C. F. Martin - Cherry Hill era (1839-1859), Nazareth (1859-1874), The Guitar Wars (mid-1850s) - C.F. Martin Guitar Factory 2012-08-06 - 005

1839-1859 Cherry Hill

BY THE LATE 1830s, MARTIN HAD
ESTABLISHED HIMSELF as a premiere
musical instrument maker in New York City
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Spanish-style guitar by C. F. Martin
Circa 1845

Aside from several guitars with Ivory fret-
boards, this is the highest grade of Martin
guitar at the time. It has many features
similar to pre-Torres Spanish guitars before
there was a distinction between classical and
flamenco guitars; a Spanish body shape, a
solid headstock with friction tuners, a tie
bridge and decoration along the center of the
sides of the guitar.
                               On loan from Peter Stego

Martin Style 3-17
1859

Early Martin nomenclature was established
with the guitar's size as the prefix (before
the hyphen) and the instrument's wholesale
price as the suffix. Prices would rise, but the
suffix would become synonymous with the
appointments and styling.

Earliest X-braced Guitar
Martin & Schatz Label, July 1842
For: Madame Delores Nevares de Goni

This is the very first Size 1 model and the
earliest X-braced guitar ever documented,
supporting Martin's longstanding claim as the
inventor of X-bracing, a primary innovation in
the evolution of the modern American guitar.
After entertaining her in his home, C. F.
Martin made this special guitar for Madame
Delores N. De Goñi, who was probably the
finest professional guitar soloist of her time.
Her performances were widely popular
throughout the Americas between 1841 and
1892. She pronounced Martin guitars to be
"superior to any instruments of the kind (she
had) ever seen in this country of Europe for
tone, workmanship and facility of execution!"
                      Courtesy of Greig Hutton

1859-1874 Nazareth

A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS AND CLOSED
COMMUNITY, NAZARETH was owned
and operated by the Methodist Church.
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(Guitar case)

C.E.Martin, Jr.

Zither

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The Guitar Wars

THE BATTLE FOR SUPREMACY in the
national guitar market was a major challenge
for Martin in the mid-1850s. Martin Guitars
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Tutor
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