“There are very few things that are all they’re cracked up to be.
Pre-war Martins are one of them.” -Steve Earle
Pre-war Martins are one of them.” -Steve Earle
There are actually many periods of guitar manufacturing that are viewed as "Golden Ages." Typically we think of the 1950's & early 1960's because this is when the template for the modern electric guitar was born. Thanks to Fender & Gibson the electric guitar became bigger than an instrument, it became an icon.
The same can arguably be said for a "Pre-war Martin." The war in question (in case you slept through History class) is World War II and the true "Golden Age" for the Martin acoustic guitar is 1934-1941.
Evolution
Although steel string acoustic guitars existed long before 1931, this is the year the Martin's famous Dreadnought shape went into full production. Martin, however, did not seem to know what they had. They initially promoted them very lightly. In 1931 Martin was primarily interested in producing its OM series guitars (great guitars in their own right and also extremely valuable). Incredibly, only thirteen D-18's & seventeen D-28's had been sold prior to 1934.
Martin's guitar production underwent serious changes in 1934. The 12-fret body shapes were shortened, scalloped top bracing was shifted towards the soundhole and the base bridge design was modified. The neck was reinforced with a T-Bar (precursor to the modern truss rod). Thinner necks were designed, with 14 frets clear of the body. Even with a continued lack of promotion, dreadnought sales improved. Then in 1935, Martin finally gave the guitars a prominent spot in their catalog. Dreadnought sales spiked. By 1937 the D-18, which cost a whopping $65, was second only to the low-cost 0-17 ($30) in annual sales. In the midst of the USA's Great Depression an American classic was born.
Why Are They So Good?
Most guitarists who have the good fortune to play a nice Pre-war Martin will agree that they are very special. They have a warmth and resonance that is immediate and recognizable. There is a great deal of speculation as to what makes them so special. Many point to the Adirondack spruce tops which were long ago replaced by Sitka spruce. Others praise the Brazilian rosewood, the famous and rare tone woods used for the back & sides on many of these instruments. Nonetheless there are two factors that preside over all others. Craftsmanship and time.
Assuming a guitar is well cared for, time almost always makes it better. The wood "opens up" and resonates better. This is true for all guitars but is especially for archtops & acoustics. Exactly how and why this happens is a subject we could theorize upon endlessly but one fact is clear. In order for a guitar to age well it must be built well. If a guitar is to last 80 years (like these) it needs to be put together right or it will break. Finishes will delaminate. Tops will crack. Uncured wood will shrink. Bridges will lift. The well cared for Pre-war Martin Dreadnought tends to exhibit few of these problems. They are among the finest guitars ever built.
What Happened When the War Started?
When the USA joined the war in December 1941 manufacturing slowed down in all industries. Materials and skilled labor were both understandably in short supply, so quality suffered. In 1944 Martin put a definitive end to its "Golden Age" by eliminating the scalloped top bracing on its Dreadnoughts and the classic herringbone trim on the Style 28 models. Martin continued to make high quality guitars but as the war ended and production volume began to swell to ever greater numbers, the attention to detail and precise craftsmanship that went into the original Dreadnoughts was lacking.
In the decades that followed, Martin addressed the quality issues they encountered as they grew rapidly. In 1976 they brought back the scalloped top bracing and the classic herringbone trim. Almost immediately, the Martin HD-28 (H for Herringbone) was the companies best seller.
Why Are They So Good?
Most guitarists who have the good fortune to play a nice Pre-war Martin will agree that they are very special. They have a warmth and resonance that is immediate and recognizable. There is a great deal of speculation as to what makes them so special. Many point to the Adirondack spruce tops which were long ago replaced by Sitka spruce. Others praise the Brazilian rosewood, the famous and rare tone woods used for the back & sides on many of these instruments. Nonetheless there are two factors that preside over all others. Craftsmanship and time.
Assuming a guitar is well cared for, time almost always makes it better. The wood "opens up" and resonates better. This is true for all guitars but is especially for archtops & acoustics. Exactly how and why this happens is a subject we could theorize upon endlessly but one fact is clear. In order for a guitar to age well it must be built well. If a guitar is to last 80 years (like these) it needs to be put together right or it will break. Finishes will delaminate. Tops will crack. Uncured wood will shrink. Bridges will lift. The well cared for Pre-war Martin Dreadnought tends to exhibit few of these problems. They are among the finest guitars ever built.
What Happened When the War Started?
When the USA joined the war in December 1941 manufacturing slowed down in all industries. Materials and skilled labor were both understandably in short supply, so quality suffered. In 1944 Martin put a definitive end to its "Golden Age" by eliminating the scalloped top bracing on its Dreadnoughts and the classic herringbone trim on the Style 28 models. Martin continued to make high quality guitars but as the war ended and production volume began to swell to ever greater numbers, the attention to detail and precise craftsmanship that went into the original Dreadnoughts was lacking.
In the decades that followed, Martin addressed the quality issues they encountered as they grew rapidly. In 1976 they brought back the scalloped top bracing and the classic herringbone trim. Almost immediately, the Martin HD-28 (H for Herringbone) was the companies best seller.
