Headstock Joints and Volutes on C. F. Martin Guitars
Early C. F. Martin guitars were built with a three piece black
"ebonized" neck, with a separate headstock, neck, and heel, or a
two piece cedar neck with a headstock joined to the one piece neck and
heel. The head and neck were usually joined with a visible
"volute" protruding from the back of the headstock joint.
After Martin started building with a one piece mahogany neck, the
volute remained on Styles 28 and higher, perhaps as a vestigal
decorative element, perhaps to strengthen the transition from headstock
to neck.
Stauffer c. 1820
Martin & Coupa Koa
Martin & Coupa Spanish
1840's Ivory Fingerboard Spanish Martin
The earliest necks with slotted headstocks were ebonized, or painted
black, and had "ice cream" style heels.
![](file:///Users/rcorwin/Documents/desktop/*NEW%20WEB%20PAGES/headstocks.html/120402Martin1893_2.517_016.jpg)
1840's Spanish Style Martin
![](91117Martin1840_Spanish_057s.jpg)
1896 Martin 0-42
![](70320Martin0-42022s.jpg)
1870's Martin 2 1/2 - 26
![](Martin1870_2.526_020.jpg)
1885 Martin 0-34
![](Martin1885_034_024s.jpg)
1894 Martin 0-42
![](Martin1894_042_011.jpg)
1896 Martin 4-42
![](Martin1896_2.542_025.jpg)
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