1898 Martin 0-21

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1898 Martin 0-21

Martin began serial numbering their guitars in 1898 and began at #8000, which was, to their best guess, the number of guitars that had been produced over the previous 65 years. 1898 was also the year that Martin began stamping their guitars with the now-familiar Nazareth, PA stamp. This 0-21 is the 174th guitar to receive a serial number. It also features both the older New York stamp on the back of the headstock and the new Nazareth logo on the back’s inside center-strip. There can’t be all too many guitars that are both New York and Nazareth Martins! The underside of the top is dated April 27th, 1898, and is initialed by H. Albin Voigt, one of 12 people who worked at the factory that year.

This guitar was completely restored by Dana Bourgeois in 1987, and the service receipt remains with the guitar, along with a 1986 letter from Mike Longworth to the then-owner discussing the guitar’s repair needs. According to the repair receipt Dana replaced the fingerboard and installed a graphite neck support rod and T-frets. Cracks were repaired and a new pyramid bridge was made for the guitar. The receipt doesn’t mention finish repairs, but the body has a beautifully applied lacquer finish, while the neck retains its original shellac.

Looking inside with a mirror is like taking a walk back in time to 1898. The inside of the body is in beautiful condition and shows no repairs or regluing to any of the braces or the bridge plate. The crack repairs are exceptionally tidy, with only a few very thin cleats installed where necessary. The top’s shape is excellent and shows no deformation from string tension.

A very lightly constructed guitar, this 0-21 was originally intended for gut stringing but is set up with Pearse 11-50 strings and functions properly. Its tone has all the hallmarks of a lightly built rosewood guitar; it’s dark and chocolaty but clear and well defined with overtones that compliment a strong fundamental.

The neck has a V carve with softly rounded sides and full depth thanks to the modern fingerboard’s thickness. It is significantly more contemporary in feel than original turn-of-the-century Martin necks. Depth at the first fret is .92”, and the nut width is 1-13/16”. Scale is 24.8”.

Quartersawn Brazilian rosewood back and sides with visible saw marks, red spruce top with finely scalloped braces, late 1800’s style 21 trim with rosewood bindings, multi-layer purflings, herringbone rosette and colorful backstrip. Bird-beak neck joint, slotted headstock, and Seidel tuning machines.

With hardshell case
1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21
  • 1898 Martin 0-21

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