1920 Martin 3M Ukulele
No serial number. This first incarnation of Martin's Style 3M ukulele was produced between 1918 and 1922, but relative to the lower priced styles, very few were built. It is a fancy instrument, especially by Martin standards, and features multi-layered bindings and rosette, ivoroid top and headstock ornaments, and a bookmatched rosewood fingerboard with celluloid center lines and abalone diamond inlays.
Mahogany body and neck, ebony friction pegs, ivory saddle and ivory and ebony laminate nut. Soprano body measures 6-1/4" wide across the lower bout, and has a 13.6" scale neck, and a nut that's just shy of 1-3/8" in width.
The instrument came to Folkway from the family of the original owner. It is 100% original, but does show impressions left on the headstock face from the later tuning machines we removed. We found the original ebony pegs in the case and reinstalled them. One short top crack and loose back brace were cleanly repaired in our shop, and we glued two tiny hairline cracks for good measure. Back and sides are crack-free. Original set up is low and the instrument plays easily.
It's a gorgeous and fine sounding early Martin ukulele, and one of the rarest Martin models.
With original hardshell case
Mahogany body and neck, ebony friction pegs, ivory saddle and ivory and ebony laminate nut. Soprano body measures 6-1/4" wide across the lower bout, and has a 13.6" scale neck, and a nut that's just shy of 1-3/8" in width.
The instrument came to Folkway from the family of the original owner. It is 100% original, but does show impressions left on the headstock face from the later tuning machines we removed. We found the original ebony pegs in the case and reinstalled them. One short top crack and loose back brace were cleanly repaired in our shop, and we glued two tiny hairline cracks for good measure. Back and sides are crack-free. Original set up is low and the instrument plays easily.
It's a gorgeous and fine sounding early Martin ukulele, and one of the rarest Martin models.
With original hardshell case