Martin 1920's soprano Style 3 - Rare vintage ukulele!
- First produced in 1918. This one is most likely mid to late 20's. Made until 1933
- Mahogany body.
- 7 layer top binding, alternating stripes of white celluloid and ebonized maple.
- 3 layer back binding of same material.
- 5 layer soundhole ring of same material.
- Celluloid ornament on top, behind bridge (known as the "parend" or "shield").
- 17 fret ebony fingerboard to soundhole.
- Diamond-shaped paired inlays at fret 5, 7, 9 (small dots inlays late 40s).
- 3 lines inlaid down center of fretboard on early models.
Style 3 specifications:
Martin 1920's soprano Style 3 Mahogany Soprano - Rare vintage ukulele!
This is nearly a century old Martin Soprano ukulele style 3, and posesses the vintage Martin tone that makes them so legendary. Styles 3 was primarily for professional musicians and made by Martin's best builders. It's framed off with more bindings and purflings than the 0, 1, or 2 models.along with an ebony fingerboard continuing to the soundhole and receding to a point. Beyond the adornment is a wonderful instrument. But don't buy this to bang around with. Well I guess you can if you want, but it's truly a vintage collectable that appreciattes with time if kept in good condition.
The style 3 is not easy to find. This one is the first to join our stock in eight years. Plenty of style O and even a few style 2, but you very rarely will see the style 3, even if you are trying. They must all be guarded by collectors. From my research, all we can say for sure is that it was made between 1923 and 1931. It is in great condition, especially considering it's age. It has a few repaired cracks and strum scratches but still has all the original woods and bar frets typical of models from the 20's.
This American soprano is a trooper! It still has the original tuning keys and they still work! In the video we had just put on the strings and they stretched out during the filming a bit but the tuning keys are actually very stable. It was also in need of setup care that we just gave it for cleaner sustain. But as Corey plays you can hear that the tone is full and rich, like it has 100 year old mahogany, oh wait , it does! However, as good as it sounds, this may not be your best choice for a performance ukulele. This is classified as a vintage collectable. It was among the monumental first wave of professional ukuleles. This is the Martin Style 3 soprano. The first, and most likely to be the last to to grace our store.
Even when we sell a used instrument we want to make sure that you are happy. Our return policies are the same and we will even extend to you our own 1 year warranty covering any factory defect issues that could arise even under proper care. To learn more about caring for your ukulele visit our Ukulele Care page
| Specs |
Style 3 specifications: |
|---|---|
| Options |
The pictures show the original case that we will include but we will ship this in a deluxe Oahu case wooden hardshell case and Oasis humidifier. Contact us with questions. Aloha! |
Shipping Information
For more even more details and FAQ visit our Shipping Page under the Company Info tab at the header menu.
SHIPPING CARRIER OPTIONS:
FedEx is our primary shipping carrier, all orders that qualify for free domestic shipping will be sent using FedEx. UPS and DHL can also be chosen as alternative options upon checkout, USPS is only used for smaller accessory orders.
As soon as the shipping label is created you will be automatically notified via email with tracking information. All packages will be shipped with a signature requirement by default. If you do not wish to have a signature requirement you will need to notify us, either by leaving a note in the “special instructions” when adding the item(s) to your shopping cart or by emailing our shipping department directly. Any shipping related requests (hold/delay/address change) should also be directed to our shipping department ( [email protected]).
NOTE FOR INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: You may also be required to pay import duties/taxes, this will vary depending on your location and the value of the item(s). To estimate these taxes, you can contact your local customs office. Fedex also offers a helpful estimation tool: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/international.html
UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE PERMIT: If your ukulele contains any amount of shell inlay (abalone or pearl) it will require a permit to be shipped internationally. The cost of this permit is $93.00 USD. We will handle the paperwork and file the permit for you, but the cost of all duties and fees are the responsibility of the customer.
