1916 Ditson/Martin 33 Acoustic Guitar – Used

An extremely early Ditson-Martin guitar, a stand-alone order shipped to the C. H. Ditson store in NYC on May 12, 1916. Judging by Martin’s archives, this was the first Style 3 Ditson that Martin constructed, and also the first in the “medium” or Concert size (the Standard was even smaller, while the largest was the Dreadnought). Lyon & Healy in Chicago had begun decades earlier as a Western outpost for Ditson, and Ditson was supplying Martin with “Chicago-style” bridges around this time, which explains why this guitar has an inlaid bridge much like those found on higher Washburn guitar models. The engraved fingerboard inlays, also unlike Martin’s typical style, were probably also supplied by Ditson. Except for the repaired top seam separation, this rare guitar is remarkably original throughout. One exception is the rosewood headstock facing, which was replaced several years ago because an earlier owner had added Martin’s Style 45 “torch” to the head. The soundhole rosette and body binding on this guitar is essentially the same as Martin’s Style 3 ukulele, also introduced in 1916.