Vintage Martin ukuleles
Martin 0m, 1m, 2m, 3m, 0k, 1k, 2k, 3k, 5k Ukuleles were in highest production from 1916 to the 1930's, though still manufactured in quantity until 1965. Production quantities during some periods were as great as Martin guitars. Martin ukes are considered to be the best for craftsmenship and sound. The Koa wood models are more collectible than mahogany models. The fancier style 5 models are worth more than plainer styles 0 to 3. All sizes are collectible.
The first Martin ukes, built in 1916, have serial numbers ranging from one to less than 200. Ukes made after 1916 do not have serial numbers and must be dated by specification changes. For example, in 1962 Martin added "made in usa" to the inside stamp.
Ukes have the Martin stamp on the back of the peg-head until 1935. Peg-head decals do not appear in catalog photos till after WWII.
Total Body Body Scale Style Length Length Width Length Soprano (std) 21" 9 7/16" 6 3/8" 13 5/8" Concert 23 1/4" 11" 7 5/8" 14 3/4" Tenor 26 1/4" 12 1/16" 8 15/16" 17" Baritone 30 11/16" 14" 10" 20 1/8"
Martin ukuleles produced in greatest numbers in the smallest soprano size, but concert and tenor sizes were available circa 1922. Concert and tenor models were available in all the following styles, with the exception of Style 0, which was produced only as a soprano. Custom order ukuleles, while rare, were available upon request, and may have combined features from various styles.
- Martin Style 0 Uke specs:
The most basic of Martin ukes. Mahogany body with no body binding and nothing fancy. Discontinued in the 1970s.- Introduced in 1922.
- Mahogany body.
- No body binding.
- 12 fret rosewood fingerboard with bar frets.
- C.F.Martin & Co. on back of head-stock.
- Small dot inlays.
- Rosewood friction pegs.
- 1927: Ebony nut and nickel plated pegs
- 1932: Decal logo on front of head-stock
- 1934: T frets
- 1970s: discontinued. Recently the S-O (made in Mexico) has been introduced.
Introduced in 1918, the first Martin uke model made. Discontinued in 1965.- Introduced in 1918,
- First 200 or so ukes serial numbered, thereafter without.
- Mahogany body.
- Rosewood outer body binding with inner black/white.
- 12 fret rosewood fingerboard with bar frets.
- Earliest examples with boxwood bridge saddle and nut.
- C.F.Martin & Co. on back of head-stock.
- Small dot inlays.
- Rosewood friction pegs.
- 1920: Koa wood 1K available
- 1927: Patent pegs
- 1932: Decal logo on front of head-stock
- 1934: T frets, dark plastic binding
- 1942: Style 1K last listed
- 1965: Style 1 last listed and discontinued.
Martin style 2 uke model made first in 1918, discontinued in 1965.- Introduced in 1918.
- Mahogany body.
- Triple bound top binding with ivorioid outer binding.
- Single bound back.
- 12 fret rosewood fingerboard with bar frets.
- C.F.Martin & Co. on back of head-stock.
- Small dot inlays.
- 1920: Koa wood 2K available
- 1923: Nickel patent pegs
- 1932: Decal logo on front of headstock
- 1933: Style 2K last listed
- 1934: T frets
- 1965: Style 2 last listed
Martin style 3 uke model made first in 1918, discontinued in the 1970s.- Introduced in 1918.
- Mahogany body.
- 7 layer top binding.
- 3 layer back binding.
- 5 layer sound-hole ring.
- Celluloid ornament on top, behind bridge (known as the "parend").
- 17 fret ebony fingerboard extents to the sound-hole.
- Bar frets.
- Small pearl paired-diamond inlays at fret 5, 7, 9.
- 3 lines inlaid down center of fingerboard.
- Nut of 3 ply plastic.
- C.F.Martin & Co. on back of headstock.
- Kite-shaped celluloid peg-head ornament.
- Friction pegs.
- 1920: Koa wood 3K available
- 1923: No peg-head ornament, nickel plated pegs:
- 1930: One piece ivory nut
- 1932: Decal logo on front of head-stock
- 1934: T frets
- 1940: No celluloid top ornament (pared)
- 1940: Dot inlays replace pearl diamond inlays and inlaid lines
- 1941: last Style 3K
Though discontinued in 1942, the Style 5 has been reintroduced recently.- Introduced in 1922.
- Koa body.
- Ivoroid bound top and back with abalone trim.
- Abalone pearl and black/white wood around sound-hole.
- Ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard.
- 17 fret ebony fingerboard extents to the sound-hole.
- Bar frets.
- Varied snowflake pearl inlays.
- Koa peghead veneer with pearl-inlaid flowerpot.
- Patent pegs.
- 1934: T frets
- 1940: Style 5 mahogany body (same trim as 5K) introduced.
- 1940: Style 5K discontinued
- 1942: Style 5 mahogany body discontinued.
- Note: It has been alleged that Martin used Abalone additionally on the SIDES of style 5k ukes during 1926 and 1927. No such uke has yet been seen.
