Martin Archtop History: C, R And F Model Changes

Model Changes By Year

1931: The Round-Hole C Series

The first C-series batch dates to June 1931. The guitars had 15-inch bodies, carved spruce tops and round soundholes. C-1 used mahogany back and sides, while C-2 and C-3 used rosewood, with the C-3 receiving more elaborate decoration.

The raised top carried a floating bridge and tailpiece. Martin’s archtop construction should not be equated with a carved back: the company also shaped thin back plates with internal braces. Top arching and back construction are separate specifications.

1932 And 1933: F-Holes And The Smaller R-18

During 1932 and 1933, f-holes replaced the earliest round-hole C design. The transition was not one simultaneous change across every model.

The smaller R-18 began with a pressed spruce top. Its early round-soundhole form also gave way to f-holes. Pressing a thin plate into an arch and carving an arch from thicker wood are different construction methods, even when the resulting guitars share a similar outline.

1934 And 1935: The R-17 And Wider F Models

The R-17 arrived in December 1934 with a mahogany top. It provided a different material option within the smaller archtop family.

In 1935, the F-7 and F-9 expanded Martin’s archtop body width to 16 inches. These larger models occupied a more elaborate tier above the smaller guitars. Their acoustic F designation is separate from the F-series electrics introduced decades later.

Mid-1936: The R-18 Adopts A Carved Top

The R-18 changed from a pressed top to a carved top in mid-1936. The earlier segmented f-holes gave way to continuous f-hole openings with the revised construction.

This is a dated structural change within one model. A rule that every R-18 had a pressed top would miss the later version, while a rule that every Martin archtop was carved would miss the earlier R-18.

1940 To 1942: Simpler F Models And The End Of Production

The F-1 and F-2 joined the 16-inch family in 1940 with simpler decoration. The F-1 used mahogany back and sides; the F-2 used rosewood. Total acoustic F-series production was 401 guitars, including 91 F-1s.

The original acoustic archtop line ended in 1942. The final C guitars were made in August, the final F batch in September, and the last R-18 batch in November. Later flat-top conversions of these bodies are individual modifications, not a further factory archtop model period.

Did Martin Archtops Always Have F-Holes?

No. The first C-series guitars had round soundholes, and the early R-18 also used a round soundhole. F-holes entered during the early-1930s development of the line.

Were All R-18 Tops Pressed?

No. Earlier R-18 tops were pressed, but the model changed to a carved top in mid-1936. The change also replaced the segmented f-hole arrangement with continuous openings.