1931 Martin 5-17 Tenor
I wish I could tell you how much fun it is just to hold this gem—it feels kind of like you’re holding a Stradivarius violin. First produced from 1912 to 1916 and then re-issued in all mahogany from 1927 to 1943, the 5-17 was one of a series of Concert (O Series), parlor, and smaller guitars created by Martin starting in the 1890’s and occasionally re-issued since.
In this pre-World War II 1931 version of the 5-17 the neck, the X-braced top, the back, and the sides are all solid mahogany, with a rectangular rosewood bridge, and a rosewood fingerboard with small dot inlays (I believe that both the fingerboard and bridge are Brazilian Rosewood). The three-stripe rosette, the vintage tortoise pick guard, and the solid headstock with its original Grover Patented gear tuners complete the picture of a wonderful vintage guitar.
The 5-17’s total length is about 33”, with a body length of 16”, a lower bout of 11 ¼”, a 14/20-fret scale length of 23”, and a depth at the lower bout of 3 ¾”. This instrument (serial number 47954) is in very good condition for 90 years old, with light wear on the apparently original thin frets and more visible wear on the first three frets of the fingerboard, suggesting that it might have been played with nylon strings for much of its career. Cosmetically, there are the inevitable small dings on the top, back, and sides; some pick wear below the pick guard; and a series of dings and stains on the back of the neck.
Structurally, I see no cracks or repairs, the bridge, headstock, neck, and top are all solid/straight/flat as can be, the tuners are tight, and the action is quite playable at 4/32” at the 12th fret. As mentioned, the thin mahogany top is lightly X-braced, and the sound is bright and much louder than you might expect from such a small package.
While it was purchased from the estate of the original owner, there was no suitable case included; it was wrapped in a cloth in a too-large chip board case. Instead, I have it in a new Kaces gig bag which at least fits its small dimensions, but I believe that its next owner will want to invest in an appropriate hard shell case to protect it—and to keep others’ hands off it, because every string guy you know will want to play a riff or two. And I promise that it will be double-boxed for shipping.
All in all, this is a wonderful 1931 period piece, sure to appreciate as a part of a serious Martin or stringed instrument collection. However, I believe it is still, first and foremost, a player’s guitar, with its ringing, seasoned mahogany tone and pre-war Martin quality construction guaranteeing many more years of musical pleasure. I trust it will find a home with a real player.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower forty-eight states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this vintage instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.
Thank you for your interest in this classic vintage Martin 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.