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What would you rather have? A Martin guitar/mandolin or a Triple Lock revolver?
- Thread starter mrcvs
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Yes that is me below
Yes I need a hair cut
Yes I am holding Elvis' Guitar
That was back in 2001. It was in my possession for just two weeks
Yes I played it . . . . just not as famously as Elvis
Tell us more.
Where did you get it?
Did you own it?
What did it sell for?
austintexas
SWCA Member
Triple-lock
SWCA 892
SWCA 892
A hobo might have a guitar, but probably not a Martin. No doubt you could buy a new guitar for $3 from Sears-Roebuck, same as you could buy an Iver Johnson revolver for that much.
Biggfoot44
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A D-18 Standard Martin today has MSRP of $2799 .
C.F. Martin has always been premium instruments.
Back in the days of $21 Triple Locks you could have bought a decent mid level guitar for $ 4 - $5 . The cheap ones were down around $1 .
In the 1920s , National Metal body Resonator guitars reached over $100 .
If I can get it to work , I'll try to post a Pic of my 1934 M37 Regal Resonator .
. { By then , Regal of Chicago was the prime subcontractor making all but the custom orders instruments for Dobro , using all the hardware shipped from California . Regal also had the rights to make guitars under their own brand name . Mine is identical to the Dobro branded , except for a Trapeze Tailpiece instead of fan shaped . Dobro price was $37 , with Regal sticker probably a cpl dollars less .}
PHP:
[PHP]What literature?
My price list says $1.50 extra.
And how do I give you a dozen “Likes”? And so a standard model was $21 and the Target Model was $1.50 extra at $22.50.
By “literature”, I meant books like SCSW4 and books by Jinks et Al.
I have asked this question repeatedly for years. And never got a logical answer—until now.
As for your “literature”, was that included with the Triple Lock at the time of purchase, or what is it? I want to keep my eyes open to see if one doesn’t pop up on eBay someday.
And a few other observations. The source material you (Lee) provided states “Now Ready for Delivery” suggesting this was printed at the time the revolver was first marketed and sold, and yet the stocks show medallions, but at that time the stocks were non medallion concave stocks—I wonder if perhaps medallion stocks were the plan since 1908 (note “1908 Model”
on this document as well), but for whatever reason were not introduced until mid 1910.
Barrel lengths are listed as “4”, 5”, and 6 1/2”. Note the absence of the 6” barrel length. I think this is significant. To the best of my knowledge, NO Triple Lock revolver with a 6” barrel has ever surfaced and this primary source material doesn’t reference it, so it may be in error as mentioned in publications referencing Smith & Wesson revolvers. Conversely, Smith & Wesson revolvers with 7 1/2” barrels DID exist and this barrel length isn’t mentioned, either, perhaps negating my argument.
on this document as well), but for whatever reason were not introduced until mid 1910.
Barrel lengths are listed as “4”, 5”, and 6 1/2”. Note the absence of the 6” barrel length. I think this is significant. To the best of my knowledge, NO Triple Lock revolver with a 6” barrel has ever surfaced and this primary source material doesn’t reference it, so it may be in error as mentioned in publications referencing Smith & Wesson revolvers. Conversely, Smith & Wesson revolvers with 7 1/2” barrels DID exist and this barrel length isn’t mentioned, either, perhaps negating my argument.
merl67
SWCA Member
As a closet guitar picker a playable Martin from the same vintage as a Triple Lock would be a tough choice...
Red Baron Antiques in Roswell Georgia does a 3 day auction event twice a year.
Decades ago, I used to fly up there to help with event security for the week. They allowed preview of the items before the auction.
I usually had the off duty members of the Fulton County Swat team working with us.
I had custody of some of the items that were strictly controlled during that preview time.
I forget how Red Barron got this and other Elvis items we had for that auction cycle including his TCB pendant and one of the Vegas sequined jump suits
This was Elvis’ “Sun Sessions” Martin D-18 guitar manufactured in 1942
The Guitar was on display at CNN Center, in a glass case, for two weeks to get the interest going. After that it came back to Red Baron's where it was stashed in that Security Office shown in the photo for the remaining two weeks leading up to the event.
My role was to take some of the "Whales" back to handle the Guitar in private. Best way to sell something is get it into the buyers hands
At that time the Guitar sold for $192,000. We had a bit of an issue as CNN swooped in with a camera crew to talk to the high bidder as the hammer dropped. I had to get him out of there and into a car as fast as possible. You see while he did attend the auction with a female companion . . . . It was not his wife. So we kept him out of the press
That same Elvis' Guitar was sold at auction a few years ago bringing over One and a quarter million dollars setting a new record for an Elvis item
I also had a photo of myself with the only item to survive intact after the plane crash on "The Day the Music Died" February 3rd 1959.
One of the members of Buddy Holly's band,Waylon Jennings, gave up his seat so that the Big Bopper could fly instead. Richardson was sick
JP Richardson's Gibson LG3 survived the crash. It brought $50,000 at auction. Can't recall if that was before or after Elvis' Guitar
That photo of me with the Bog Bopper's Guitar was destroyed by water intrusion after a hurricane put 18 leaks in my roof 11 or 12 years ago.
And Yes, I also played that Gibson
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Hair Trigger
US Veteran
I can shoot the gun, I can't play the guitar.
But, if I were going to buy an acoustic guitar, I'd look for a Henderson.
