- #Sigma guitars serial numbers serial numbers#
- #Sigma guitars serial numbers serial number#
- #Sigma guitars serial numbers series#
Īfter Sigma musical instruments were built in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, they were sent to Martin & Co. Some solid body electric guitars were made by Tokai Guitars Company, LTD. Other Sigma instruments included mandolins, banjos, acoustic and electric basses and solid body and hollow body electric guitars.
The answer to the question "Are Sigma guitars solid wood or laminate?" is best answered "That depends on the year and model." Later Sigma guitars, i.e., Second Generation, had laminate wood for the back and sides, with the exception of several models such as the D-10 Anniversary guitar. To complicate matters further, in the mid-to-late 70's Sigma produced a line of guitars clearly identified by Martin, at that time, as having laminate backs and sides: model numbers starting with 52S, e.g., 52SDM-5, 52SDR-7 and 52SGCS-7. This is understandable since the Martin customer service department now responds to individual inquiries stating "all" Sigma's had laminate back/sides with solid tops while Sigma catalogs from the early to late 70's list the back/side wood as solid. The issue of whether or not Sigma guitars are solid wood or laminate wood has been a source of controversy and confusion. Guitars made in Taiwan have a different headstock label: "Sigma Guitars" on top with a miniture version of the "C.F. High end models such as the D-10 Anniversary model have the "Second Generation" logo in mother of pearl. 1970" underneath, in the familiar Martin headstock decal form. In 1979 Sigma identified their dreadnought and grand concert guitars as "Second Generation" and the headstock design changed to utilize a gold decal stating "Sigma Guitars" with "Est. With the move of production to Korea in 1984, paper labels (of a different design) were reinstated. In 1980 the paper labels were discontinued and the back brace was stamped.
#Sigma guitars serial numbers serial numbers#
Serial numbers for Sigma guitars built in Korea and Taiwan are perhaps meaningless. "Sigma Martin USA" guitars built in the early 80's had serial numbers 900,001 to 902,908. Later, early 70's Sigma guitar serial numbers started with 7* suggesting the 197* build date.
#Sigma guitars serial numbers serial number#
Bought it new in 1970." Further, DR-7s with a four digit ink stamped serial number and a zero fret strongly suggests a very early build date. One Sigma DR-7 owner stated "I have an old Sigma DR-7 Guitar.s/n 6860. However, most Sigma models were offered only for a limited number of years, so that most models' construction dates can be narrowed down to a reasonable range." For example, serial numbers on the earliest DR-7s start with 4 digit numbers on through 5 digit numbers. "Sigma Serial Numbers do not provide an indicator of the year in which a particular model was built. Made in Japan Sigma's (1970 through the late '70s) had an inner paper label giving model and serial numbers. Sigma classical guitars do not have the headstock logo, and one must rely on the inner label for identification. The sigma symbol is often described as a "sideways M." Interestingly, while playing a Sigma guitar the "sideways M" becomes "right side up" suggesting "M" for Martin. Sigma guitars made in Japan from 1970 through 1979 can be distinguished by a headstock logo consisting of the single word SIGMA surmounted with the Σ symbol (the Greek letter sigma), in mother of pearl. The DM-5 and DR-7, as well as other early models continued to be built during this time as well. In 1980, model lines were added to capitalize on Martin model numbers: the DM-18, DM-19, DR-28, DR-28H, DR-35, DR-41, and DR-45.
Dreadnought models DM-5 and DR-7 are the most common early Sigma guitars until the late '70s (D for dreadnought R for rosewood, M for mahogony and the number denoting the grade, 7 being the top grade instrument).
#Sigma guitars serial numbers series#
The first Sigmas were typically dreadnought acoustics, although Grand Concert Series (GCS) and classical models were also produced from the early 1970's onward. Initial construction was in Japan from 1970 through 1984. 3.2 Additional Models Approximately 1975 to 1978.2 Basic Characteristics of Made in Japan Sigma Guitars.
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