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Did the earliest examples use bar-frets?

An unrelated question: what kind of finish did Martin utilize before they switched to nitro?

Thank you!

I found out about the second question, which is french polish and shellac

Your quote:"I found out about the second question, which is french polish and shellac "

I'm suprised, I figured they (CFMartin) used brush applied varnish.
regards,
jack

I'm kinda' surprised, too

Martin has never French polished guitars. Shellac, yes, but no to the French polish.

Regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

I'm not saying you're wrong.

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/martin.html

• pre-1900: French polish.
• 1900: Thin shellac.
• 1919: Semi-gloss shellac.
• 1923: High-gloss shellac.
• 1926 (some models), 1929 (most models): Clear nitrocellulose lacquer. Style 18 models fully switched over to nitro cellulose lacquer by 1929. The transition from shellac to lacquer started in 1926 with O-17H.
• 1930: All styles have nitrocellulose lacquer finish.

A lot of folks have an opinion, even educated opinions about this, but the only ones who know for a fact, are dead.
Same with Gibson's early finish, especially the pre-Loar & Loar-era mandolins.
No one knows for sure what the exact formula is.

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Martin did in fact use a french polish on pre 1900's . Thin Shellac was used till the 20's . A satin offering was available from 1919 to 1922 but was just a dulled shellac finish. In 1923 the satin was a rubbed varnish over the shellac. The First lacquer finishes started in 1926. These are noted in Martins history and in the plants Archives.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it