Talk:C. F. Martin & Company

Martin Basses
I have a C.F. Martin EB-18 bass guitar that I can't seem to find any information about! Is anyone out there familiar with this wonderful guitar? If so, then I would greatly appreciate anything you can tell me! =) Jaberwocky6669 05:25, Jan 16, 2005 (UTC)


 * Try asking on an interactive forum, such as http://www.talkbass.com/ - that's probably a better source for finding out specific information about a given bass Basswulf 12:00, 18 Jan 2005 (UTC)

Try this link http://www.harmony-central.com/Bass/Data4/Martin/EB-18-01.html By the way, I believe you are enquiring about a bass and not "this wonderful guitar". The the C.F. Martin EB model code probably refers to Electric Bass, not bass guitar!


 * I have a CF Martin EB 18 bass about 20 yr old. A great bass! Anyone know what they're worth? So Jabberwocky what do U want to know?It looks like this --Light current 23:55, 7 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Mines got: brass nut, Badass bridge, 1 off DiMarzio PU, Schaller M/C heads, thro piece solid construction (body wings are glued on to central core). One vol control, one tone control, switch for altering the pu wiring. (humbucking?). Not sure what the strings are. Sound and feels fantastic- but its very heavy, hence I dont play it now. They came out in 1979 I believe. Got mine in about 1981. Its a collectors item worth about $600!--Light current 00:11, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

I looked at those Ebay pictures. It might as well be my bass in those pics! We have the exact same bass. I got mine for x-mas about 7 years ago. It's the only bass I have since I'm not a hardcore bassist. I've been wondering how much they would go for on ebay or wherever. I also wonder if there are any famous musicians that have used the eb-18 before. I just really like this bass and am pretty lucky that I have one. True, most other players can criticize it all day long. I could go on forever. Jaberwocky6669 | &#x260E;  05:03, 8 November 2005 (UTC)


 * THe only difference is that I have grover tuning heads. What is the model number stamped on the back of yours? Mine is: 2509. Unfortunately the varnish or veneer or whatever it is has thin cracks in it because I left it overnight in a friends attic lol. It lowers its worth but I'm not looking to part with it. Jaberwocky6669 | &#x260E;  05:05, 8 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Well its not the model number thats on the back (where the 'neck' enters the 'body')- its the serial number and mines 2948 so mine probably a bit later than yours. Jus had a look at the M/C heads again, and they have C.F.Martin stamped on them, but no other indication of a maker. I thought they were Schallers originally (but they could be Grovers- I wouldn't know). Just as a matter of interest, I still have the Guarantee certificate with the model no (EB-18) and serial number printed on. That should be interesting for a collector!. BTW have you got the proper hard flight case for yours?--Light current 05:20, 8 November 2005 (UTC)

Does the inside of the case remind you of 1970's furniture? lol The inside is really soft and a weird kind of burnt orange. I'm not sure if it is originial but it seems really sturdy. It is either orginial or it was custom made because the bass fits right into it even the odd shaped lizard looking head lol.
 * Yep. Weird orange fur. Shaped exactly to the bass body with a couple compartments inside for cables etc. You got the same case as me it seems! I reckon you could drive a truck over it with the bass inside. A real hard case!--Light current 15:55, 8 November 2005 (UTC)
 * The only slight criticsm of the case is that, depending on how the M/C heads lie, there can be insufficient room to stop them touching the bottom of the headstock cutout. Just a sligt design miscalculation! In this case, the strings can be knocked out of tune. I solved this simply by putting a soft spacing pad (only a few mm) between the neck and case to lift the head slghtly.--Light current 12:15, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

