Want To Buy: Martin OVAL SOUNDHOLE HUNT/NEW PICS (I now have 12)/Need J-21MC/Bring On All Ovals!

Robbypad · #1 03-17-2021, 06:10 PM

I am on a Martin oval sound hole guitar hunt. I have 10 of the 11 production models with two of same model with different top finish (burst and natural) plus a one of a kind, made for 2008 NAMM Baritone Martin "Matt Artinger" Baritone

There is one remaining production Martin oval for me to find in order to complete the set of 11 production models, the J-21MC.

NEED TO FIND:
1) J-21MC
2) Any cool custom ovals
3) Production models that are nicer than mine. (tough as some of mine are like new, but send them all my way. I've made one upgraded thus far!)

I acquired these 9 ovals in a 42 day period since buying my first oval on February 26, 2021:

1) DC-28 (dread cutaway with oval sound hole), 1983, EIR/Sitka
2) JC-40 (jumbo cutaway with oval sound hole), 1992, EIR/Sitka
3) MC-28 (think 0000 cutaway with oval sound hole), 1990, EIR/Sitka
4) OMC-28 (OM cutaway with oval sound hole....only made in 1990
5) 0000-18 Custom (0000 cutaway with oval sound hole; 1 of 2 bursts and 1 of 8 of this Special Edition oval hole, sinker mahogany run in 2018
6) M2C-28 1988 Guitar of mo. 2 cutaways with oval sound hole. Only 22 made
7) MC-38 Steve Howe Special Edition (1 of 40)
8) 000c-16 (000 size cutaway with oval sound hole in mahogany)
9) MC-68 (size 0000 cutaway, fancy, EIR and Maple versions were built)

It took about a year but found #10, a superb MC-37K, on Feb 24, 2022.
10) MC-37K (Koa back and sides, spruce top)

October 2022 Oval Finds: TWO NEW OVALS
11) 0000-18 Custom (0000 cutaway with oval sound hole; 1 of 6 natural spruce tops and 1 of 8 of this Special Edition oval hole, sinker mahogany run in 2018
12) Custom one of a kind made for 2008 NAMM Baritone with SLANTED OVAL. ONLY ONE MADE!

Thanks,

Robbypad

Martin oval sound hole guitars, 11 production models (13 total models) & 4,238 total oval sound hole guitars:

MODEL # BUILT
1. DC-28 423
2. J-21MC 56 (missing this production model)
3. JC-40 951
4. MC-28 1,116
5. MC-37K 41
6. MC-38 SH 40 (SH=Steve Howe)
7. MC-45 1 (made for Chris Martin IV); not attainable
8. MC-68 217
9. OMC-28 76
10. OMC 12-38 1 (non production special order)
11. 000c-16 1,286
12. 0000-18 Custom 8 (6 natural, 2 burst finish)
13. M2C-28 22
14. Baritone 1 (made only 1 for 2008 NAMM/sold to dealer who sold it to me 14 years later)
15. 540B 1 (custom ordered 5 string acoustic oval bass)

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 Top Left to Right: MC-28, MC-38 Steve Howe, OMC-28 Bottom Left to Right: M2C-28, JC-40, DC-28, 000c-16, 0000-18 custom burst top, MC-37K, 0000-18 custom natural top, Martin "Artinger" 2008 NAMM Baritone, MC-68, D.R. Auten Mando-Guitar

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (8) Top Left to Right: MC-28, MC-38 Steve Howe, OMC-28 Bottom Left to Right: M2C-28, JC-40, DC-28, 000c-16, 0000-18 custom burst top, MC-37K, 0000-18 custom natural top, Martin "Artinger" 2008 NAMM Baritone, MC-68, D.R. Auten Mando-Guitar

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (2) Left to Right: MC-28, MC-38 Steve Howe, OMC-28

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (2) Left to Right: DC-28, 0000-18 custom burst, 0000-18 custom natural

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (2) Left to Right: JC-40, Artinger Baritone, MC-37K

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (2) Left to Right: 000-16c, MC-68, M2C-28

