C. F. Martin 2-21 Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar, c. 1880's, made in Nazareth, PA, natural varnish finish, Brazillian rosewood back and sides, spruce top,.
This charming 19th century guitar is a testament to the care and craftsmanship that has allways been a hallmark of the C.F Martin & Co. organization. The Style 21 has been little altered since the late 1800's, and this 2-21 has specifications still familiar to the dedicated Martin aficionado.
The sides and back are Brazilian rosewood with a particularly beautiful figure unusual for any older Martin, with a colored-wood herringbone backstrip. The top is Appalachian spruce bound with 5 plys of contrasting woods and a herringbone soundhole ring. The neck is cedar with an ebony fingerboard and the traditional Martin bar frets. Tuners are lightly plated brass strips with bone buttons and stamped decoration on the baseplates. The original ebony pyramid-end bridge has wooden pins with pearl dot inlay.
This guitar is stamped on the center backstrip "C.F. Martin & Co., New York", with a "C.F. Martin, New York" stamp on the back of the headstock. This combination of markings dates the instrument to between 1867 (when the company first incorporated) and 1898, when the brand was finally changed to "Nazereth PA." The general appearance of this guitar suggests a date of construction around the late 1880's or early 1890's, some years before serial numbers were put into use. It would have been originally distrubuted by Martin's sole agent at the time, C. A. Zoebisch & Sons of New York, with whom Martin finally split in 1898.
While the size "2" is quite a small guitar by modern standards, this is an amazingly full-sounding guitar. It is currently strung with genuine gut and silk-cored strings, and offers a delightful 19th century playing experience in the opening years of the 21st!
Overall length is 36 3/4 in. (93.3 cm.), 12 in. (30.5 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 13/16 in. (46 mm.).
Extremely well preserved for a 19th century guitar; all original finish and fittings with several inconspicuous repaired top cracks and the bridge reglued. The bridge pins are all of similar age and type but do not exactly match. Some finish wear especially to the top but no major loss or damage. Overall Excellent Condition.
