Despite their esteemed reputation for guitars, C.F. Martin & Co. also built mandolins for nearly 100 years. Their early bowl-back designs were a perfect fit for classical mandolin players in the late 19th Century, but as the mandolin evolved in the early 20th Century, Martin mandolins never acheived great recognition from collectors or musicians. That was largely because most of Martin's mandolin designs—with flat backs, bent tops, and oval sound holes—were heavily influenced by guitar, and they simply didn't capture the same look or feel of other brands.
Nevertheless, Martin introduced three models in the mid-'30s that featured carved Spruce tops, carved Maple backs, and traditional mandolin F-holes. These rare instruments may be the best-sounding Martin mandolins, and their feel and design will certainly be the most familiar to modern mandolin players. Of the three carved top and back models, the lower-priced 2-15 was the only one produced in the post-war era, and Martin continued to offer this model in limited qualities until 1964.
This 1948 Martin 2-15 is a sweet-sounding mandolin with warm, balanced tone. It doesn't have the cut and treble for hard-hitting bluegrass, but for folk music, swing, gypsy jazz, or mellow songwriting, this Martin mandolin has a lot to offer. It has been beautifully preserved over the years, and plays with low, inviting action. The tuning machines have been replaced with brand new Golden Age Restoration machines from Stewart Macdonald. In order to fit the peghead, they're installed backwards, and they hold tune perfectly. There is considerable wear where the bridges meet the top, but otherwise the body is clean cosmetically. The original pickguard and original tailpiece are both in excellent condition. The peghead has some scratches across the middle, and the faded "C.F. Martin & Co." decal is a such a cool detail on an 8-string mandolin headstock.
This 1948 Martin 2-15 includes a heavy-duty road case. In many ways, it defies many assumptions we've made about Martin mandolins. For any Martin collector or enthusiast, this rare instrument will be a welcomed addition to the stable, but its appeal extends much further. This is a proper mandolin sure to inspire many years of songs and stories.
