Home Martin 5-21T Tenor Guitar (1928)
Martin

Martin 5-21T Tenor Guitar (1928)

Vintage

Currently unavailable
DOCUMENTED HONESTLYEvery repair, every change
VETTED ON THE BENCHBefore it's listed
SINCE 1968Still independent
Description 

An incredible pre-war Martin tenor guitar just into the shop! This 1928 Martin 5-21T is a surprisingly loud and toneful instrument, particularly for it's size. Very responsive, whether flat-picked or finger-style, it has all the dry, woody tone pre-war Martins are famous for, but in a smaller tenor package. The Brazilian rosewood back and sides and red spruce top make for a lively and powerful instrument that is inspiring to pick up. 

The neck carve is fuller and less unwieldy than many tenors, and the 22.5" scale length makes melody and chord playing equally comfortable. The original Grover tuners hold tune very well, meaning you can spend more time playing and less time tuning! Condition is very good overall, with no major structural repairs or cracks, although the top has all the dings and wear you'd expect from a nearly 100 year old instrument.

Specs 
  • Red spruce top
  • Brazilian rosewood back and sides
  • 1 1/4" nut width
  • 22.5" scale length
  • X-braced top
  • 21 style appointments, herringbone rosette and backstrip
  • Original Grover tuners
  • Serial No. 34517
Condition: Vintage. Fully inspected and set up by TME staff before it ships or leaves the showroom.

Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.

Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.

Preserving The Past. Played Into The Future.
Whether you're chasing a tone, honoring the history, or building a collection, we seek out the finest vintage instruments and, when needed, perform tasteful restoration to ensure they'll play beautifully for decades to come.
Martin 5-21T Tenor Guitar (1928)
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Glenn Nichols, Repairs & Restorations

Tasteful Restoration

When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.

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Shipping

With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.