Brand: Martin
Instrument Categories: Acoustic Steel String, Guitars
Introduced in 1922 as their first guitar designed for steel strings, the Martin 2-17 featured Mahogany for the top, back, sides and neck, with Rosewood for the bridge, fingerboard and head plate. Typical of the era, the headstock is a slotted type.
As the decade turned and the economy dramatically changed, the Martin 2-17 #25 model appeared as a stripped-down lower cost version of the 2-17. The #25 designation referred to the price – $25, with cost savings coming from lack of binding and the simplest sound hole rosette. These ‘#25’ guitars were produced from 1929 to 1938.
Here we’re looking at a Martin 2-17 #25 built during early 1930 in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, showing a 1929 feature – a straight saddle. Not long after this guitar was built, Martin shifted to slanted saddles, giving the bass strings a little more length for intonation purposes. Apparently 449 were built during 1930 with this saddle, and 50 with the slanted saddle.
The guitar is in overall very good condition for a guitar approaching a century old. There is some play wear to the top, small dings and dents, and a long-ago repaired top crack at the edge of the lower treble bout.
This Martin 2-17 #25 guitar plays well with the original bar-style frets and a 24.4 inch (620mm) scale length. It has a very comfortable action and a well-developed voice with plenty of sparkling high end, but good representation in the lower and middle ranges too. It is strung with light-gauge strings, and given its very light bracing, nothing heavier should be used.
This guitar is accompanied by an oversize, older fibre (cardboard) case. Modern cases offering much better protection are available.
- Model: 2-17
- Year: 1930
- Finish Natural Mahogany
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: 41366, built during early 1930 at Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 15/04/2024
- Consignment Item
- Instrument Weight: 2.42lbs 1.1kg
- Scale Length: 24.4in 620mm
- Nut Width: 1.775in 45.11mm
