ARCHIVED • SOLD
1962 Martin F-65
Martin’s 1960’s electrics appear to have been heavily influenced by Gretsch designs, and the F-65 shares some similarities to the various Gretsch 6120 models of the ‘50s and ’60s. With its mid-depth double cut hollowbody construction and Dynasonics, the guitar’s sound and vibe are unquestionably Gretsch-y, particularly so when your F-65 is fitted with a Bigsby tailpiece. But unlike Gretsch electrics, the Martin features a neck with much better fretwork and playability, and more useful tone circuit wiring. Those of us who own one of these wouldn’t trade it for anything.
This example is in very good shape and remains perfectly playable. The neck angle works well, frets are nicely dressed and play cleanly, the neck feel is fabulous, and the pickups sound thick, clear, and meaty. The guitar is fitted with its original Martin/Bigsby tailpiece (and comes with an original Martin non-vibrato tailpiece, too). The bridge is a replacement, as is one of the tuning machines and the bone nut, and the pickguard is long gone. The bridge pickup was recently rewound, but all other electronic components are factory original including the guitar’s unique stacked pot tone circuit. Set up here at folkway with 11-49 strings.
The neck has comfortably rounded feel with a medium 60’s depth and a nut width of 1-11/16”. Scale length is 24.75”.
There’s a growing consensus that Martin electrics from the 1960s are among the most undervalued vintage electrics available. We’d agree.
With 70’s fitted hardshell case
