Martin electrics?

[Rumble]

This is the Tommy Roe GT-70 I mentioned above.

 

[jwalker99]

Does anyone have, or at least remember having, one of those Martin electric guitars from the 1960s? Any love for them?

I'm not thinking of the Frankenstein versions of their acoustics with added pickups and knobs, but the true electrics, thin line hollow body F series or GTs. I knew a kid who had one (not sure which model) when I was in high school, and I remember playing it and thinking it was pretty good, but that was a long time ago. Martin also made amps, or at least had their name on some, but I never tried those.

I played the semi hollow body that a friend had in the 80s . Overall they were NOT great guitars. Thin sounding. Martin makes great guitars. I visited the factory last summer and came away really impressed w their acoustics .

 

[Kurzman]

"I played the semi hollow body that a friend had in the 80s . Overall they were NOT great guitars."

You played ONE 35 years ago. I love the internet.

 

[johnsav]

I've always loved the hollowbody design but have never seen and played one. That burgundy one is beautiful.
For some reason I've assumed the neck was very thin.
Can anyone comment on neck profile and size?

 

[Rumble]

I've always loved the hollowbody design but have never seen and played one. That burgundy one is beautiful.
For some reason I've assumed the neck was very thin.
Can anyone comment on neck profile and size?

Neck is kind of Rickenbacker-ish. 1-5/8ths at nut etc.

 

[johnsav]

Neck is kind of Rickenbacker-ish. 1-5/8ths at nut etc.

Thanks, that matches my impression.

 

[mcknigs]

Never owned one. Always thought they looked cool.

 

[Bcorig]

Handsome guitar, that one.

 

[skydog]

I had this one briefly, I believe it was called a Stinger. Nothing really special. On a level with a MIM Strat.

 

[Jet Age Eric]

I've only played one and it sounded amazing. It was small ... -E

 

[Radspin]

I have an all original 1965 F-65. Sounds great, like a Gretsch, not much sustain, probably because of the plexiglass bridge. The feel is basically like a thinner Martin acoustic guitar neck grafted onto a hollow body electric body, which is in fact exactly what it is. Beautiful wood and finish. I bought it from Ithaca Guitar Works for $399 in 1991.

However, mine has a non-adjustable truss rod and the relief and action are higher than I’d like. It also needs some electronics work. I have good repair people near me but when I can I want to visit the Martin factory and have them look at it and do the work.

 

[Catatafish]

Sorry to interrupt but why is this thread a sticky when I click "Home" for TGP? Is this a feature like "highlighted thread" or do I have a bug or need to clear my cache?

 

[silverhawk]

Yep, the 60s had that funky foray into thinline hollows, and the 80s had those import Stingers. But my fave Martin Electrics were from the 70s:

Late in the 80's Martin sold the guitar and body for those as a "kit". Both neck and body were already finished in clear, all I had to do was glue the neck in and add hardware. One of my clients saw it hanging on the rack after I glued the neck in, and immediately flipped. He wanted gold hardware, and some nice pickups.
He still plays it regularly all these decades later. Here it is last year when I touched up a high fret for him. I made a custom truss rod cover engraved with his name in gold.

 

[Bigsby]

Sorry to interrupt but why is this thread a sticky when I click "Home" for TGP? Is this a feature like "highlighted thread" or do I have a bug or need to clear my cache?

I have the same question. It's this thread, another about "Paint or Not To Paint", then trending topics.

 

[Kurzman]

Well, considering that Sean Bonniwell played a Martin electric, it's fairly obvious that this is the most important thread on TGP.

 

[treeofpain]

I have one of those Martin Bigsby vibratos in my parts stash. Very rare. They are supposed to have an M but it looks more like a V.

 

[LaceSensor1]

Why does this thread always show when I go to TGP homepage using my phone?

 

[Member 199413]

Yeah, I've had a 1966 GT-75 since 1980. My first "vintage" guitar (or so I thought at the time). Put it on layaway, then got laid off from work. Almost starved to pay the damn thing off for several months with my unemployment checks! The DeArmonds on it are killer. I remember writing Martin to inquire about it, and got a reply from Mike Longworth (still have the letter). Come to think of it, in September, I will have had it for 40 years. Damn!

View media item 227105View media item 227104

I must be an outlier here because I think that guitar is gorgeous, easily as pretty as any other manufacturer’s thin hollow body.

Did Martin actually make these or outsource them?

 

[Member 199413]

"I played the semi hollow body that a friend had in the 80s . Overall they were NOT great guitars."

You played ONE 35 years ago. I love the internet.

Cut some slack. By Internet standards this is an informed opinion.

 

[noley]

Not mine/no affiliation ...but maybe someone in this thread is interested:

Cf Martin stratocaster - musical instruments - by owner - sale

CF Martin stratocast2060er $180 plays and sounds great ((((no emails or texts )))) calls only has...

columbia.craigslist.org