Hand made in Rugby, Virginia by a mail man. He's retired from the post office now, and builds maybe 30 instruments per year. There's a waiting time of about 10 years for one of his guitars, which he sells for around $5K each, and on the open market go for $20-$30K. Eric Clapton has one of his guitars.
His name is Wayne Henderson, and he's played in Carnagie Hall, The White House, and in public campgrounds for free. One of the best finger-pickers there is. I met him many years ago at Grayson Highlands State Park, which is not far from his workshop, which I've also visited while he was building instruments. Really cool to watch.
But, if I were going to buy an acoustic guitar, I'd look for a Henderson.
Hand made in Rugby, Virginia by a mail man. He's retired from the post office now, and builds maybe 30 instruments per year. There's a waiting time of about 10 years for one of his guitars, which he sells for around $5K each, and on the open market go for $20-$30K. Eric Clapton has one of his guitars.
His name is Wayne Henderson, and he's played in Carnagie Hall, The White House, and in public campgrounds for free. One of the best finger-pickers there is. I met him many years ago at Grayson Highlands State Park, which is not far from his workshop, which I've also visited while he was building instruments. Really cool to watch.
Memphis
Member
I'd have to go with the Martin! I've never had one.
I have a Taylor and a Maton Messiah now. I'm obsessed with fingerstyle.
Roger
I have a Taylor and a Maton Messiah now. I'm obsessed with fingerstyle.
Roger
Wayne is a humble, yet funny man. There is a book available about him and the guitar that he built for Eric Clapton.
One of the sections of the book that always makes me smile is when Clapton was planning a visit to Rugby and mention was made of providing security for him:
"Security!? It's not like he was Ralph Stanley!"
Cooter Brown
Member
There are few like him.
I'm sure you're aware he's been known to meet a young musician he thinks has talent and is deserving and jump them to the head of the line, make them an instrument and surprise them with it as a gift.
There's a young fellow in Virginia named Jackson Cunningham who makes acoustics, more along the lines of Gibsons than Martins--his work is also supposed to be outstanding.
Tubi is streaming a documentary called "Fiddlin'" you might enjoy. A good bit of time is spent with Wayne, in his shop, and at his festival.
Baltimoreed11754
Member
I’ll take the Triple Lock in .455 please but as I do play piano a Steinway would be my choice if you’re open to other instruments. I was trying to pick up the banjo [pun intended] back in the ‘70s but it got stolen.
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I know Jackson. He's local to Southwest Virginia.
If you like clawhammer banjo, listen to Jim Lloyd from Rural Retreat VA. He has some stuff on youtube and has a facebook page. He is also a great guitar player.
And, he's my barber.
YeshuaIsa53
SWCA Member
A triple what?
I'm in the market for a D-18 that echoes like an angel choir, feels easy between chords, and can hold in tune all the way up the neck. Selling mine for a better sounding one, if I can find it. Made in Nazareth. If it's three grand, I'll sell two guitars for the right ease and chime any day. Rather have one with all the acoustics perfect than a Pre Model 29.
I'm in the market for a D-18 that echoes like an angel choir, feels easy between chords, and can hold in tune all the way up the neck. Selling mine for a better sounding one, if I can find it. Made in Nazareth. If it's three grand, I'll sell two guitars for the right ease and chime any day. Rather have one with all the acoustics perfect than a Pre Model 29.
I would take the Martin, mostly because it would really bug my music people friends when they had to listened to me try to play it. My one brother had a bunch of high end guitars, he would probably go find a couple triple locks to get it away from me.
IF it was a super triple lock target in 45 colt I would take the triple lock, but the only one I know of isn't going anywhere soon.
IF it was a super triple lock target in 45 colt I would take the triple lock, but the only one I know of isn't going anywhere soon.
That's me. I once tried to learn to play the guitar. One note pretty much sounded like the other. I'd have been better off to use it as a weapon, a la "El Kabong" AKA Quick Draw McGraw.
I'd take the Smith and Wesson. And the music world would rejoice.
oddshooter
Member
Tough choice.
I have a few Martins, but no Triple Lock.
I do have a very special 40's war-time Martin called a Tiple. It looks kind of like a ukele size; but it has 10 strings, not 4. Two Outside groups of 2 strings, and 2 inside groups of 3 strings. The harmonics that come off this are nothing short of amazing. Somewhat like a 12 string guitar, but sounds much different, more like a mandolin.
The Tiple was built by a master and it is beautifully made.
The triple lock is however one of those things I have dreamed of shooting one day. I have no need to put it in the vault.
Prescut
I have a few Martins, but no Triple Lock.
I do have a very special 40's war-time Martin called a Tiple. It looks kind of like a ukele size; but it has 10 strings, not 4. Two Outside groups of 2 strings, and 2 inside groups of 3 strings. The harmonics that come off this are nothing short of amazing. Somewhat like a 12 string guitar, but sounds much different, more like a mandolin.
The Tiple was built by a master and it is beautifully made.
The triple lock is however one of those things I have dreamed of shooting one day. I have no need to put it in the vault.
Prescut
oddshooter
Member
The triple lock.
I have a very rare 40's war-time Martin Tiple; 10 strings. The most beautiful sounding instrument I own.
Prescut
My "G's" Collections:
Gold, Guns, Guitars. Throw in Girls and you have everything you need.
I have a very rare 40's war-time Martin Tiple; 10 strings. The most beautiful sounding instrument I own.
Prescut
My "G's" Collections:
Gold, Guns, Guitars. Throw in Girls and you have everything you need.
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