C. F. Martin Style B Flat back, bent top Mandola (1931)
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Item # 11657
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C. F. Martin Style B Model Flat back, bent top Mandola (1931), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # B-15293, natural lacquer finish, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
Martin mandolins are fairly obscure to most modern players, but not particularly rare. Martin entered the mandolin market with bowlbacks in the late 19th century, and continued to make various 8-string styles for much of the 20th. The other instruments of the mando-family are a different story, however. While the company did make some attempts to crash this typically Gibson dominated area, comparatively few Mandolas and mandocellos were ever shipped out of Nazareth, and most players today have never even encountered one.
This is a Martin Style B Mandola made in the earliest days of 1931, one of the first few serial numbers stamped that year. This was just as the depression was about to kick in in earnest, so whatever sales Martin expected from mandolas was about to pretty much evaporate. None of these had been made in the 10 years since 1921, and all of 3 are listed as shipped in 1932 (none in 1931); perhaps whatever dealer this was initially intended for reneged on the order. Between 1917 and 1940 a total of 46 of Style B Mandolas were made, in VERY small batches; less than a handful any given year. They never returned to Martin's catalog after the war.
In Martin mando-terms Style Bs are a big step up from the MUCH more common mahogany Style A both in looks and sound, the stylistic equivalent of a Style 21 guitar. The Brazilian rosewood body has herringbone inlay for the backstrip and soundhole ring, multiple wood binding back and front and slotted diamond inlay in the ebony fingerboard. The headstock has the Vinaccia-style cutout, inset tuners with an engraved coverplate and the tailpiece cover is engraved as well. The scale is 15 1/2", just 1/4" shorter than the Gibson standard and the neck has a fairly deep round backed "U" profile.
This is a great playing example and a very nice sounding rather unique mandola. As with the Martin mandolins the tone is a bit gentler and less barky than the typical Gibson but very full, richer and deeper than the fairly small instrument would seem likely to produce. This is the first Martin mandola we have had and now we're looking for more!
Overall length is 27 1/8 in. (68.9 cm.), 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 15 1/2 in. (394 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This 90+ year old Martin has certainly seen some use but survives in excellent playing condition. There is general wear overall and the remains of a minor modification. The all-original finish has dings, dents and scrapes overall, with some heavy pick wear into the wood in the areas off the back edge of the pickguard and one smaller spot worn on the top below above the tailpiece. The finish on the back of the neck shows comparatively little wear with a few small dings and dents.
There are several small screw holes in the side, lower edge of the fingerboard and lower tip of the pickguard from an ancillary pickguard fitted long ago and later removed. The top has a long sealed grain split running from the top edge of the pickguard to the rim under the E strings. There are small repaired splits off the bottom edge of the guard and treble side of the fingerboard. Everything is sealed up neatly with minimal finish disturbance. The rosewood back and sides are crack free. The original frets show some minor wear but the instrument plays very well, sounds great and remains in its original hard case, solid if worn with the hinges repaired and handle replaced. Very Good + Condition.
Martin mandolins are fairly obscure to most modern players, but not particularly rare. Martin entered the mandolin market with bowlbacks in the late 19th century, and continued to make various 8-string styles for much of the 20th. The other instruments of the mando-family are a different story, however. While the company did make some attempts to crash this typically Gibson dominated area, comparatively few Mandolas and mandocellos were ever shipped out of Nazareth, and most players today have never even encountered one.
This is a Martin Style B Mandola made in the earliest days of 1931, one of the first few serial numbers stamped that year. This was just as the depression was about to kick in in earnest, so whatever sales Martin expected from mandolas was about to pretty much evaporate. None of these had been made in the 10 years since 1921, and all of 3 are listed as shipped in 1932 (none in 1931); perhaps whatever dealer this was initially intended for reneged on the order. Between 1917 and 1940 a total of 46 of Style B Mandolas were made, in VERY small batches; less than a handful any given year. They never returned to Martin's catalog after the war.
In Martin mando-terms Style Bs are a big step up from the MUCH more common mahogany Style A both in looks and sound, the stylistic equivalent of a Style 21 guitar. The Brazilian rosewood body has herringbone inlay for the backstrip and soundhole ring, multiple wood binding back and front and slotted diamond inlay in the ebony fingerboard. The headstock has the Vinaccia-style cutout, inset tuners with an engraved coverplate and the tailpiece cover is engraved as well. The scale is 15 1/2", just 1/4" shorter than the Gibson standard and the neck has a fairly deep round backed "U" profile.
This is a great playing example and a very nice sounding rather unique mandola. As with the Martin mandolins the tone is a bit gentler and less barky than the typical Gibson but very full, richer and deeper than the fairly small instrument would seem likely to produce. This is the first Martin mandola we have had and now we're looking for more!
Overall length is 27 1/8 in. (68.9 cm.), 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 15 1/2 in. (394 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This 90+ year old Martin has certainly seen some use but survives in excellent playing condition. There is general wear overall and the remains of a minor modification. The all-original finish has dings, dents and scrapes overall, with some heavy pick wear into the wood in the areas off the back edge of the pickguard and one smaller spot worn on the top below above the tailpiece. The finish on the back of the neck shows comparatively little wear with a few small dings and dents.
There are several small screw holes in the side, lower edge of the fingerboard and lower tip of the pickguard from an ancillary pickguard fitted long ago and later removed. The top has a long sealed grain split running from the top edge of the pickguard to the rim under the E strings. There are small repaired splits off the bottom edge of the guard and treble side of the fingerboard. Everything is sealed up neatly with minimal finish disturbance. The rosewood back and sides are crack free. The original frets show some minor wear but the instrument plays very well, sounds great and remains in its original hard case, solid if worn with the hinges repaired and handle replaced. Very Good + Condition.