Sponsored By
 
1932 Martin 00-18
 
Eric Schoenberg with a one-of-a-kind vintage Martin.
February 19, 2018

 

Having spent more than 50 years playing, selling, and studying vintage guitars, Eric Schoenberg isn’t often stumped when someone brings an old Martin into his shop, Schoenberg Guitars, in Tiburon, California. But when a customer walked into the store with a pair of Martins, the guitar featured in this video and a ukulele, both of which had no internal stamps or serial numbers, he had to call on the help of some friends to figure out what they were.

The customer, who was from Austin, Texas, said that the guitar had belonged to his father. On first sight, Eric thought the guitar might be a 00-18 H Hawaiian that had been converted for standard, instead of lap-style, playing. “They made those from the mid-’30s to the early ’40s, and they looked just like this,” he said. When he heard that the customer’s father had grown up in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and that his next-door neighbor was a foreman at Martin, Eric suspected that the guitar was an “employee model,” an instrument that Martin employees are allowed to build for their own use. Employee models generally don’t have Martin markings, but this instrument is unusual because it has the Martin logo on the headstock.

Without a serial number, determining the year the guitar was built required a combination of experience and detective work. The guitar’s owner thought it was made in 1927, but Eric thought it was probably built somewhat later than that, due to the appearance of the sunburst finish. But because it has bar frets, Eric also knew that it was unlikely to be later than 1934, the last year Martin used them. Eric posted some photos of the guitar online and vintage Martin expert Willi Henkes helped pinpoint the year to 1932. “He looked at the photos and the details, and based on the tuners thought it must be 1932,” Eric said.

In this video, shot at Schoenberg Guitars, Eric discusses the instrument, which he describes as being “very lightly built and extra resonant,” and uses it to play some fingerstyle pieces.

 

Related Vintage Vault Posts
 

1926 Martin 000-18

Peghead Nation instructor Doug Young demonstrates his vintage 12-fret.

Read More

 

1957 Gibson L-5CES

Peghead Nation instructor Matt Munisteri demonstrates his rare Gibson electric archtop with a special pickup configuration.

Read More

 

1944 Martin D-28

Bay Area guitarist Jim Nunally demonstrates his herringbone dreadnought, which was originally owned by Windy Whitford of the Goose Island Ramblers.

Read More

 

1924 Martin 0-28K

Bruce Molsky demonstrates a beautiful koa Martin with a cool history.

Read More

 

1963 Martin 000-18

Flynn Cohen demonstrates a great vintage Martin owned by Peghead Nation’s new Beginning Celtic Fiddle teacher Emerald Rae.

Read More

 

1960 Gibson LG-2

A classic Gibson small-body with a cross-continental history.

Read More

 

1944 Martin 000-18

Bluegrass/jazz flatpicker Grant Gordy discusses and demonstrates his vintage Martin.

Read More

 

1946 Martin D-18

Bay Area guitarist Jim Nunally demonstrates the dreadnought he’s played for almost four decades and used on recordings with David Grisman and others.

Read More

 

1931 National Style O

Scott Ainslie demonstrates a pawnshop treasure

Read More

 

1930 Gibson Master Model L-5

Peghead Nation’s Roots of Jazz Guitar instructor Matt Munisteri demonstrates his main guitar.

Read More

 
Sponsored By
 
 
 
Peghead Partners
 
Shubb Violet Sky C1vs 50th Anniversary Edition
A beautifully etched capo with a lush finish and iridescent hardware, celebrating 50 years of creating the worlds” finest capos.
 
 
 
 
 
  Follow Us:  
 
  About Us       Shop         Support         Contact Us         Email Sign up         Advertise         Sitemap         FAQ         Privacy         Terms         Subscribe   Sign In  
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
 
© Copyright 2020 PegheadNation.com
 
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
 
© Copyright 2020 PegheadNation.com