Martin 2-21 Parlor 1880s

We don't usually shy away from a vintage guitar here at The Fellowship of Acoustics, but in the case of this 19th-century Martin, we have to take a moment to think twice: what a fascinating guitar!

Style 21 originated in the 1850s, and Size 2 was a popular model throughout the rest of the 19th century. By today's standards, Martin built very small guitars in the 19th century, but these sizes were preferred by guitarists at the time. Size 2 was just below the standard size of Size 1 and was aimed at amateurs and players of a smaller build.

Guitars like this are sometimes difficult to date due to the lack of serial numbers, but Martin stamped their guitars on the backstrip, heel block, and back of the headstock. The first generation was stamped "C.F. Martin New York," which was changed to "C.F. Martin & Co. New York" in 1867 after Christian Frederick Martin brought his son and nephew into the business. This stamp was used until 1898, when Martin permanently moved its distribution to Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

To place this guitar more precisely in a given time period, we need to look at the details. In 1890, Martin changed the five-line rosette to herringbone, and the body was given tortoiseshell binding. Furthermore, the date 1884 is inscribed on both the top and back; this could be the year of manufacture, or another significant date for one of the guitar's first owners. It's certainly a plausible date given the aforementioned facts, allowing us to assume this guitar was built in the 1880s.

One thing that is absolutely certain is that it is approximately 145 years old and that it hasn't come through the past century entirely unscathed. The bridge has been replaced, as have the saddle, bridge pins, and nut, and a refret has also been performed at some point. Inside the soundboard, we can see that several cracks in the top have been repaired with glued-in cleats, the bridge plate has been repaired, and one of the braces has been reglued. Finally, on the back of the headstock, a repair to the headstock joint can be found.

This 2-21 Parlor is a true collector's item that would also look great in a museum as a piece of 19th-century Martin history. To top it all off, the guitar comes in its original wooden coffin case, a fitting way to store and transport this magnificent guitar!