Martin R-17
Description
This rare archtop model features an all-mahogany body and a light yet warm, mature tone.
It has been beautifully refinished, newly refretted, the neck reset, and the internal bracing re-glued, restoring it to nearly its original condition.
The Martin archtop series was produced from 1931 to 1942.
The R-17 was produced in 1934 as a budget model in the series, with only 940 made over eight years.
Although it is a full archtop acoustic, it features a lustrous sound different from that of Gibson or Epiphone.
The body size is the same as the 00, with a compact design.
The top, sides, and back are mahogany, with a rosewood fingerboard and a rosewood adjustable bridge.
The tuning machines are original Grover open-back, and although there is some torque unevenness, tuning is fine.
The pickguard, holder, and tailpiece have been replaced, but the feel is still the same and there is no sense of incongruity.
The nut has been replaced with an ebony nut and newly refretted, and the neck is set straight for easy playability.
It has been repainted with a matte satin finish and is in excellent condition.
It has a regular grip with a nut width of approximately 43.5mm, and the higher you go, the thicker the triangular strings become.
The string height at the 12th fret is 2.0mm for the 6th string and 1.5mm for the 1st string, which is adjusted for excellent playability.
Because the string height is low, the bass feels a little lacking in volume, but with the adjustable bridge, raising it a little should give it a more powerful feel.
The tone is light and airy, yet simple and warm, typical of mahogany, and the delicate, lustrous high notes have a beautiful resonance that is unique to pre-warmed Martins.
It is significantly smaller than a full-size acoustic, so it isn't as loud or powerful, but the sound has an exquisite balance that is very appealing.
It's great for archtop-style playing, like mellow blues, cutting, and slide, but it also sounds great for fingerstyle solos.
It's an interesting instrument with a unique flavor for fingerpicking country blues.
Even just light strumming will give you a taste of this instrument.
Martin archtops are produced in small quantities, making them difficult to obtain.
Perhaps because it wasn't a commercially successful model at the time, the market price is surprisingly low for a pre-war Martin, making it a bargain.
Comes with a general-purpose sash-wrapped hard case.
Since it's not a custom-sized case, we recommend securing it with a cloth or towel to prevent it from moving when carrying it.
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Side Material: Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany
Accessories: Hard Case
It has been beautifully refinished, newly refretted, the neck reset, and the internal bracing re-glued, restoring it to nearly its original condition.
The Martin archtop series was produced from 1931 to 1942.
The R-17 was produced in 1934 as a budget model in the series, with only 940 made over eight years.
Although it is a full archtop acoustic, it features a lustrous sound different from that of Gibson or Epiphone.
The body size is the same as the 00, with a compact design.
The top, sides, and back are mahogany, with a rosewood fingerboard and a rosewood adjustable bridge.
The tuning machines are original Grover open-back, and although there is some torque unevenness, tuning is fine.
The pickguard, holder, and tailpiece have been replaced, but the feel is still the same and there is no sense of incongruity.
The nut has been replaced with an ebony nut and newly refretted, and the neck is set straight for easy playability.
It has been repainted with a matte satin finish and is in excellent condition.
It has a regular grip with a nut width of approximately 43.5mm, and the higher you go, the thicker the triangular strings become.
The string height at the 12th fret is 2.0mm for the 6th string and 1.5mm for the 1st string, which is adjusted for excellent playability.
Because the string height is low, the bass feels a little lacking in volume, but with the adjustable bridge, raising it a little should give it a more powerful feel.
The tone is light and airy, yet simple and warm, typical of mahogany, and the delicate, lustrous high notes have a beautiful resonance that is unique to pre-warmed Martins.
It is significantly smaller than a full-size acoustic, so it isn't as loud or powerful, but the sound has an exquisite balance that is very appealing.
It's great for archtop-style playing, like mellow blues, cutting, and slide, but it also sounds great for fingerstyle solos.
It's an interesting instrument with a unique flavor for fingerpicking country blues.
Even just light strumming will give you a taste of this instrument.
Martin archtops are produced in small quantities, making them difficult to obtain.
Perhaps because it wasn't a commercially successful model at the time, the market price is surprisingly low for a pre-war Martin, making it a bargain.
Comes with a general-purpose sash-wrapped hard case.
Since it's not a custom-sized case, we recommend securing it with a cloth or towel to prevent it from moving when carrying it.
Year of Manufacture: 1940
Side Material: Mahogany
Back Material: Mahogany
Accessories: Hard Case