Old Martin Headstock Logo

[Misty44]

Originally Posted by kydave

LOL! I've got one with that dang thing on it, too. Yes - that aspect of that guitar looks cheap and I'd love to change it someday!

I recently did change it on my HD-35. The gold foil just looked too gaudy and plastic-like for my "traditional" tastes.

Removed the foil and refinished sans any logo:




Removed the raccoon eyes too!

[kydave]

Originally Posted by devellis

The new Authentics have a sort of hybrid -- gold decal without outline. I presume it's a replica of what was used in the '30s but haven't checked.

Bingo! One choice, anyway.

1934 Sillk screen logo


1934 Decal

[guitararmy]

If it's anything like the PRS gold foil signatures on the PRS headstocks, they may have a tendency to rub off with polishing....

[la palma C]

I like the more "traditional" logo a bit better, but the gold foil one never offended me at all - and let me say - I HATE bling.

That said, the gold foil logo never looked like bling to me - in my eyes it is a classy and subtle appointment.

I have to say though, the decal on the Authentics might be the best looking one.

[Misty44]

Originally Posted by guitararmy

If it's anything like the PRS gold foil signatures on the PRS headstocks, they may have a tendency to rub off with polishing....

The Martin gold foils are under a coat of lacquer and are impervious to polishing. You can dig them out with an Exacto knife, but will leave a depression and raged edges where the lacquer has been broken.

One of the periods on my HD-35 above flaked off, which gave me the motivation to remove them all. Would have left the headstock like that with the depressions, but couldn't buff out the edges of the remaining lacquer.

So like Anne Boleyn's head, off they came.

[bobdcat]

I prefer the stamp on the back of the headstock. I already know it's a Martin.



The front is clean:



The whole guitar - a Maury's Music custom 00-28VS

[Wade Hampton]

I have to say, this is something that I've lost ZERO sleep worrying about. I like all of the Martin logos equally. I would certainly never refinish a headstock in order to get rid of one I disliked.

About the only Martin logo I'm not entirely enthused about is the one on the Martin CEO-8:

Martin CEO-8

Even then, I'd probably replace the pickguard but leave the headstock logo alone. It's deliberately not a very Martin-like headstock or company logo, either one, but that's kind of the point....


whm

[chitz]

I think the foil looks cheap on $2k + guitars. Okay on economy models.

[ghostnote]

I can honestly say I've never thought about it - I have 3 Martins and I'm not sure without looking which logos I have! I'll have to check that tonight when I get home.

[drive-south]

The old decal was never a decal. It was silk screened.

[llew]

Originally Posted by Misty44

I recently did change it on my HD-35. The gold foil just looked too gaudy and plastic-like for my "traditional" tastes.

Removed the foil and refinished sans any logo:




Removed the raccoon eyes too!

Very nice!

[brencat]

The only thing I dislike more than the raised foil logo is the vertical abalone CF Martin logos of the 40 series. I would much prefer they be abalone script.

For everything else, Large Old Style script, or Script Golden Era.

[FLRon]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

I have to say, this is something that I've lost ZERO sleep worrying about. I like all of the Martin logos equally. I would certainly never refinish a headstock in order to get rid of one I disliked.

About the only Martin logo I'm not entirely enthused about is the one on the Martin CEO-8:

Martin CEO-8

Even then, I'd probably replace the pickguard but leave the headstock logo alone. It's deliberately not a very Martin-like headstock or company logo, either one, but that's kind of the point....


whm

Agree about the logo-plain ugly. But I LOVE that guitar,even if it is what it is😚

[bluetweed]

Label I had put on my Custom CEO-7 (Golden Era Large Logo)

[HHP]

Don't care much. Might have a preference for the black outline script. Only see it when the guitar is in the case anyway. If I ever order one, it will have the Torch inlay.