{"product_id":"c-f-martin-style-c-flat-back-mandolin-1920-13883","title":"C. F. Martin Style C Flat Back Mandolin (1920)","description":"C. F. Martin Style C Model Flat Back Mandolin (1920), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 8257, natural varnish finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, Period black hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMartin mandolins remain fairly obscure to most modern players, but in general not particularly rare. This early Style C is a very uncommon model; in Martin mando-terms a big step up from the MUCH more common mahogany Style A and even the unadorned rosewood Style B. The stylistic equivalent of a Style 42 guitar, the Style C has a Brazilian rosewood body with pearl inlay bordering the top and soundhole ring, ivoroid binding back and front and delicate shaped pearl and slotted diamond inlay in the bound ebony fingerboard. The mahogany neck has a fairly deep round backed profile, while the headstock has a Vinaccia-style cutout and is fitted with bowlback-style integrated tuners with engraved coverplates. Earlier and later Style C mandolins lacked the pearl top bordering, having colored wood instead; this feature was only available in this late 'teens-1920 period, gone after 1921. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Style C mandolin was introduced in 1914 and was unsurprisingly discontinued early in the depression era, gone after 1932. This extra-fancy pearl topped example was made in 1920 just after the end of the First World War when the mandolin still ruled the fretted roost; the list price was $60, plus case. It is one of 71 made that year, the model's production peak; just under 400 were built in total over 18 years but many of those are the less ornate wood-bordered variant; at most about 150 of these pearl-bordered variants exist. Although a Style D Mandolin was listed by Martin in 1914 only a handful were ever made leaving the Style C as the de facto \"next to top-of-the-line\" under the opulent style E, which simply had even more pearl and decoration, what Gibson dismissively called \"flummadiddle\".\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this early period Martin mandolins were rather more lightly built offering a generally livelier sound than the more commonly found 1940-60s Style A's. This is a beautiful and fine playing example, a more delicate feeling instrument than many mandolins and very nice and rather unique sounding instrument. The tone is a bit gentler and less barky than the typical Gibson but with more depth than some and a nice sparkle to it.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall length is 24 1\/4 in. (61.6 cm.), 9 11\/16 in. (24.6 cm.) width, and 2 5\/8 in. (6.7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1\/8 in. (29 mm.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis mandolin is a solid survivor of over a century on Earth, remaining all original showing some signs of use but still and sounding lovely. The all-original thin varnish finish shows dings, scratches and scuffs overall, with some fairly random pickmarks to the top over the soundhole ring and a few others scattered around. The inlaid pickguard has deep cracks through the surface but is not actually crumbling off the top. The sides and more notably the back have small dings, scratches and dents but no really heavy wear. The very thin finish on the back of the neck has surprisingly little wear. There is one tiny grain split to the top just below the fingerboard extension, but no other cracks or structural repairs.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe instrument remains all original and complete, including the integrated tuners, carved ebony bridge and impossible-to-find-if-missing engraved tailpiece cover. The original bar frets have been polished out and leveled and playability is excellent. While less \"gutty\" sounding than many Gibsons this dainty gem of a mandolin offers a bright, peppy tone and plenty of volume. This would make an excellent old time or recording mandolin, complete in a vintage 1920s purple-lined HSC that is a functional if inexact fit. Overall Very Good + Condition.","brand":"C. F. Martin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49925920293004,"sku":"13883","price":3250.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_2081f228-ffd7-447a-9713-221b8f2b7b35.jpg?v=1778950574","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/c-f-martin-style-c-flat-back-mandolin-1920-13883","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}