Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Martin Style BK, what do you know

  1. #1

    Default Martin Style BK, what do you know

    So this is a rare bird, the Style B all Koa wood. I was reading around on here and found someone that said only 55 were made, any way of confirming this? Also, any idea of how much more value it would add being a BK rather than AK. Its in wonderful condition, its a 1921 as far as I can tell. Any other info, I can barely find pictures online to confirm its what I have. Its definitely a BK though, after some reading around.
    Thanks mando folks, the cafe is a great resource

  2. #2
    NY Naturalist BradKlein's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Lehigh Valley - Pennsylvania
    Posts
    2,276

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    I'd be amazed if Martin made only 55 of that model. I don't think it's especially rare. (I HAVE been wrong before...)

    But the koa Martins are super-nice, and a great value for what they are. Why don't you post a photo or two?
    BradKlein
    Morning Edition Host, WLVR News
    Senior Producer, Twangbox®
    Twangbox® Videos

  3. #3

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    I am still new to the forum, I will get on it. Usually just read, never had a reason to post until now. Usually can answer my own questions.

  4. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Fairfield County, Connecticut
    Posts
    99

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    Mike Longworth's "Martin Guitars: A History," has the production totals for mandolins year by year. He shows 51 BKs produced in 1921, and six in 1925. So it's a pretty rare bird. In contrast, they made more than 1200 AKs from 1921-1936.

  5. The following members say thank you to Rob Norton for this post:


  6. #5

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpg 
Views:	227 
Size:	366.8 KB 
ID:	100613

  7. #6

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    ]Click image for larger version. 

Name:	image.jpg 
Views:	201 
Size:	290.3 KB 
ID:	100614Anyone know what the binding is? It's several layers, little bit different for the back it seems. Looks like a couple of different woods.

  8. #7

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    Hey, thanks for the help Rob. I thought it was pretty rare when I could only find a partial photo on the cafe in a group Martin photo. Now there is a shot for anyone else who's looking around on here. This one is really nice for folky stuff, fun to play.

  9. #8
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Fairfield County, Connecticut
    Posts
    99

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    That's a real beauty! Those "B" details -- like the engraved tailpiece and the fancier rosette -- look even nicer on the koa than they do on the spruce tops. I've owned several different models of these over the years, from a plain A to a E, and one of the best-sounding ones I had was an AK from a year or two later than yours. They definitely have a special vibe.

    Congrats!

  10. #9
    Formerly F5JOURNL Darryl Wolfe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    aiken, sc
    Posts
    6,005

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    Very nice. I was unaware they made these.
    Darryl G. Wolfe, The F5 Journal
    www.f5journal.com

  11. #10

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    How do I find the serial number on a 1890-1910 Bruno mandolin

  12. #11

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    I found that Bruno and Martin started making these around 1834 in Macon ga.

  13. #12
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rochester NY 14610
    Posts
    17,378

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    Quote Originally Posted by Anlbrewer View Post
    I found that Bruno and Martin started making these around 1834 in Macon ga.
    No. Martin started making guitars in NY City in 1833, moved to Nazareth PA. The company started making mandolins in the 1890's, bowl-backs first, flat-backs in 1914. All the mandolins were made at the Nazareth factory.

    Bruno was a distributor, not a manufacturer. C F Martin and Charles Bruno had a business relationship in 1830's New York; Bruno became a distributor of instruments made by others, around 1848. C Bruno, later C Bruno & Sons, was one of the major dealers in musical instruments for over a century, with extensive catalogs and national distribution. There is apparently still a C Bruno & Sons company in Connecticut, perhaps affiliated with Kaman (Ovation guitars), also located in Bloomfied CT (?).

    Don't know where the "Macon GA" reference comes from...
    Allen Hopkins
    Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
    Natl Triolian Dobro mando
    Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
    H-O mandolinetto
    Stradolin Vega banjolin
    Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
    Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
    Flatiron 3K OM

  14. #13

    Default Re: Martin Style BK, what do you know

    Saw this one pop up today: http://boulder.craigslist.org/msg/3727136732.html NFI - the tuners look super !

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •