C. F. Martin T-17 Tiple (1931)
LOADING IMAGES
C. F. Martin T-17 Model Tiple (1931), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 45488, natural lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, black tolex hard shell case.
This T-17 is a rather plain looking but very nice Martin Tiple from the early 1930's, when this hybrid instrument was still a fairly new idea. This model was Martin's simplest Tiple, built all of mahogany with the only the plainest ornamentation. Examples like this from the 1930s have an X-braced top and are built somewhat more sturdily than the first fan-braced 1920's models. 150 of these were shipped out in 1931, the last year production of this model would ever exceed 100. We see post war tiples far more often than these pre-was examples, which are somewhat lighter built with usually a livelier sound.
The body and neck on the T-17 are mahogany, the bridge, headstock overlay and fingerboard are rosewood and the nut is ebony. The C.F. Martin logo is stamped in the back of the headstock; this one is too early to have the decal on the headstock face. The tuners are plastic-button unplated brass Waverly strip units. There is no binding, only a simple inlaid soundhole ring and the fingerboard has four tiny dot inlays.
The Tiple has passed in and out of favor over the last 100 years, but Martins are consistently the best ever made. While not well remembered now, numerous small African-American string-swing ensembles of the 1930's and '40's made extensive use of these small but loud instruments (very often the T-17) for fast melody work and rhythmic strumming. Two of the best known were the Spirits Of Rhythm (featuring guitarist Teddy Bunn) and Cats and the Fiddle, where Tiny Grimes got his professional start. This is a lovely instrument to play with a sparkling sound, definitely one of the nicest of these we have ever had.
Overall length is 27 1/2 in. (69.8 cm.), 9 in. (22.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 17 in. (432 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This Tiple is quite well-preserved overall showing some fairly minor wear. The all-original finish shows general light play wear with some dings, dents and scrapes and very minor checking. There is one grain check in the top just off the back edge of the bridge that does not appear to have ever opened up into a crack; apart from this there are no cracks or repairs. The saddle area of the bridge appears very slightly cut down, which is hardly noticeable. A far better survivor than many pre-war tiples this is also a fine player with a very lively sound. Excellent Condition.
This T-17 is a rather plain looking but very nice Martin Tiple from the early 1930's, when this hybrid instrument was still a fairly new idea. This model was Martin's simplest Tiple, built all of mahogany with the only the plainest ornamentation. Examples like this from the 1930s have an X-braced top and are built somewhat more sturdily than the first fan-braced 1920's models. 150 of these were shipped out in 1931, the last year production of this model would ever exceed 100. We see post war tiples far more often than these pre-was examples, which are somewhat lighter built with usually a livelier sound.
The body and neck on the T-17 are mahogany, the bridge, headstock overlay and fingerboard are rosewood and the nut is ebony. The C.F. Martin logo is stamped in the back of the headstock; this one is too early to have the decal on the headstock face. The tuners are plastic-button unplated brass Waverly strip units. There is no binding, only a simple inlaid soundhole ring and the fingerboard has four tiny dot inlays.
The Tiple has passed in and out of favor over the last 100 years, but Martins are consistently the best ever made. While not well remembered now, numerous small African-American string-swing ensembles of the 1930's and '40's made extensive use of these small but loud instruments (very often the T-17) for fast melody work and rhythmic strumming. Two of the best known were the Spirits Of Rhythm (featuring guitarist Teddy Bunn) and Cats and the Fiddle, where Tiny Grimes got his professional start. This is a lovely instrument to play with a sparkling sound, definitely one of the nicest of these we have ever had.
Overall length is 27 1/2 in. (69.8 cm.), 9 in. (22.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 17 in. (432 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This Tiple is quite well-preserved overall showing some fairly minor wear. The all-original finish shows general light play wear with some dings, dents and scrapes and very minor checking. There is one grain check in the top just off the back edge of the bridge that does not appear to have ever opened up into a crack; apart from this there are no cracks or repairs. The saddle area of the bridge appears very slightly cut down, which is hardly noticeable. A far better survivor than many pre-war tiples this is also a fine player with a very lively sound. Excellent Condition.