Early American guitars
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
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
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
Detail of the headstock of a Viennese Stauffer-style Presentation Guitar by C. F. Martin, from 1837. From the collection of Peter Szego.
1837
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
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
1840s
Factory Floor
1838
Ornamental
Detail of ornamental soundboard of a Martin & Coupa Guitar by C. F. Martin, c. 1841-42. From the collection of Peter Szego.
Ambrotype
1859
Closeup of detailing in the "2 1/2-40 Guitar" by C. F. Martin from 1859, from the collection of Peter Szego.
1840s
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
Harp Guitar
Spain
Boston
The Man In Black
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
Speak For Me
1939
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