The Martin Carl Fisher Model 0-18T Tenor Guitar
Designed for the Carl Fisher Stores
This design, requested by the Carl Fisher Stores, was the first successful Martin guitar with 14 frets clear of the body, leading to the design of the OM, or Orchestra Model
1930 Martin Carl Fisher Model, and 1930 Martin 0-18T
As the hugely popular banjo was beginning to wane, players were looking for a substitute, so manufacturers were wanting to supply a guitar with the longer 4 string neck banjo players were accustomed to, which allowed easier access to the high frets.
The first attempt to create a neck with 14 frets clear of the body, in 1929, resulted in an elongated body and high bridge, a design that was not entirely successful due to the less than sonically ideal bridge placement. A month after the Carl Fisher designation was dropped, in May, 1930, the current variation, with a shorter and flatter upper bout, was introduced.
1928 Martin 2-18TL, 1930 Martin Carl Fisher Model, and 1930 Martin 0-18T
Three 14 fret Martin tenor guitars, the first with high bridge placement, the second with the new body shape suggested by Carl Fisher, and the third a production model 0-18T with wider upper bout.
The Martin tenor guitar first appeared with a 12 fret shaped size 5 body in 1927.
In 1929 the size 0 tenor appeared in several trim levels. The Plectrum Guitar appeared in 1930, mostly as a 000-18.
As the hugely popular banjo was beginning to wane, players were looking for a substitute, so manufacturers were wanting to supply a guitar with the longer 4 string neck banjo players were accustomed to, which allowed easier access to the higher frets.
Martin's first attempt to build a guitar with 14 frets clear of the body, to provide greater access to the upper frets, was achieved by attaching the neck of the Martin tenor guitar at the 14th fret, and moving the bridge upwards to compensate. This bridge placement, however, proved less than ideal.
By late 1929, the Carl Fisher stores suggested an alternative, special ordering a tenor guitar called the Carl Fisher Model, with a shortened upper bout with14 frets clear.
1930 Martin Carl Fisher Model with 1930 Martin O-18T
By early 1930, the Carl Fisher Model had been made available to Martins other customers, and the Fisher Model name was dropped. The 0-18 that followed had a flatter and wider upper bout. By 1931, the straight bridge of the 0-18T was replaced by a belly bridge.
Long neck 14 fret Martin 1928 2-18TL, 1930 Martin Carl Fisher Model, 1930 0-18T with wider and less round upper bout, and 1931 Martin 0-18T with belly bridge.
Soon after the Carl Fisher Model was developed, Perry Bechtel of the Cable Piano Company, upon visiting the Martin factory and seeing the Carl Fisher Model, requested a fourteen fret clear six string guitar, and the Orchestra Model was born. The OM-28 was soon followed by theOM-18 and the OM-18P Plectrum Guitar appeared in 1930.
In 1931 Martin added a handful of plectrum guitars in the C-1 and C-2 roundhole archtop styles. By the end of 1931, Martin had built it's last Plectrum Guitar.
The Carl Fisher Model tenor guitar was followed by the Orchestra Model, a six string guitar built for the Cable Music Company, which borrowed the design concept of the altered body shape and 14 fret neck.
The earliest OM guitar also had a slightly more rounded upper bout, but the difference is not nearly as pronounced.
The banjo player's preference for a longer 4 string neck also led to the introduction of the long necked four string plectrum guitar.
By 1931, the straight bridge was replaced by a "belly" bridge.
Early 14 fret clear body OM-28, OM-18P plectrum guitar, and 0-18T tenor guitar.
The Carl Fisher Model did not contain a label, stamp, or other specific designation for the Carl Fisher Stores, and appears to have been made available to other Martin dealers relatively soon after introduction, while still referred to by Martin as the Carl Fisher Model.
Martin 1929 0-18 Special Tenor Carl Fisher Model Guitar
Serial number 40501
Stamped November 27, 1929
Martin 1930 0-18 Special Tenor Carl Fisher Model Guitar
serial number 41046
vintagemartin.com
To See Robert Corwin's Classic Photography of Folk and Roots Musicians, visit:
For Information on Photography for
Exhibition, Publication, CD's, Promotion, Web Pages, Tour Books,
to Purchase Photographic Prints, or
If You Have Questions or Suggestions About This Web Site or Vintage Martin Guitars:
e-mail: Robert Corwinentire site copyright ©1998 through 2012 Robert Corwin/Photo-Arts. All rights reserved.