SHIPPING COST will vary depending on the size dimensions and weight of the package as well as the destination. To get a quote, use the “Calculate Shipping Cost” link located next to the “Add to Cart button” on each listing.
This is made even easier when you are already logged in to your customer account. Follow this link to create an account if you don’t already have one go HERE.
FREE SHIPPING: All orders within the USA with a total over $500 will qualify for free FedEx 2-day air shipping.
SHIPMENT AND TRACKING NOTIFICATIONS are sent automatically via email as soon as the shipping label is created so please make sure your email address is accurate when placing the order. Outgoing shipments are picked up by our shipping carriers Monday through Friday.
ACCESSORY AND CASE ORDERS: While non-instrument orders for cases and accessories do not require the same processing time needed for instruments, they do require time for processing and packing. The typical processing time for accessory/case orders is (1-4 business days) depending on current order volume.
CURRENT SETUP PROCESSING TIMES AND DETAILS ARE LOCATED UNDER THE “SETUP OPTIONS” TAB.*
*If you would like to receive your instrument as soon as possible you can forego the full setup process by selecting the “Basic QC Only” option or by selecting the “Full Setup RUSH” option when adding instruments to your shopping cart. More details are available under the “Setup Options” tab.
Setup Options
Current Turnaround Time: Amount of time it takes before shipment-
Full Setup: 10-14 Business Days
Basic Quality Control: 2-3 Days
BASIC QUALITY CONTROL covers inspecting the instrument for any major defects that would have been missed by the factory and any faults in construction that could potentially damage or limit the functionality of the instrument over time. Any defective instruments are rejected and replaced. We make sure that each Ukulele meets the basic standard for a brand new instrument and will be ready to play once you receive it. A final cleanup is also included after inspection before packing and shipment.
Full Setup - FREE for all Ukuleles $399 and over / $20.00 for Ukuleles from $300-399 / $30.00 for Ukuleles Under $300
Includes:
-Overall QC evaluation: To find defects in construction as well as to get an overall view of the instrument and note the areas that need extra attention and adjustment during the setup.
-Saddle Adjustment: The height of the saddle is lowered to reduce the distance between the strings and the fretboard, making it easier to play than the factory setup, especially higher up the fretboard.
-Nut Slot Adjustment: The depth, width, and angle of the nut slots are adjusted to create a more comfortable playing experience especially on the lower frets.
-Fret Dressing: After adjusting the nut and saddle heights, high spots in the fretboard or uneven frets will potentially cause fret buzz, dead spots, or other unwanted problems. The frets are filed to create a more consistent level across the fretboard. We then crown the frets to return their rounded curvature back to the top of each fret creating a clear contact point for each string. We then smooth and polish the frets and condition the fingerboard to bring them back to new condition.
-Final Cleanup: We always do a final overall cleanup of the instrument to make sure it is in new condition and ready to play before it is prepared for shipment.
Rush Setup & Delivery - Additional $50.00
The RUSH SETUP AND DELIVERY service is for customers who would still like to receive everything included in the full setup but on a shorter time frame. One of our setup technicians will work overtime outside of normal business hours to complete the setup within 2-3 days of the order being placed and immediately hand it over to the shipping department for packing and shipment. The $50.00 rush charge is in addition to the cost of the full setup.
Additional services (see individual product listings to add these services to your order)
Re-stringing: We will replace the factory installed stock string set with a new set of your choosing. Select the “replace stock strings” option when adding your desired string set to the shopping cart.
Strap Button Installation: 1-2 buttons are installed to allow the use of a strap. Color options available.
Pickup installation: for players who would like the option to play or record with amplification.
Friction Tuner Upgrade (friction tuners only): We offer upgrade options for select instruments with friction tuners to be retrofitted with new geared tuners for better precision and comfort when tuning.
Left-handed Setup: Left-handed setups are also available upon request. Occasionally an additional charge may be added for compensated saddles on select models.