I never thought to check for that! I always assumed it to be a perfect fit! My case is beggining to not fit as snugly as it once did when I close it now. =( But, it still does its job well. It isn't everyday that you meet someone else else with the same sortof rare instrument. I will try that soft pad idea. I have always wondered, what exactly does that switch do? When I switch it it seems that the tone switches from a more bright to a dull sound. I have tried to follow the wiring inside the case but I don't have any knowledge of electrical components and what they do I couldn't figure it out. I think maybe there might be some resistors or something and that they may be preventing higher frequncies from passing. It has been a long time since I have looked at it so I am just guessing now. Jaberwocky6669 | &#x260E;  14:20, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Gosh, look at what I just found! Jaberwocky6669 | &#x260E;  15:35, 12 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Yes Good site. I did come across it before but forgot to bookmaark it! any weve found it now!--Light current 15:57, 12 November 2005 (UTC)

I acquired a EB-28 from a guitarist I now jam with occasionally. I traded him for a SRV I bought new and it's a natural mahoganyburst-w-ebony fretboard,sn4082-It bluebook's for around $750-$850. The 28 is active/passive-w-9volt. In active mode the sound is HUGE-I play through two cabs.-a 2-10&a 1-18-w-a 300watt ashdown amp.Recording with this bass is a ongoing venture that I'm still working on. ADRIAN CRUTCHADRIAN CRUTCH (talk) 16:51, 15 August 2008 (UTC)

Adding basses to page
Moved from my talk.--Light current 21:34, 11 November 2005 (UTC)

Do you think it would be a good idea for us to collaborate on an article concerning these basses and possibly the electric guitars too? I have read some things on the internet and we might be able to find some books. Maybe we could even write to c.f. martin for information! If you don't have the time we can always wait until you do. Like I said I am not much of a bass player. I'm not very knowledgeable. Jaberwocky6669 | &#x260E;  14:24, 10 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Yes maybe an article on CF Martin guitars and basses would be a good idea. I dont think an article just on that particular bass would be very satisfactory. I know very little about the Martin six string guitars but we could start with the EB 18 bass. We will need some good photos. I may get time aometime to take some of my bass and upload them. Do you have any photos we could use?--Light current 18:23, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Ooo, I'm glad you checked! Sure, we'll definately add something to it! I don't have any pictures that you wouldn't lol. My bass has a couple of slight imperfections, so I propose that we use your bass for pictures. Jaberwocky6669 | &#x260E;  19:46, 10 November 2005 (UTC)


 * Whoops! Looks like we've been beaten to it!. There is an article on Martin guitars so I suggest we try to expand that article with the EB 18 bass material OK?--Light current 18:27, 10 November 2005 (UTC)

Duplicate pages
Are people aware that there are two pages entitled C.F. Martin & Company The other one is spelled  like that <--Light current 02:18, 4 September 2006 (UTC)
 * The one you referred to (C.F. Martin & Company) is a redirect to C. F. Martin & Company. See Redirect.  The content only exists on one place.  --rogerd 02:27, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

Ahh OK. Last time I looked it didnt seem to be!--Light current 02:38, 4 September 2006 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Martin.gif
Image:Martin.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.BetacommandBot 04:53, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

Richards Music Corporation
Someone with a little background knowledge might want to add info about the merge into Richards Music Corporation. There is nothing about it on Martin Guitar's timeline (there is a big hole in there, actually), but some in the E. K. Blessing Band Instrument Company‎ article and some info on bulletin boards about old instruments. Tierlieb 11:38, 27 October 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Martin.gif
Image:Martin.gif is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to ensure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 15:46, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

D-38 Martin Guitar??
My Family has a Black Martin Guitar...Stamped inside on end of neck is D-38...139883 I have researched and can not find a D-38... can anyone please help? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.19.14.40 (talk) 17:01, 15 April 2008 (UTC)
 * There is such a model, although it is discontinued. I know they were made in the 1930s but I'm not sure when they started or stopped manufacturing. The best place to get information and a free appraisal is through Elderly Instruments in Lansing, MI. -- Laser brain   (talk)  17:12, 15 April 2008 (UTC)