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (4) Left to Right: M2C-28, JC-40, DC-28, 000c-16, 0000-18 custom burst top

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (10) Left to Right: M2C-28, JC-40, DC-28, 000c-16, 0000-18 custom burst top

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (5) Left to Right: DC-28, 000c-16, 0000-18 custom burst top, MC-37K, 0000-18 custom natural top, Martin "Artinger" 2008 NAMM Baritone, MC-68

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (11) Left to Right: 000c-16, 0000-18 custom burst top, MC-37K, 0000-18 custom natural top, Martin "Artinger" 2008 NAMM Baritone, MC-68

12 Ovals, Nov 4, 2022 (6) Not a Martin oval, but just got this awesome commission, a 12 String Mandolin- Guitar.....sounds like a mandolin, plays like a guitar, 19" scale, by Don "D.R." Auten. D.R. was one of first 5 Taylor employees and influenced the evolution of the thin profile Taylor neck, invented the first fine-tuning, locking system tremelo unit before the Floyd Rose Tremelo, worked for Taylor in 3 different decades and did custom design for Gibson in Nashville. He is also a phenomenal guitar player, luthier, and senior designer on military, industrial, commercial, aviation, transportation and medical products in the fields of civil, mechanical, electronics and computer engineering. D.R. is a 6th degree black belt martial artist. This mando-guitar is WAY COOL. I have one of first 3 and another AGF member, and good friend, has one of them too. Another friend of mine as the other. If interested, contact me and I'll hook you up with D.R.

hrtfxr · #2 03-17-2021, 06:48 PM

So, you don't need a DC-28?

UncleJesse · #3 03-17-2021, 07:08 PM

Chris Martin sold his one-of-a-kind 0000?

Robbypad · #4 03-17-2021, 07:34 PM

The DC-28 is one of the four I acquired in the past 10 days. The 3 I need are listed at top and the four I have are below that.

Chris Martin will not sell his MC-45 brw. He loves it.

Thanks for looking!

Robbypad

KenL · #5 03-18-2021, 09:43 AM

That's a very cool collection you're putting together. You'll have to post a "team photo" once you get them all in the same room.

richrangel · #6 03-18-2021, 03:22 PM

You are missing MC-38SH Steve Howe 2009.

Robbypad · #7 03-18-2021, 06:06 PM

KenL:
Thanks for the kind words. I will post a photo once I accumulate the set. I may do one with the four I currently have. I have 5 Martins on one wall (including my D-28) and need to move my 1898 0-18 custom to this home from the other home. If I am lucky enough to find the other 3, the wall won't the 7 as it's a short wall stacked 3 over 3.

Rich Angel: You are absolutely correct and thanks for mentioning the 2009 Steve Howe MC-38. It was a special edition signature model that appeared at Summer NAMM in 2009. What makes it distinctive is the slotted headstock. I do like this one but kind of consider it a "reissue" and I'm not particular to guitars with artist's names on them. That being said, I'll keep an eye out for one as they probably didn't make many........it would be a nice addition to the original ovals.

Also, Rich and oval fans.......check out this one, a 1980 (PRE PRODUCTION OVALS) MC-38 prototype #236 written inside/no stamp. It was an R & D build. I found it on G Base. I'd love to have this one, for sure, but it was as SOLD guitar:
https://www.gbase.com/gear/c-f-marti...rototype-1980-

Keep the oval comments, suggestions and love coming!

richrangel · #8 03-21-2021, 04:36 PM

I own a Martin MC-38 SH.
Besides the beautiful slot head with Ying Yang symbol the model also is distinguished by the upgrade top of Carpathian spruce.

Robbypad · #9 03-24-2021, 09:00 AM

I am on a Martin oval sound hole hunt.

Martin Oval Sound Hole Guitars I'm Wanting to Buy:

1) MC-37K (size 0000 cutaway in KOA with oval sound hole)
2) MC-68 (size 0000 cutaway, fancy, EIR and Maple versions were built)
3) 000c-16 (000 size cutaway with oval sound hole in mahogany)
4) M2C-28 (double cutaway 1988)
5) MC-38 Steve Howe

If you have one or more of these guitars or know of a friend or someone that does, please let them know there is a potential buyer for their instrument, should they be interested in selling it.

