C. F. Martin Spanish-style guitar (c.1845), Martin Style 3-17 (1859) - C.F. Martin Guitar Factory 2012-08-06 - 011

1839-1859 Cherry Hill

BY THE LATE 1830s, MARTIN HAD
ESTABLISHED HIMSELF as a premiere
musical instrument maker in New York City:
...

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
...