Why so much detail on the EB 18?
Does this one guitar model really warrant so much more coverage than the others, including as many photos as all the six-string models combined, in an article that should be about the manufacturer in general? If the EB 18 is of historical importance, maybe it should have its own article instead. But the current article already notes that it was "not all that popular" and in particular not as popular as the EB 28 - which is not otherwise mentioned in the article at all! So why does the EB 18 get a big section of its own when the EB 28 doesn't, nor does any other single model? At the moment it looks like someone just wanted an excuse to show off his or her own instrument. 216.59.226.11 (talk) 16:18, 22 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Hmm. You could be right about that. I'll have a look at it tonight. --Zanthorp (talk) 02:48, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

Writing style
Generally, this is a great looking article. Would anyone object if I made minor edits to improve the writing style? If there are no objections I will begin later today. --Zanthorp (talk) 02:51, 6 July 2009 (UTC)

My edits have gone further than I originally intended. There were such pronounced differences in writing style within the article that I suspect much of it had been plagiarized. Rewriting should help to fix that. The Company section included technical and other information that had no relevance to the company at all. Removing that and rewriting the article has shortened it somewhat. --Zanthorp (talk) 02:48, 10 July 2009 (UTC)

I think this article is very informative and well written. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Nopolski (talk • contribs) 23:00, 21 September 2011 (UTC)

Pre-1897 guitars
I have a Martin guitar from between 1867 & 1897. It has a C.F.Martin & co.stamp on the head and inside the sound hole. It has tuners that are marked PAT'D Sept 22nd,1874. Inside in several places is stampted J Bohmann. At least thats what we seem to see. It is a parlor size guitar with no serial number. X Bracing and three positing dots on the neck. How can I find the actual date of this guitar? I've run out of sites. Can anyone help?

Thanks H Canell — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.234.6.202 (talk) 21:08, 30 April 2013 (UTC)

Schrecklichkeit!!
Since the Martins are German Americans I used a German imprecation. This article reads like an advertisement. Huge quantities of unverified information. Way too much information that looks like an advertisement. Loads of dead links. I'm giving notice that I intend to gut it. If anyone can document the useful information, please do so. This situation is about eight years old and most of the people who added the undocumented info appear to have stopped editing. Tapered (talk) 10:15, 31 March 2014 (UTC)


 * Carried out the promised "gutting." The section name "Models," was appropriate. The listing of Martin "models" made the page an effectual Martin catalog. Anyone who's up to the minute on Martin guitars and has the ability to document their information, please add some interesting details. Tapered (talk) 19:38, 9 April 2014 (UTC)

You've essentially removed a list of some of the most important guitars in American history and popular music. I don't see how a list of Martin guitar models is any different from, say the discography of a band or the filmography of an actor. Every B-actor on Wiki has a filmography but the most important acoustic guitar manufacturer in history doesn't have a list of guitars they produced? This seems kind of silly. Do you require citations for discographies and filmographies, proving that these items exist? I don't think so. Please stick with topics that you know something about. Repkow (talk) 19:01, 27 July 2014 (UTC)

Neil Diamond
Is there a signature edition for Diamond ? seems there should be. Mlpearc ( open channel ) 20:34, 19 September 2016 (UTC)
 * Not that I've ever seen. Must be a custom job! -- Laser brain  (talk)  22:27, 19 September 2016 (UTC)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just modified 2 external links on C. F. Martin & Company. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20110409185945/http://www.om28.com/press/classicom.html to http://www.om28.com/press/classicom.html
 * Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20091016010544/http://www.fretbase.com/blog/2009/10/martin-guitar-played-by-elvis-in-vegas-sold-at-auction/ to http://www.fretbase.com/blog/2009/10/martin-guitar-played-by-elvis-in-vegas-sold-at-auction/

When you have finished reviewing my changes, you may follow the instructions on the template below to fix any issues with the URLs.

Cheers.— InternetArchiveBot  (Report bug) 06:25, 7 December 2017 (UTC)

Add Ambassador’s Page?
Let people know about the artists that officially endorse Martin Guitar? A lot of basic info can be found on Martin’s own website. SmartAsh29 (talk) 08:55, 17 January 2023 (UTC)

Better company history
More info on different CEO eras and their accomplishments SmartAsh29 (talk) 08:56, 17 January 2023 (UTC)