I am NOT seeking any of the prototypes. Thanks to those that raised those up the flagpole for me.

I've acquired these 5 in the past couple weeks:

1) DC-28 (dread cutaway with oval sound hole), 1983, EIR/Sitka
2) JC-40 (jumbo cutaway with oval sound hole), 1992, EIR/Sitka
3) MC-28 (think 0000 cutaway with oval sound hole), 1990, EIR/Sitka
4) OMC-28 (OM cutaway with oval sound hole....only made in 1990
5) 0000-18 Custom (0000 cutaway with oval sound hole; 1 of 2 bursts and 1 of 8 of this Special Edition oval hole, sinker mahogany run in 2018

Thanks,

Robbypad

UKPhil · #10 03-24-2021, 02:09 PM

This one has been for sale for probably 18 months or so now here in the UK.

https://www.frailers.com/acoustic-gu...ic-guitar.html

Eric Jones · #11 03-24-2021, 04:04 PM

I for one think this is really cool. I’ve been drawn to these oval holes in the past, but have never seen one in real life. Hopefully you can get the maple MC-68. At one time there was a pearl encrusted left-handed model floating around the Internet, but that was a long time ago.

Robbypad · #12 03-24-2021, 09:52 PM

Thanks UKPHIL. I exchanged emails with the Frailers' owner in the UK. He won't ship outside the UK. I don't think it is the best of specimens too. Thanks again for the eagle eye!

Eric Jones: I spied that same lefty MC-68 when I started the hunt. There was another really nice one that Dream had a few years back. They contacted the owner for me but he isn't ready to sell. Thanks for helping. You get an assist!

I've got an in on the MC-28K and am waiting to hear back from the owner who was contacted on my behalf by a great guy I found on UMFG. And, he happens to play weekly with an AGF member I've had lots of communication with over my 7 years.

Thanks to all..........I appreciate your help. We'll get there.......3 more.

The 0000-18 Custom 2018 Gruhn commissioned sunburst arrived today with an awesome 1954, birthyear, Gibson ES-175 in spectacular condition. The 0000-18 is way cool with a 1.75" width fretboard where it meets the nut.

ES-175DN, 1956, natural in sublime condition arriving Monday and next week a Rivera Jazz Recording 50w arrives to play around with. Lots of action the last month. Sold a Claxton EMc, Olson SJ and picked up 5 Martin Ovals, a dead mint 2001 Ryan Mission Grand Concert, 2 vintage ES-175s.........fun.

palolowarrior · #13 03-25-2021, 12:22 AM

How you Robby?
There’s a few on reverb.com.

Robbypad · #14 03-25-2021, 06:55 AM

Hi Alan!

Thanks for reaching out to say hi. I stumbled across your friend , Karl, a week ago. Big world, made smaller with our guitar friends!

I only see an MC-28 on Reverb and I saw that one when I decided in one from Sweden that is nice.

I have "watches" on Reverb, ebay, and WTB's on AGF and UMGF plus emails to all the guitar stores on the spreadsheet I sent out...those stores that have email addresses posted.

I may miss some so your and everyone's help is appreciated.

I am hoping to locate MC-37K, MC-68 and 000c-16.

I see you've shuffled your guitars and are still enjoying that..great!

Bruce

richrangel · #15 03-25-2021, 04:17 PM

The MC-38 SH is not a reissue of the MC-28.

According to the Martin description the MC-28 was a starting point for the design of the MC-38.

Besides the MC-38's unique slothead and the Carpathian Spruce, the cutaway is not the same shape as the 28.

The 38 has a much nicer cutaway design that resembles your 0000-18 Sunburst. The cutaway does not crowd the oval sound hole. Visually the shape of the soundboard looks more balanced.
Gruhn and Howe had the right idea.

My brother has a 000C-16 oval sound hole I gifted him about 15 years ago.