-15 was Martin's most basic tiple model; all of 50 shipped out in 1955, priced at $56 without a case; that was enough to buy a pretty decent guitar from Harmony or Kay. The T-15 was built entirely of mahogany with an X-braced top like a miniature Style 15 guitar. The fingerboard, bridge, headstock overlay, and binding are rosewood; the nut is ebony.
While not well-remembered today, numerous small African-American string-swing ensembles of the 1930s made extensive use of these small, loud instruments for both fast lead work and frantic rhythm strumming. Two of the best known were the Spirits Of Rhythm (featuring guitarist Teddy Bunn) and Cats and the Fiddle, where Tiny Grimes got his professional start. This particular instrument has seen some use but still plays and sounds great with a bright but still sweet ringing tone. No better examples of these now somewhat obscure instruments have ever been made, and the Martin Tiple remains -- even if by default -- the world's standard.
Overall length is 27 9/16 in. (70 cm.), 9 in. (22.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 17 in. (432 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This tiple remains in nice original condition overall, showing a few repairs but not too much heavy wear. Overall the all-original finish is fairly heavily checked, especially on the top, with dings, dents and scratches but no large worn spots. As is common the unbound edges show the heaviest wear.
The top has a tight repaired crack above and behind the bridge, with another just on the turn of the lower bass bout. There are six or so repaired cracks to the back, all sealed solidly but with no added finish so visible. The side on the turn of the lower treble bout has a couple of deep dents. There is a tiny stress crack coming off the bottom screw of the bass side tuners.
The rest of the instrument is fairly clean and structurally excellent. This is a very fine player, with a tiny bit of fret wear but none of the typical bridge or top issues that plague many old tiples. Overall this is a nice example of a mahogany top Martin, ready to ring again 65+ years on. Excellent - Condition.
This is a nice playing example of a Style T-15, the plainest Martin Tiple from the 1950's. The Tiple was basically a Martin invention, designed to be strung with 10 steel strings in ukulele tuning. Martin's manufacture of "The Uke that went to College!" dates to the early 1920s, but after a long layoff they were perhaps surprisingly revived just after the war and made in very small quantities up into the 1970s. The T-15 was Martin's most basic tiple model; all of 50 shipped out in 1955, priced at $56 without a case; that was enough to buy a pretty decent guitar from Harmony or Kay. The T-15 was built entirely of mahogany with an X-braced top like a miniature Style 15 guitar. The fingerboard, bridge, headstock overlay, and binding are rosewood; the nut is ebony.
While not well-remembered today, numerous small African-American string-swing ensembles of the 1930s made extensive use of these small, loud instruments for both fast lead work and frantic rhythm strumming. Two of the best known were the Spirits Of Rhythm (featuring guitarist Teddy Bunn) and Cats and the Fiddle, where Tiny Grimes got his professional start. This particular instrument has seen some use but still plays and sounds great with a bright but still sweet ringing tone. No better examples of these now somewhat obscure instruments have ever been made, and the Martin Tiple remains -- even if by default -- the world's standard.
Overall length is 27 9/16 in. (70 cm.), 9 in. (22.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 17 in. (432 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This tiple remains in nice original condition overall, showing a few repairs but not too much heavy wear. Overall the all-original finish is fairly heavily checked, especially on the top, with dings, dents and scratches but no large worn spots. As is common the unbound edges show the heaviest wear.
The top has a tight repaired crack above and behind the bridge, with another just on the turn of the lower bass bout. There are six or so repaired cracks to the back, all sealed solidly but with no added finish so visible. The side on the turn of the lower treble bout has a couple of deep dents. There is a tiny stress crack coming off the bottom screw of the bass side tuners.
The rest of the instrument is fairly clean and structurally excellent. This is a very fine player, with a tiny bit of fret wear but none of the typical bridge or top issues that plague many old tiples. Overall this is a nice example of a mahogany top Martin, ready to ring again 65+ years on. Excellent - Condition.