C. F. Martin Style A-K Flat Back, Bent Top Mandolin (1921)
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C. F. Martin Style A-K Model Flat Back, Bent Top Mandolin (1921), made in Nazareth, PA, serial # 9200, natural varnish finish, koa back and sides, mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This A-K mandolin is a comparatively rare Martin instrument of its era, structurally the same as the standard Style A but with the entire body made lovely grained Hawaiian koa wood. Beyond this the instrument has fairly plain trim with only single-strip wood binding on the top and back and a multi-ply soundhole ring. The mahogany neck carries a rosewood headstock veneer and a tiny-dot inlaid ebony fingerboard.
This Martin Style A-K mandolin was made in 1921, the model's first full production year and also the most prolific with 225 shipped at a list price of $25, plus case. Slightly under 1300 A-K's were made over the entire production run. It was a slightly dressed up version of the company's most basic 8-string offering, using the koa recently ordered for ukuleles and Hawaiian guitars.
The Style A in general is a plain but very effective design that remained in production for many decades, but the koa version was built in much smaller numbers and discontinued after 1936. This A-K from the earliest period is built quite lightly offering a livelier sound, especially compared to the standard mahogany A's with a spruce top. This is a simply superb survivor, a cool Martin rarity and over a century along a fine player's instrument as well.
Overall length is 23 3/4 in. (60.3 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) width, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This mandolin is nicely preserved overall, showing some light wear but not too much play time for more than a century along. The all-original thin varnish shows some very little checking and a few scattered wear spots; not much in the way of pick marks but a few deeper random scratches on the top and back. The back of the neck is very clean.
It is also all original and complete, including the still-shiny original Handel strip tuners and oft-missing tailpiece cover. The original bar frets show hardly any wear and playability is excellent. This early Style A-K is one of the best sounding of these flat-back Martin we have heard, with a bright bouncy tone and plenty of volume. This would make an excellent old time or recording mandolin, complete in a modern HSC that is an inexact fit but functional. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This A-K mandolin is a comparatively rare Martin instrument of its era, structurally the same as the standard Style A but with the entire body made lovely grained Hawaiian koa wood. Beyond this the instrument has fairly plain trim with only single-strip wood binding on the top and back and a multi-ply soundhole ring. The mahogany neck carries a rosewood headstock veneer and a tiny-dot inlaid ebony fingerboard.
This Martin Style A-K mandolin was made in 1921, the model's first full production year and also the most prolific with 225 shipped at a list price of $25, plus case. Slightly under 1300 A-K's were made over the entire production run. It was a slightly dressed up version of the company's most basic 8-string offering, using the koa recently ordered for ukuleles and Hawaiian guitars.
The Style A in general is a plain but very effective design that remained in production for many decades, but the koa version was built in much smaller numbers and discontinued after 1936. This A-K from the earliest period is built quite lightly offering a livelier sound, especially compared to the standard mahogany A's with a spruce top. This is a simply superb survivor, a cool Martin rarity and over a century along a fine player's instrument as well.
Overall length is 23 3/4 in. (60.3 cm.), 9 5/8 in. (24.4 cm.) width, and 2 3/4 in. (7 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 13 in. (330 mm.). Width of nut is 1 3/16 in. (30 mm.).
This mandolin is nicely preserved overall, showing some light wear but not too much play time for more than a century along. The all-original thin varnish shows some very little checking and a few scattered wear spots; not much in the way of pick marks but a few deeper random scratches on the top and back. The back of the neck is very clean.
It is also all original and complete, including the still-shiny original Handel strip tuners and oft-missing tailpiece cover. The original bar frets show hardly any wear and playability is excellent. This early Style A-K is one of the best sounding of these flat-back Martin we have heard, with a bright bouncy tone and plenty of volume. This would make an excellent old time or recording mandolin, complete in a modern HSC that is an inexact fit but functional. Overall Excellent - Condition.