Brand: Martin
Instrument Categories: SOLD, Ukuleles
The Martin Style 1 Soprano ukulele first appeared in 1917 and was built into the 1960’s, and has now been replaced by the Martin S1 ukulele. In the later part of the 1900’s and into the 1920’s and 1930’s, the ukulele and Hawaiian music (including steel guitar) were very popular, and Martin wanted part of the market. Though there were some prototypes built before WW1, Martin’s designs were not finalized until 1917 and the introduction of the Style 1 and Style 2; the Style 3 appeared in 1924.
Martin produced a standardized ukulele built with either figured Hawaiian Koa or more traditional and readily available Mahogany. The Martin models rather dominated the Ukulele market and have been very influential.
The bodies – top, back and sides – and necks were Koa or Mahogany, with Rosewood for the fingerboard, meaning Brazilian Rosewood for many of the examples. Martin officially stopped using Brazilian around 1967, though some appeared in various places (such as the center section of the D-35’s 3 piece back) as late as 1972.
Here we have an all-original example of the Martin Style 1 soprano ukulele, built during the 1950s at the Martin plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Many of these instruments do not have serial numbers, so it can be difficult to date them accurately. It is built with solid Mahogany for the top, back, sides, neck and bridge, with Brazilian rosewood for the fingerboard. The top and back are bound with a single layer of faux-tortoise plastic, and the top gets a layer of black/white/black purfling inside this.
The finish is a clear gloss nitrocellulose lacquer and is in good condition, with some wear as expected on an instrument well over 60 years old!
Overall, this instrument is in good shape and good working order. It has a warm, rich sound and comes with its original fibre (cardboard) case.
- Model: Style 1 Soprano Ukulele
- Year: 1952 | Approximate year
- Finish Natural Gloss
- Class: Vintage
- Serial Number: N/A
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Good
- Date Posted: 06/06/2019
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Required CITES documentation
- Including original Soft case
- Instrument Weight: .748lbs .34kg
- Scale Length: 13.614in 345.8mm
- Nut Width: 1.41in 36mm
