C. F. Martin Style A Flat Back Mandolin (1930)
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Item # 11498
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C. F. Martin Style A Model Flat Back Mandolin (1930), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 14634, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, period black hard shell case.
This Martin Style A mandolin was made in the first few days 1930, just as the depression was about to kick in in earnest. It was the company's most basic 8-string offering, a plain but very effective design that remained in production for many decades with only minimal changes. This example from Martin's "golden era" is built lighter with a much livelier sound compared to the commonly found 1950s examples. Only 75 of these $25 mandolins were sold in 1930, a low production year for the model. This is a simply superb survivor, all original and showing only light signs of use over the past 90+ years and sounding lovely indeed.
Overall length is 23 7/8 in. (60.6 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) width, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth at deepest point. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/16 in. (27 mm.).
This mandolin is extremely well preserved overall, showing not much play time since Hoover was in the White House. The all-original thin lacquer finish shows some light checking and minor wear, mostly pick marks off the lower edge of the pickguard. It is also all original and complete, including the still-shiny original Waverly tuners and oft-missing tailpiece cover. The original bar frets show some wear but not enough to affect playability. This Style A is the best sounding of these flat-back Martin we have heard, with a bright bouncy tone and plenty of volume. This would make an excellent old time or recording mandolin, complete in a period HSC that is a functional if inexact fit. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This Martin Style A mandolin was made in the first few days 1930, just as the depression was about to kick in in earnest. It was the company's most basic 8-string offering, a plain but very effective design that remained in production for many decades with only minimal changes. This example from Martin's "golden era" is built lighter with a much livelier sound compared to the commonly found 1950s examples. Only 75 of these $25 mandolins were sold in 1930, a low production year for the model. This is a simply superb survivor, all original and showing only light signs of use over the past 90+ years and sounding lovely indeed.
Overall length is 23 7/8 in. (60.6 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) width, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth at deepest point. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/16 in. (27 mm.).
This mandolin is extremely well preserved overall, showing not much play time since Hoover was in the White House. The all-original thin lacquer finish shows some light checking and minor wear, mostly pick marks off the lower edge of the pickguard. It is also all original and complete, including the still-shiny original Waverly tuners and oft-missing tailpiece cover. The original bar frets show some wear but not enough to affect playability. This Style A is the best sounding of these flat-back Martin we have heard, with a bright bouncy tone and plenty of volume. This would make an excellent old time or recording mandolin, complete in a period HSC that is a functional if inexact fit. Overall Excellent + Condition.