Dad's guitar: Martin F-65 semi

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Greg writes:

Hi there,

I've been following your blog for a little under a year now and I really love it. Thank you for sharing so many treasures and for providing such great commentary.

I thought you might be interested in a guitar that I came across in my dad's possession over my holiday vacation back home (somehow I didn't realize my dad owned this gem). While it's by no means completely wild, it sure is unusual. It's an electric guitar that Martin made back in the '60s. Kind of unusual considering Martin is known exclusively for their high quality acoustics.

As I understand it, there were only something like 1,800 of them ever made. The model is a F-65. Sadly, I don't know the exact date it was built, but they were only created from 1962 to 1965. Talking with some fellow guitar enthusiasts at a local vintage guitar meetup, they explained that it was a case of Martin just not being able to sell the model due to their strong association with acoustics and not electrics. It's an incredible guitar workmanship-wise. This particular guitar was professional sanded down to a nice, natural wood, which I absolutely love. The pickguard was removed too, giving it something of a John Lennon Casino look. All models I've seen online and read about have a sunburst finish otherwise. The place where the tremolo bar would lock in has been blocked with a wooden dowel though. My dad picked this up back in 1980 from a vintage guitar shop in Kansas City and all of the cosmetics were as they are now. He's had some work done to it and I hope you'll forgive the overused expression, but it's an absolute dream to play. Sounds great too! I hope in his older age, he finds it in his heart to fork it over to me, hah!

Anyway, I thought you might be interested in this oddity. I'm sadly back in Seattle now so I can't really provide too many more details on the guitar without probing my dad for information. Hope you're having a great New Year! Take care.

Greg

Hey, thanks for sharing, Greg. We have looked at a couple of Martin's electric models previously, but it's good to hear from someone who has personal experience of one.

Keep 'em coming, folks!

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

1966 Martin GT-75

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See this Martin GT-75 from 1966 in superb condition for a 45 year old guitar... I'm younger and don't look so fresh (mostly in the morning)!

It has a strange yet sober double cutaway thinline body that looks more Czechoslovakian than American, sinuous S-holes (they don't look like F) and deliciously vintage looking DeArmond Dynasonic pickups with asymmetric covers, a Bigsby trem specially designed for Martin...

The Martin F-65 previously shown on the blog was an earlier model and shares the design and the pickups of the GT-75, that mostly improves the neck and the bridge...

Bertram

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Martin F50 archtop

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Here's a reminder that C.F. Martin & Co were not all about flat-top acoustic guitars. This vintage Martin F50 archtop dates back to 1962; this example has been modified by its previous owner having a Kent Armstong Jazz humbucker and replacement machine heads and bridge.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

1979 Martin EM-18

guitarz.blogspot.com

A few weeks ago someone asked about the connections between his Goya and the Martin solid bodies ; to complete the answers made then, here is the short-lived genuine Martin EM-18. 

It never really took, so Martin resumed making acoustic guitars in 1983 and ever since.

bertram

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Martin Guitar donates $20,000 one-of-a-kind guitar to Christie's for 2010 inaugural "Green Auction"

guitarz.blogspot.com:
[NB: I don't normally like posting press releases here on Guitarz, but the notion of a guitar being worth $20,000, whilst quite obscene, makes it worthy of mention. It's a stunning looking guitar too - and so it should be! At least Martin are doing the right thing with their donation to this auction. - GLW]

STAR-STUDDED EVENT TO BE HELD ON EARTH DAY, APRIL 22

PROCEEDS FROM AUCTION TO BENEFIT CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL, OCEANA, NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL AND THE CENTRAL PARK CONSERVANCY
[That's enough upper case now, thanks. - GLW]

Nazareth, PA – February 22, 2010 – In tune with Martin Guitar’s environmental philosophy, C.F. Martin & Co. has donated a rare 000 12-fret Peter Cree Certified Wood Guitar (photo attached) to Christie’s International, the world’s leading art business, for their upcoming “A Bid to Save the Earth” Green Auction.

This first-of-its-kind charity auction will take place on April 22, 2010 to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Proceeds from the sale will be divided among four leading not-for-profit environmental organizations: Conservation International, Oceana, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Central Park Conservancy. All four beneficiary organizations are 4-Star rated by CharityNavigator.org, its highest rating for not-for-profit organizations.

Estimated in value at $20,000, the one-of-a-kind Martin Custom Shop 000 12-fret Peter Cree Certified Wood Guitar features original Southwestern artwork executed in hand-applied colored lacquers by renowned painter/sculptor Peter Cree. Known for developing and incorporating a decorative finishing technique intended for high-quality acoustic instruments, Cree’s work has been highly sought-after across the country for his creation of new pieces, as well as his expert restorations of fine art and instruments.

