Vintage 1914 Martin William Foden Style E

The C.F. Martin Foden Special Style E is an exceptionally rare piece of early Martin history, custom made for the students of influential classical guitarist and teacher William Foden.

Martin produced the Foden Specials from 1911 to 1917 in several levels of ornamentation, with the Style E sitting at the top of the range. Only nine Style E examples were produced and sold.

The Style E combined elements of Martin's Style 40, 42, and 45 instruments. Martin was specifically asked to use the finest materials available for these guitars. The Style E also features decorative fingerboard inlays and ornate tuners with inlaid Handel buttons.

Foden Specials are unusual even by early-Martin standards. They were built without serial numbers and instead were dated and initialed in pencil beneath the top, with their production documented in Martin's shipping records. Like other Martin guitars from this period, they were originally intended for gut strings.

This particular model has the following handwritten in pencil under the top "Foden E 12/30/14 F.H.M.”

Specs: Foden Special Style E; grand concert size 00; Adirondack spruce top; Brazilian rosewood back and sides; mahogany neck; 20-fret ebony fingerboard; decorative fingerboard inlays; genuine ivory binding; ornate tuners with inlaid Handel buttons. Non original hard shell case included.

Condition: Very Good to Excellent for its age. Bridge seems original. Neck reset evident. Bridge potentially shaved at time of reset. Treble-side Ivory neck binding has segmented. Nut seems original, with #6 slot chipped. Mild damage to bass-side waist area binding slot. Some evidence of Super Glue back crack repairs, resulting in finish deviation. Evidence of sloppy Super Glue binding repair at treble-side neck heel. Heel cap appears to be original and Ivory. Evidence of “Capo Rash” on center back of neck in positions 1-3
5 notable back cracks in the Rosewood back— typical(especially for the age of the guitar. Original Ivory endplate, non-original strap pin at butt end. Original Bridge Plate in excellent shape. Internal Bracing is in superb, unaltered condition.