More to Fret About
Frets "Clear to the Neck"
Many of the major developments seen on Martin guitars did not originate with Martin, but were done at the request of Martin's clients, as with the 14 fret clear-to-the-body neck first seen on the Carl Fisher Model tenor guitar and the Orchestra Model suggested by Perry Bechtel.
1926 Martin 0-28 with 12 fret clear-to-the-body neck.
1930 Martin 0M-28 with with a body shape adapted so the neck joins the body at the 14th fret, allowing clear access to more frets.
The earliest version of the 14 fret clear-to-the-body neck actually appeared on a tenor guitar produced for the Carl Fisher Company before the six string and plectrum Orchestra Models were made for the Cable Piano Company at the request of Perry Bechtel.
1931 Martin 0-18T
Total Number of Frets
Most of the earliest Martin guitars, from the 1840's to the 1890's had necks with a total of 18 frets.
1840's Martin & Coupa Spanish Guitar with 18 frets.
1840's Martin & Coupa Koa Wood Body Guitar with 18 frets.
1840's Martin Spanish Style Guitar with 18 frets.
1850's Martin Stauffer Headstock Ivory Fingerboard Guitar with 18 frets.
1894 Martin 0-42 with18 frets.
1896 Martin 2-42 with 18 frets.
1897 Martin 1-21 with 18 frets.
1907 Martin 1-28 Guitar with 18 frets
Martin, however, made some of their earliest guitars with 19 frets, such as this example made by C.F. Martin Sr. in approximately 1837.
1830's C.F. Martin Sr. "Thumbprint Inlay" "Hudson Street" Guitar with 19 frets.
1840's Martin early X-braced Spanish Style 1-28 guitar with 19 frets.
Undated Martin Style 0-34 with unique pearl rosette and 19 frets.
By the early 20th century, most Martins were built with 19 frets.
1907 Martin 0-30 with 19 frets.
1916 C.F. Martin/Southern California Model 1400 with 19 frets.
1916 Ditson Style 22 with 19 frets.
According to the new version of Longworth's "Martin Guitars", recenlty revised by Johnston and Boak, a 20 fret neck was said to be requested by the guitar teacher William Foden, and is seen here on this 1913 "Foden Special" Style E, one of 9 made in this style.
"Mr. Foden was responsible for suggesting the 20 fret fingerboard (instead of 19 frets) to Martin, a feature that quickly became standard on most models."
1913 Martin "Foden Special" Style E
This special order Martin Style 42, a prototype for Martin's Style 45, however, was built with a 20 fret neck in 1902.
1902 Martin 00-42S
...even though this later 1905 Martin 00-42S was built with 19 frets, as were most Martins until the appearance of the first Foden Special in 1912.
1917 Martin 0-30 with 20 frets.
After most Martins were still built with 19 frets, the inexpensive wartime Style 17 was still built with 18 frets.
C.F. Martin 1930 2-17 with 18 frets
Frets "Clear to the Neck"
Many of the major developments seen on Martin guitars did not originate with Martin, but were done at the request of Martin's clients, as with the 14 fret clear-to-the-body neck first seen on the Carl Fisher Model tenor guitar and the Orchestra Model suggested by Perry Bechtel.
1926 Martin 0-28 with 12 fret clear-to-the-body neck.
1930 Martin 0M-28 with with a body shape adapted so the neck joins the body at the 14th fret, allowing clear access to more frets.
The earliest version of the 14 fret clear-to-the-body neck actually appeared on a tenor guitar produced for the Carl Fisher Company before the six string and plectrum Orchestra Models were made for the Cable Piano Company at the request of Perry Bechtel.
1931 Martin 0-18T
Total Number of Frets
Most of the earliest Martin guitars, from the 1840's to the 1890's had necks with a total of 18 frets.
1840's Martin & Coupa Spanish Guitar with 18 frets.
1840's Martin & Coupa Koa Wood Body Guitar with 18 frets.
1840's Martin Spanish Style Guitar with 18 frets.
1850's Martin Stauffer Headstock Ivory Fingerboard Guitar with 18 frets.
1894 Martin 0-42 with18 frets.
1896 Martin 2-42 with 18 frets.
1897 Martin 1-21 with 18 frets.
1907 Martin 1-28 Guitar with 18 frets
Martin, however, made some of their earliest guitars with 19 frets, such as this example made by C.F. Martin Sr. in approximately 1837.
1830's C.F. Martin Sr. "Thumbprint Inlay" "Hudson Street" Guitar with 19 frets.
1840's Martin early X-braced Spanish Style 1-28 guitar with 19 frets.
Undated Martin Style 0-34 with unique pearl rosette and 19 frets.
By the early 20th century, most Martins were built with 19 frets.
1907 Martin 0-30 with 19 frets.
1916 C.F. Martin/Southern California Model 1400 with 19 frets.
1916 Ditson Style 22 with 19 frets.
According to the new version of Longworth's "Martin Guitars", recenlty revised by Johnston and Boak, a 20 fret neck was said to be requested by the guitar teacher William Foden, and is seen here on this 1913 "Foden Special" Style E, one of 9 made in this style.
"Mr. Foden was responsible for suggesting the 20 fret fingerboard (instead of 19 frets) to Martin, a feature that quickly became standard on most models."
1913 Martin "Foden Special" Style E
This special order Martin Style 42, a prototype for Martin's Style 45, however, was built with a 20 fret neck in 1902.
1902 Martin 00-42S
...even though this later 1905 Martin 00-42S was built with 19 frets, as were most Martins until the appearance of the first Foden Special in 1912.
1917 Martin 0-30 with 20 frets.
After most Martins were still built with 19 frets, the inexpensive wartime Style 17 was still built with 18 frets.
C.F. Martin 1930 2-17 with 18 frets
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