Martin & Coupa 1840's Transitional Viennese / Spanish Style Guitar
Some folks studying early Martin guitars make a point of presenting the guitars in chronological order to establish a sequence of events. This can be a difficult
endeavor with somewhat unsatisfying results. Once Martin introduced a new feature, it was added to his menu of available options for customers to choose from, so
not only do features show up far after one would have thought them to be obsolete, but guitars keep popping up with features that we thought to have come far later.
This guitar has some features associated with the Martin & Coupas, including the ebony pyramid tie style bridge with inset ivory saddle, the "shelf" style of
"Spanish foot", and five strut fan braces. The wide, open rosette is more reminiscent of Panormo or the guitars of Cadiz, Spain. This guitar has a Viennese
influenced ebonized neck with "Stauffer Style" head with Vienna Gears and ice cream cone heel. We see the herringbone border on the sides that are usually
found on Martin's earliest guitars from the Hudson Street days. And we are surprised by a wide marquetry top border of the style generally found on a Style 34,
after Martin's styles were established in the 1850's.
Not surprisingly this guitar shares features with some of Martin's simplest guitars, while the herringbone side trim is seen on Martin's most decorative guitars,
and the delicate back border is only seen on a handful of early Martins. The back is rosewood veneer over mahogany.
By comparison, the Spanish Martin & Coupa above looks similar from the front with it's Spanish shape, "Stauffer" head, and ebony tie bridge with inset,
but has an "earlier" three strut fan, which generally defines the era, and a later Spanish heel, while this guitar has the earlier ebonized neck with ice cream
cone heel and herringbone side trim, and a later style of marquetry.
Not surprisingly this guitar shares features with some of Martin's simplest guitars, while the herringbone side trim is seen on Martin's most decorative guitars, and the delicate back border is only seen on a handful of early Martins.
By comparison, the Spanish Martin & Coupa above looks similar from the front with it's Spanish shape, "Stauffer" head, and ebony tie bridge with inset, but has an "earlier" three strut fan, which generally defines the era, and a later Spanish heel, while this guitar has the earlier ebonized neck with ice cream cone heel and herringbone side trim, and a later style of marquetry.
Lower Body width: 11 3/8"
Upper body width: 8 5/16"
Body length: 17 1/2"
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