Goya/Martin Classical/ Folk
H.C. Levin from Sweden had worked in the United States as a trainee at the Martin Guitar Company, as did his son just before World War I. H.C. went back to Sweden and formed the Levin Guitar company.The "Goya" name comes from Francisco Jose de Goya, the famous 18th century Spanish painter known as the father of modern art (Francisco drew a lot of Spanish guitar players too). The Goya trademark was originally used by the Hershman Musical Instrument Company of New York City, New York in the 1950's on models built by Sweden's Levin Company (similiar models were sold in Europe under the company's Levin trademark). Levin built high quality acoustic flattop, classical, and archtop guitars as well as mandolins.
The distribution for Goya guitars went from Hershman to Kustom Electronics Inc. in 1970 and then over to Dude Inc. (both of Chanute, Kansas) in late 1972. The Goya brand then went to the C. F. Martin Guitar Company, located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, in 1974 when they acquired Levin, and Goya guitars were distributed by Martin until 1996. While this trademark is currently discontinued, the rights to the name are still held by the Martin Guitar Company. The Goya Company featured a number of innovations that most people are not aware of. Goya was the first classic guitar line to put the trademark name on the headstock, and also created the ball end classic guitar string.
Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac fame composed her first song "I've Loved and I've Lost" with a Goya guitar, her very first guitar, given to her by her parents on her sixteenth birthday. Asked during a MTV interview, "How long, actually, have you been composing songs?" she answered, "Since my 16th birthday, the day I got my Goya guitar. I wrote a song that day." Another great artist that used a Goya guitar in all her songs was Melanie. If you ever saw the 1967 movie "The Sound of Music" then you saw Julia Andrews playing a classical Goya guitar. Another artist associated with Goya guitars is Mason Williams, who gave us the great guitar instrumental "Classical Gas." His second guitar was a Goya which he bought in 1958.
This is way more than you needed to know to consider this Goya G110 guitar. Martin distributed this model from 1978 to 1986, and it has served many musicians well over the years. Despite its classical configuration, it was frequently played as a “folk” instrument.
This one is in very condition, but it has a few nicks and bruises, as you might expect. While it has a mis-matched set of strings, it still sounds amazingly good, and it’s the perfect to fiddle with on the porch, around the kitchen table, or other intimate venues.
The included chip board case is in good usable condition as well, and offers more than adequate protection.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, or personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Please read the description carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your interest in this cool guitar!
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.