{"product_id":"c-f-martin-style-c-flat-back-mandolin-1932-13086","title":"C. F. Martin Style C Flat Back Mandolin (1932)","description":"C. F. Martin Style C Model Flat Back Mandolin (1932), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 15376, natural lacquer finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMartin mandolins are fairly obscure to most modern players, but in general are not particularly rare. This Style C is a somewhat obscure model and a rare one; it is one of only 6 made in 1932, the last full year of production. A grand total of 394 were produced over 18 years since the model was introduced in 1914, Martin made more style As alone than that in many single years in the 1920s. The list price of the Style C in 1932 was $55, plus case, obviously more than most depression-era buyers could find for a flat top mandolin so the model was shelved.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Martin mando-terms the Style C is a big step up from the MUCH more common mahogany Style A and a somewhat flashier than the in-between Style B. Not the stylistic equivalent of any particular Martin guitar, the Style C has a Brazilian rosewood body with a spruce top bound in ivoroid and trimmed with delicate colored wood inlay. The top and back are multi-bound; the backstrip is an even daintier wood pattern while the soundhole ring has pearl, wood and ivoroid strip trim. The tortoise celluloid pickguard is inlaid into the top, the bridge is a carved ebony piece and the tailpiece cover is engraved in a floral pattern. The bound ebony fingerboard has delicate slotted diamond and shaped pearl inlay. The neck has a fairly deep round backed \"U\" profile, while the plain headstock has a Vinaccia-style cutout and is fitted with integral, bowlback style tuners. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis Martin Style c mandolin was made in mid-1932, by which time the depression had really kicked in in earnest. It is one of a final 6 made that year, the last rosewood examples. The Style C stayed in the catalog for a couple more years and briefly re-appeared as a single maple-bodied sample in 1934 then was gone forever. This late example is from Martin's \"golden era\" and built lighter with a much livelier sound compared to the more commonly found postwar Martin mandolins. This is a dainty jewel of an instrument, a fine playing and to modern ears a rather unique sounding mandolin. The tone is a bit gentler and less barky than the typical Gibson but with 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 nice survivor of the decades since the early depression years, all original, showing signs of use over the past 90+ years put playing beautifully and sounding lovely indeed. The original thin lacquer finish shows some delicate checking and general wear with dings, scratches and scuffs overall and pickwear to areas of the top, which is the most heavily worn area. The top shows a deeper dings and scratches with a spot off the back edge of the pickguard worn to the wood, with similar wear beneath the strings behind the soundhole. It looks like perhaps someone added the thinnest layer of touch ups over some of these spots and some scratches on the lower sides long ago, but if so it is mostly worn away again. The back of the neck has wear to the wood in the first position and some shallow dings and scratches.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThere is one tiny rosewood check off the base side of the heel, otherwise no cracks or visible repairs. The instrument remains original and complete, including the integrated tuners and oft-missing (and almost impossible to replace) engraved tailpiece cover. The original thin frets have been carefully polished out and playability is excellent. While less \"gutty\" sounding than the average Gibson 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 cool (if not correct) period case for a lump-scroll mandolin that is a functional if inexact fit. Overall Very Good + Condition.","brand":"C. F. Martin","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51501574389900,"sku":"13086","price":2450.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_7655472c-65bd-403a-86a7-33d6d95562d2.jpg?v=1784412742","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/c-f-martin-style-c-flat-back-mandolin-1932-13086","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}