Villeurbanne, France
About this listing
Martin: From the Founding of the Company to the Birth of the 0-28 (1833–1924) : In 1833, Christian Frederick Martin Sr. (1796–1873) arrived in the United States and later founded the C. F. Martin & Co. brand in New York after leaving Germany, where guilds restricted independent instrument-making. Trained by Johann Georg Stauffer in Vienna, he brought European craftsmanship to the United States, which he quickly adapted to the expectations of the American market.In 1839, Martin permanently relocated his workshop to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, where the company remains to this day. It was in this workshop that the construction principles which would establish Martin's worldwide reputation were developed.Around 1843, Christian Frederick Martin popularized X-bracing, a major innovation that strengthened the soundboard while significantly enhancing its resonance. This bracing system would become Martin's technical signature and the foundation of the modern steel-string acoustic guitar.The Birth of the "0" Body Size : During the 1850s, Martin developed a range of body sizes designed to suit the varying needs of musicians. Introduced around 1854, the 0 size quickly established itself as the ideal concert-sized guitar. Larger than the Size 2 and Size 1 models, yet more compact than the later 00 and 000 sizes, it offered an exceptional balance of volume, playing comfort, and tonal precision. Measuring approximately 13 1/2 inches (34.3 cm) across the lower bout, it became Martin's benchmark body size for several decades.Building on its success, Martin introduced the 00 size in 1873, followed by the 000 size in 1902 to meet the growing demand for greater volume and projection. Despite these developments, the 0 size remained highly regarded for its expressive nuance and tonal balance—qualities that continue to make it one of the most sought-after vintage Martin body sizes among collectors today.The Introduction of Style 28 :At the same time, Martin gradually organized its catalog into different trim levels.In 1857, the company introduced the remarkable Style 28, destined to become the workshop's most iconic specification. It featured a spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, an ebony fingerboard and bridge, along with elegant appointments including the famous herringbone top purfling and the distinctive zigzag backstrip ("Zipper Backstrip").In 1901, Style 28 adopted the classic "slotted diamonds and squares" mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays, while in 1919 the original ivory bindings were replaced with high-quality white celluloid that faithfully replicated the appearance of ivory.Toward the Modern Guitar :In November 1888, Frank Henry Martin, grandson of the founder, assumed leadership of the company and guided its expansion into the early 20th century. By the beginning of the 1920s, the guitar was gradually replacing the banjo in American popular music. In 1927, Martin officially adapted its instruments for steel strings, an evolution made possible by the strength of the X-bracing design conceived nearly eighty years earlier.Built in 1924, this Martin 0-28 represents the culmination of that remarkable evolution. It combines the 0 body size, refined over nearly seventy years, with the prestigious Style 28 appointments, while still retaining the traditional 12-fret neck, slotted headstock, and entirely handcrafted construction. It belongs to the final generation of traditional Martins before the major innovations introduced at the end of the 1920s.In 1929, Martin unveiled the OM-28 (Orchestra Model) with its revolutionary 14-fret neck, followed in 1931 by the first Dreadnought models marketed under the Martin name. These instruments ushered in a new era, making the 1924 0-28 one of the last great representatives of the tradition established by Christian Frederick Martin during the 19th century.With only 78 examples produced in 1924, this Martin 0-28 belongs to a model whose total production reached just 1,354 instruments, according to the production records compiled by Richard Johnston and Dick Boak.Combining all of the most desirable attributes associated with pre-war Martins, this 1924 Martin 0-28 delivers an exceptionally rich voice, where perfectly balanced registers, deep basses, warm midrange, and crystal-clear trebles come together with extraordinary responsiveness and sensitivity.The culmination of nearly a century of innovation, it stands as one of the finest expressions of early 20th-century American lutherie.Technical SpecificationsTop: Adirondack SpruceBack: Brazilian RosewoodSides: Brazilian RosewoodNeck: Honduran MahoganyFingerboard: EbonyNut Width: 47 mmFingerboard Radius: Flat (very slight radius)Frets: 20 fretsScale Length: 628 mm (24.75")Neck Profile: VCountry of Manufacture: Nazareth, Pennsylvania, USAYear: 1924Finish: NaturalAppointments: Top, back, and rosette binding / Side position markers / White mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays / Beautifully engraved tuning machinesDetails: Normal playing wear and signs of use consistent with its age / Professionally repaired and stabilized crack along the edge of the fingerboard / Evidence of two screw holes from a former pickguard / Replacement low E bridge pin / Very good condition / Supplied in its custom-fitted hard caseLike all of our instruments, this guitar has been meticulously set up using a specially selected set of Aquila Nylgut strings, chosen specifically for vintage instruments of this type. They beautifully highlight the richness, depth, and remarkable delicacy of its tonal character.The result is an exceptionally comfortable playing experience, with a soft, supple feel under the fingers.Its voice reveals an outstanding balance between deep, articulate basses, warm and expressive mids, and sparkling trebles, delivering remarkable projection and harmonic complexity rarely encountered in an instrument of such compact dimensions.Responsive, articulate, and endowed with exceptional tonal elegance, this 1924 Martin 0-28 captivates as much through its refined musical voice as through its extraordinary historical significance, making it an essential instrument for collectors and enthusiasts of vintage American acoustic guitars.
Price€16,900
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