Vintage Martin Guitar

 This is a super rare original
(not a reissue) 1920's (or very early 30's) Martin 3-C K, Concert size style 3 Koa ukulele with original hard case.
Any Martin style 3 uke is rare and a 3-K is very rare but a Concert size
3-K is is just ridiculously rare. I have searched the internet and
vintage dealers inventory lists and was not able to find a single
example currently listed for sale. This uke measures 23 1/4" in total
length with a body length of 11". It measures 7 5/8" wide across the
lower bout and 2 3/4" deep at the deepest point. The scale length is 14
3/4". It has the Martin stamp on the inside of the body and on the back
of the headstock.  The top, back and sides are all spectacularly figured Koa with a
mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard. It is appointed with 7-ply top
binding, 3-ply back binding and 5-ply soundhole ring. It has the
celluloid ornament at the lower edge of the top. The 17 fret ebony
fingerboard has paired-diamond inlays and multi-ply lines inlaid down
the center. This uke is in very good
condition with normal minor nicks, scratches and wear but overall
very nice and incredibly attractive.
It has had a narrow piece of added wood patched in on the the treble edge of the
headstock (see photos). This was professionally done and is a good
job. It is along the edge of the headstock and tapers to a thin
(shallow) narrow piece which extends slightly past the bottom edge of
the nut (see photos). It was not due to a headstock or neck crack or
break but rather damage to the edge of the headstock and again, the
narrow piece extending slightly past the nut is very thin.
This repair was done a few years ago and at the same time there
was finish work/overspray applied to the body, neck and headstock
as the original finish was worn. The overspray is light and thin but
obvious. The nut is a replacement and possibly the saddle. That's it
everything else is original. The celluloid binding has some normal fine
hairline cracks (extremely minor) but is all intact and nice as are all
inlays. There is a minor drying crack on the center area of the back
that has been glued (see photo) and a very fine tight crack on the lower
side that also appears to have been glued (again, this is fine and
tight and I couldn't get it to show in photos). There are no top cracks
or any other cracks that I could find. The original tuners are also in
very good condition and good working order. The celluloid tuner buttons
are in very good shape with normal minor wear. Uke plays and sounds
great. The neck is straight with nice action and original bar frets show
very little wear. It has great tone and volume.  Original hard case
shows quite a bit of normal wear and tear to the exterior and edges (as
you would expect for being 80 years old) but overall is in good usable
condition. Blue plush case interior shows normal wear but is in good
shape. All case latches, hinges and handle are intact. Case has original
owners initials monogrammed on the side between the forward latch and
handle. Again, This is an exceptionally rare model and I could not find
another one for sale. A few years ago, the Vintage Guitar Price Guide listed the
value for this model at $15k to $20k. This is an absolutely fabulous uke and given the fact
that it has had some work I'm setting what I believe to be a very
reasonable starting price with No Reserve. Ultra Rare vintage
Martin style 3 Concert size Koa wood Ukulele in very good condition with
original case! Impossibly hard to find model!! The centerpiece of any
collection and a great investment!! No
Reserve!!! Buyer to pay $75 for USPS Express Mail to the lower 48
which includes insurance coverage for $5000 which is the maximum amount
of coverage available (will discuss other shipping carriers if buyer so
wishes). International bidders please
contact me before bidding. Thank you.