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Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:53 pm

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Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
Posts: 513
First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
State: Washington
Country: United States
Focus: Build

Ok, I need some of you to talk me out of this...

A local guy has a trashed Martin C1 - holes in the sides, suspect peghead (missing Martin marks) but still has the bar frets. Something you shouldn't even look twice at. It has no sentimental to me, or anyone I know, and I've got better things to do with my time.

But...

I love learning, and gnarly projects. So I keep thinking about picking it up for a retop project, knowing the only value would be the leanring process. A Martin C2 or C3 with Brazilian sides in good shape are well worth retopping, but a broken down Mahogany archtop, I doubt will be of much interest to anyone.

The serial number 51878 is in the Martin records as a C-1 stamped on September 27, 1932.

Just walk away, right?

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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:54 pm

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Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
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First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
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Country: United States
Focus: Build

and all I have are really bad photos... I'm that guy today.

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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:55 pm

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Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
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First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:57 pm

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Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
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First name: Daniel
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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 12:57 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
Posts: 513
First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
State: Washington
Country: United States
Focus: Build

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SteveSmith

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 5:03 pm

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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:36 am
Posts: 7376
Location: Southeast US
City: Lenoir City
State: TN
Zip/Postal Code: 37772
Country: US
Focus: Repair

It's a tough call. I've rebuilt one basket case and it took a lot of hours. I did learn a lot but I probably put $3000 worth of work into a guitar that might sell for $1500. Not sure I would do it again.

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"Music is what feelings sound like"

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B. Howard

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:00 am

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Mon Dec 27, 2010 9:06 pm
Posts: 2739
Location: Magnolia DE
First name: Brian
Last Name: Howard
City: Magnolia
State: Delaware
Zip/Postal Code: 19962
Country: United States
Focus: Repair
Status: Professional

These are quite often re-topped as flat-tops. Almost the same size as an OM when done if I recall.

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johnparchem

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 7:24 am

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Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 11:42 pm
Posts: 1703
First name: John
Last Name: Parchem
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State: Wa
Zip/Postal Code: 98177
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

go for it. I had a blast fixing the 51 martin run over by a car http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10137&t=48988. A retop would be a fun project and make the repair of the holes easier.

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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 6:38 pm

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Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
Posts: 513
First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
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Country: United States
Focus: Build

Thank guys - I needed you to tell me to just walk away.

OM's are my favorite size, I may just have to at least go look at it further...

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Clinchriver

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2019 7:05 am

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Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:44 pm
Posts: 1225
Location: Andersonville
State: Tennessee
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Professional

dpetrzelka wrote:

Thank guys - I needed you to tell me to just walk away.

OM's are my favorite size, I may just have to at least go look at it further...

Depends on how busy you are. If it was Brazilian they make a nice conversion into a OM sized flattop. With the neck angle change from an arch top to a flattop your neck does not quite join the body at the 14th fret.

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WudWerkr

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2019 12:51 pm

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Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2009 7:52 am
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First name: Big
Last Name: Jim
State: Deep in the heart of Bluegrass
Country: usa
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur

How Much is he asking for it ??

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Hesh

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 5:25 am

Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Fri Nov 02, 2007 9:49 am
Posts: 13386
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
First name: Hesh
Last Name: Breakstone
City: Ann Arbor
State: Michigan
Country: United States
Status: Professional

Run away....

. Run away fast and try not to get any on ya my friend....

. See ya on facebook.

These users thanked the author Hesh for the post: dpetrzelka (Thu Apr 11, 2019 9:21 am)

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jfmckenna

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 2:36 pm

Brazilian Rosewood

Joined: Tue May 13, 2008 10:44 am
Posts: 6256
Location: Virginia

What? Those are called sound ports now

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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:27 pm

Contributing Member

Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
Posts: 513
First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
State: Washington
Country: United States
Focus: Build

jfmckenna wrote:

What? Those are called sound ports now

One for your armpit, the other your left knee...

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dpetrzelka

Post subject: Re: Martin C1 - basketcase project, walk away?

Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2019 9:16 am

Contributing Member

Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2014 10:02 am
Posts: 513
First name: Daniel
Last Name: Petrzelka
State: Washington
Country: United States
Focus: Build

The seller wasn't interested in my modest offer - so I dodged a bullet on this one.

But I do love a challenge, so now I'm on the hunt for another basket case project...

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