C. F. Martin Style A-K Model Flat Back, Bent Top Mandolin (1932), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # AK-15329, natural varnish finish, koa back and sides, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This Martin Style A-K is a comparatively rare instrument, structurally the same as the common Style A but with the entire body made lovely flame-grained Hawaiian koa wood. Beyond this the mandolin has fairly plain trim with only single-strip wood binding on the top and back and a multi-ply soundhole ring. The mahogany neck carries a rosewood headstock veneer and a tiny-dot inlaid ebony fingerboard.
This Martin Style A-K mandolin was made in 1932, about the worst year of the depression when it's somewhat surprising they made any mandolins at all! Exactly 50 A-K's were produced that year at a list price of $25, plus case. This was noticeable reduced from the year before, but the model was last made in 1937. Slightly under 1300 A-K's were made over the entire 15+ year production run. It was basically just a cosmetic variant of the company's most basic 8-string offering using the koa originally ordered for ukuleles and Hawaiian guitars, but that fancier wood did make it more visually attractive instrument with a slightly different sound due to the harder koa top.
The Style A in general is a simple but very effective design that remained in production for many decades, but the koa version was obviously built in much smaller numbers. This Depression-era A-K is built quite lightly offering a lively sound, especially compared to the standard mahogany A's with a spruce top. This is a nice survivor, a cool Martin rarity and nearly a century along a fine player's instrument as well.
Overall length is 23 3/4 in. (60.3 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) width, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This mandolin is structurally very preserved overall, showing some general wear but no major damage or repair. The all-original thin lacquer shows fairly broad checking and a collection of random dings, dents and scratches over the entire instrument, mostly to the top, back and sides of the peghead. The top has a couple of deeper scrapes above the strings behind the bridge, and some odd wear spots under the strings that look like pickwear in a spot nobody normally strums. The back of the neck is very clean with only a couple of light wear spots.
The mandolin remains all original and complete, including the still-shiny original Waverly strip tuners (with slightly shrunken buttons) and oft-missing tailpiece cover. The original bar frets show hardly any wear and playability is excellent. This early Style A-K is one of 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 modern HSC that is an inexact but functional fit. Overall Very Good + Condition.