Constructed with 100% Certified tonewoods from ecologically well-managed forests, the 000 12-fret Peter Cree Certified Wood Guitar features Chechen headplate, back and sides; a four-piece Adirondack top; Katalox fingerboard and bridge; cherry neck, front and rear block; basswood ribbon linings and braces; and artistic inlays of Micarta, cherry and turquoise.

“For nearly two decades, we at Martin Guitar have been devoted to pioneering a movement of ecological responsibility within the guitar industry,” said Chris Martin IV. “C.F. Martin & Co. is proud to have contributed such an artistically creative and ecologically symbolic instrument in support of charitable environmental initiatives through this special Christie's auction.”

Held at Christie’s, Rockefeller Center, New York and carried live globally via Christie’s LIVE™ on www.christies.com.

The Evening Sale will be a star-studded event with top celebrities serving on the Green Auction Host Committee that includes: Leonardo DiCaprio, Harrison Ford, Tobey Maguire, François-Henri Pinault, Salma Hayek, Bob Fisher, Candice Bergen, Ed Norton, Evelyn Lauder, Alec Baldwin, Zaha Hadid, Brooke Shields, and Matt Lauer. Additional lots for auction will include major works from artists, coveted celebrity experiences, upscale eco-vacations and exquisite jewelry.

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Goya solidbody with a possible Martin connection

guitarz.blogspot.com:
We've had another email, as follows:

Hey - was wondering if you or your audience could give me any info on this guitar.

I picked this up a couple years ago, and don't know much about it. It's a Goya that looks very similar to a Martin E-18, which from what I can tell is their only foray into solid body electrics. I've seen these online with headstocks labeled EF Martin, Sigma Martin, but never Goya. It's my understanding that Goya was bought by Martin at some point in the late 70s, so I'm guessing the E-18 was just a rebranding of this Goya model? I don't know. It's a great sounding and playing guitar, never seen another one though.

Thanks in advance!
-Tim

My own understanding of the Goya brand, was that it was just that - a brandname used to sell guitars in the United States. For example, Sweden's Hagstrom guitars were re-badged "Goya" for the US market.

I think you may have (semi)-answered your own question, Tim. That it was a brandname bought out by Martin. Perhaps they badged their own electric solidbodies with the Goya brandname because the Martin name was so firmly established in everyone's mind as being an acoustic brand. That the guitars also appeared branded Martin and Sigma suggests different marketing strategies at different timess, perhaps?

If anyone else reading has any more info, please let us know!

G L Wilson

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Martin D18-E

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Built in 1959, the D18-E was Martin's first attempt at producing an electric guitar.

They didn't really think it through as an electric guitar from the ground up, did they? They just took an existing model from their catalogue, added two DeArmond pickups and volume, tone controls and pickup selector switch. I can't imagine all that additional hardware would allow the guitar's spruce top to resonate as it was originally designed to, but nevertheless this is one cool guitar! (A pity this example on eBay isn't strung in the photos).

And of course, Kurt Cobain thought so too when he used one for Nirvana's Unplugged sessions. (I've often wondered about that. It wasn't really "unplugged", was it?)

EDIT: I've just noticed - this post was made on the 7th Anniversary of this blog - the world's longest running guitar blog! Happy birthday to us!

G L Wilson

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Martin electric guitar

Here's one you don't see too often. It's an electric guitar, albeit a semi-acoustic, from C.F. Martin & Co.

This particular model is a 1965 Martin F-65 and is described as having "survived 40 years in an outback Australian farming shed".

The seller says that "it looks like a dog, but plays really well...", and I think it looks absolutely fantastic, but unfortunately can only imagine how it would play. In this day and age of artifically reliced guitars - new guitars made to look like old and battered vintage guitars - it's great to see an instrument like this bearing the marks of genuine usage and aging.

Martin guitars still acoustic king at 175 years old: "I'm an abysmal guitar player" says Chris Martin (C.F. Martin VI), sixth-generation CEO of C.F. Martin & Co.

Take instrumental journey in museum dedicated to guitars: 10 good reasons why you should visit The Martin Guitar Museum in Nazareth, Pennsylania (if you should get the chance).

Staying in tune with guitar owners: C.F. Martin & Co. lets its customers try instruments at party. It's like a tupperware party, but with Martin guitars!

Felix the Cat goes Psychedelic!

Here's the third in what would appear to be a series of Felix the Cat guitars from none other than the legendary C.F. Martin & Co: the Martin FeLIX III. Whilst I do think it's a nice fun design, I did prefer the design of the previous FeLIX II guitar.

Weighty recognition: C.F. Martin & Co. honoring songwriter with special guitars: That's Robbie Robertson of The Band, who supposedly put Martin's hometown of Nazareth on the rock 'n' roll map.