C. F. Martin Style A Flat back, bent top Mandola (1919)
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Item # 12665
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C. F. Martin Style A Model Flat back, bent top Mandola (1919), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 6898, natural varnish finish, mahogany back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
Martin mandolins are fairly obscure to most modern players, but not particularly rare. Martin entered the mandolin market with bowlbacks in the late 19th century, and continued to make various 8-string styles for much of the 20th. The other instruments of the mando-family are a different story, however. While the company did make some attempts to crash this typically Gibson dominated area, exponentially fewer Mandolas and mandocellos were ever shipped out of Nazareth, and most players today have never even encountered one.
This is a Martin Style A Mandola made in 1919, the year of the second production batch. It is one of 7 shipped that year after an initial 2 samples made in 1915, sold at a list price of $27.50 plus case which was raised to $30 in 1920. A total of less than 150 of these left the factory in the 1910-1940s era. Whatever sales Martin expected from mandolas was reflected in the production of mostly even batches of 12 on and off through the 1920s. They never returned to Martin's catalog after the war.
In Martin mando-terms the mahogany Style A is the most basic model. The mahogany body has plain Style 18 trim, with rosewood binding back and front and tiny dot inlay in the rosewood fingerboard. The headstock is a plain block shape, without the Vinaccia-style cutout used on higher grade models. The tuners and the tailpiece are utilitarian as well. The scale is 15 1/2", just 1/4" shorter than the Gibson standard and the neck has a fairly deep round backed "U" profile.
This is a great playing example and a very nice sounding rather unique mandola. As with the Martin mandolins the tone is a bit gentler and less barky than the typical Gibson but very full, richer than the fairly small mahogany instrument would seem likely to produce. This is the second Martin Mandola we have had and now we're looking for more!
Overall length is 27 1/8 in. (68.9 cm.), 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 15 1/2 in. (394 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This 90+ year old Martin has seen some fairly light use and survives in excellent playing condition. There is only very minor wear overall and no notable repair. The all-original thin varnish finish has some minor dings, dents and scrapes overall, but no heavy pick wear; the back has a few deeper scrapes.
The entire instrument is crack free; there is a small patched strap button hole in the lower rim below the heel. The tuners are modern vintage-style replacements but all else appears original. The original frets show some hardly any wear and the instrument plays very well, sounds great and remains in its original hard case, solid if a bit worn with the center latch non-functional. Overall Very Good + Condition.
Martin mandolins are fairly obscure to most modern players, but not particularly rare. Martin entered the mandolin market with bowlbacks in the late 19th century, and continued to make various 8-string styles for much of the 20th. The other instruments of the mando-family are a different story, however. While the company did make some attempts to crash this typically Gibson dominated area, exponentially fewer Mandolas and mandocellos were ever shipped out of Nazareth, and most players today have never even encountered one.
This is a Martin Style A Mandola made in 1919, the year of the second production batch. It is one of 7 shipped that year after an initial 2 samples made in 1915, sold at a list price of $27.50 plus case which was raised to $30 in 1920. A total of less than 150 of these left the factory in the 1910-1940s era. Whatever sales Martin expected from mandolas was reflected in the production of mostly even batches of 12 on and off through the 1920s. They never returned to Martin's catalog after the war.
In Martin mando-terms the mahogany Style A is the most basic model. The mahogany body has plain Style 18 trim, with rosewood binding back and front and tiny dot inlay in the rosewood fingerboard. The headstock is a plain block shape, without the Vinaccia-style cutout used on higher grade models. The tuners and the tailpiece are utilitarian as well. The scale is 15 1/2", just 1/4" shorter than the Gibson standard and the neck has a fairly deep round backed "U" profile.
This is a great playing example and a very nice sounding rather unique mandola. As with the Martin mandolins the tone is a bit gentler and less barky than the typical Gibson but very full, richer than the fairly small mahogany instrument would seem likely to produce. This is the second Martin Mandola we have had and now we're looking for more!
Overall length is 27 1/8 in. (68.9 cm.), 10 3/16 in. (25.9 cm.) across at the widest point, and 2 7/8 in. (7.3 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 15 1/2 in. (394 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This 90+ year old Martin has seen some fairly light use and survives in excellent playing condition. There is only very minor wear overall and no notable repair. The all-original thin varnish finish has some minor dings, dents and scrapes overall, but no heavy pick wear; the back has a few deeper scrapes.
The entire instrument is crack free; there is a small patched strap button hole in the lower rim below the heel. The tuners are modern vintage-style replacements but all else appears original. The original frets show some hardly any wear and the instrument plays very well, sounds great and remains in its original hard case, solid if a bit worn with the center latch non-functional. Overall Very Good + Condition.