Early American guitars

Guitars promo_1834.jpg — John Sterling Ruth, Courtesy of C. F. Martin Archives; Metropolitan Museum of Art

An 1834 spruce, maple, ebony, ivory and mother-of-pearl guitar built by C.F. Martin, c. 1834, shortly after the legendary guitar maker opened his business in New York City.

The artistry and craftsmanship of these early instruments are featured in a new exhibition at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, "Early American Guitars: The Instruments of C. F. Martin."

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan

C.F. Martin (1796-1873)

Born in Saxony, Germany, in 1796, Christian Friedrich Martin was the son of a cabinetmaker who also built guitars.

In addition to carrying through traditional guitar elements (such as the Stauffer headstock), Martin was also an innovator, introducing X-bracing - a key element of the modern American guitar – to the instrument's design.

Vienna

Guitars_M6 Stauffer 1840.jpg — Metropolitan Museum of Art

This Terz guitar (Legnani model, serial number 1309) was built in Vienna by Johann Georg Stauffer and Johann Anton Stauffer, c. 1828-30.

C.F. Martin apprenticed at the Stauffer guitar shop before emigrating to America.

New York City

Guitars_NYC store_illustration.jpg — Courtesy C.F. Martin & Co.

After his apprenticeship in Vienna, C.F. Martin emigrated in 1833 to the United States, where he opened a musical instrument store at 196 Hudson Street in Manhattan.

1837

An 1837 guitar built by C.F. Martin, constructed from spruce, maple, mother-of-pearl, abalone and mastic.

The guitar is an example of Martin's earliest guitars, which featured a design he brought with him from Vienna: a headstock with tuning keys all on one side.

Headstock

Guitars_Stauffer style 26_H-00013.jpg — Courtesy of C.F. Martin & Co.

Detail of the headstock of a Viennese Stauffer-style Presentation Guitar by C. F. Martin, from 1837. From the collection of Peter Szego.

1837

Guitars Martin 1114.jpg — John Sterling Ruth, courtesy of C. F. Martin Archives/Metropolitan Museum of Art

C.F. Martin's 1837 guitar (serial no. 1114), made from spruce, rosewood, ivory, mother-of-pearl and abalone.

1837

Detail of a presentation guitar built by C.F. Martin in 1837, from the C. F. Martin Museum Collection.

Hearts

A detail of hearts (or "Herschen") on the bridge of a Viennese Stauffer-style guitar built by C. F. Martin, c. 1830s.

Pennsylvania

Guitars Martin Renaissance.jpg — John Sterling Ruth, courtesy of C. F. Martin Archives/Metropolitan Museum of Art

In the late 1830s C.F. Martin moved to Pennsylvania, and was selling his handmade guitars throughout the country.

Left: A C.F. Martin-built guitar (dating from between 1843 and 1852), made from spruce, rosewood, ebony, ivory, mother-of-pearl and mastic.

Detail

Guitars promo_renaissance.jpg — John Sterling Ruth, courtesy of C. F. Martin Archives/Metropolitan Museum of Art

Detail of C.F. Martin's spruce, rosewood, ebony, ivory, mother-of-pearl and mastic, built between 1843 and 1852.

1840s

Guitars_M38 Martin 1843-48.jpg — John Sterling Ruth, courtesy of C. F. Martin Archives/Metropolitan Museum of Art

A guitar built by C.F. Martin, c. 1843-48, constructed from spruce, rosewood, ivory, and mother-of-pearl.

Factory Floor

An undated photo of workers in the C.F. Martin & Co. guitar factory.

1838

Guitars_M11 Martin and Bruno.jpg — Metropolitan Museum of Art

An 1838 guitar built by C.F. Martin and Charles Bruno, of spruce, rosewood, cedar, ebony, ivory and mother-of-pearl.

Ornamental

Detail of ornamental soundboard of a Martin & Coupa Guitar by C. F. Martin, c. 1841-42. From the collection of Peter Szego.

Ambrotype

A glass-negative ambrotype, c. 1850s, of a musician holding a Martin guitar.

1859

Closeup of detailing in the "2 1/2-40 Guitar" by C. F. Martin from 1859, from the collection of Peter Szego.

1840s

Guitars Martin_2_1843.jpg — John Sterling Ruth, courtesy of C. F. Martin Archives/Metropolitan Museum of Art

A guitar built by C.F. Martin, c. 1843-48, constructed from spruce, rosewood, ivory, and mother-of-pearl.

Pegs

Closeup of the headstock of a Martin & Coupa Guitar by C. F. Martin, showing friction pegs. From the collection of Peter Szego.

1846

Detail of the Col. Wilkins Guitar, built by C. F. Martin, c. 1846. From the collection of Peter Szego.

10-String

C.F. Martin's 10-string Harp guitar, c. 1859-60.

Harp Guitar

Guitars_headstock detail 20_H-00061.jpg — Courtesy of C.F. Martin & Co.

Detail of the headstock of C.F. Martin's 10-string Harp guitar.

Spain

Guitars_M23 De Lorca 1839.jpg — Metropolitan Museum of Art

This beautiful spruce, walnut, cedar, ebony and mother-of-pearl guitar was built by a contemporary of C.F. Martin: Antonio de Lorca García of Malaga, Spain.

Boston

Guitars_M27 Schatz 1845-50.jpg — Metropolitan Museum of Art

Another contemporary of Martin's whose work is in the Met's exhibition was Bostonian Heinrich (Henry) Schatz. He built this guitar, c. 1845-50, out of spruce, macassar ebony, ivory, mastic and mother-of-pearl.

The Man In Black

Guitars_Johnny Cash.jpg — Courtesy C.F. Martin & Co.

A list of noted musicians who didn't play with Martin Guitars would be considerable shorter than a list of those who did.

Among the Martin artists were Woody Guthrie, Elvis Presley, Gene Autry, Willie Nelson, Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Neko Case, Eddie Vedder, and the Man in Black, Johnny Cash.

Apprentice or Master

Guitars_Sting_Martin Guitar.jpg — Courtesy C.F. Martin & Co.

Sting is pictured playing a Martin guitar.

Speak For Me

John Mayer poses with a Martin guitar.

1939

Instagram_Mason_Met guitars.jpg — Instagram photo by Anthony Mason/CBS News

Eric Clapton's 1939 Martin guitar, on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

For more info:

"Early American Guitars: The Instruments of C. F. Martin," at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (Jan. 14-Dec. 7, 2014)
martinguitar.com

By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan