Anyone know anything about the M-30? (original 60's model)

[Bogo]

This one is in mid to fair condition, the tuners are a bit taught, and the (lacquer?) finish is chipping in the more expected places. It sounds great. No cracks, at least that I've seen...

I was curious to know it's worth...(Made in Hoboken)

 

[Russell Letson]

M-30 value

It's hard to put a price on this model, since there is no market history to speak of--in 20-plus years of looking, I've seen exactly one, a '59 in good condition. I paid something like $200 for it more than 15 years ago. I suspect that it would bring more than that today, but I wouldn't know where to start. They're very rare, and mine at least is quite nice, but (in a rational world) not necessarily all that valuable, since similar instruments can be had for well under a grand (the Martin 17 series). I'd also think that the (rather inflated) price of an old M-20 would suggest a ceiling value, since Nick Drake never played a -30.

 

[Bogo]

I was told "Hans" would know the story behind it...who is Hans btw? Yes, I knew that about the M20 being pursued because of Nick Drake. However, though no one would truly know but Nick (sadly), it is likely he simply posed with an M20 for the cover of his second album and actually played a Martin D28. The irony of it is, if you get a chance to play an M20 (or 30 i imagine) they sound great, and alot like the sound he utilized.

 

[dklsplace]

I was told "Hans" would know the story behind it...who is Hans btw?

Bogo, meet Hans, author of The Guild Guitar Book.

 

[plaidseason]

I was told "Hans" would know the story behind it...who is Hans btw? Yes, I knew that about the M20 being pursued because of Nick Drake. However, though no one would truly know but Nick (sadly), it is likely he simply posed with an M20 for the cover of his second album and actually played a Martin D28. The irony of it is, if you get a chance to play an M20 (or 30 i imagine) they sound great, and alot like the sound he utilized.

This is a debat that will likely never be settled. John Wood (who engineered Nick's recordings) says Nick used the M20 exclusively, and because of this he never had to utilize compression when recording Nick's uitar.

Robert Kirby who handled the string arrangements says Nick in fact used an D28. Then I think there is some other story about Nick using a 00018.

But I do think Nick's sound, at least to my ears sounds like a small body as opposed to a dread like the D28. But like so much of Nick's story, this will likely remain a bit of a mystery.

-chris

 

[Diamondave]

I have 2 M-20's they are cool guitars, I have never seen a M-30 for sale, there is at least one m-20 on ebay at most times. Sent you a PM-

 

[bluegrass jubilee]

i'd love an old m-20, but we keep driving the ebay prices up with all the praise that gets heaped on them here! haha

 

[walrus]

As plaidseason said, it is easy to believe the Nick Drake used an M-20 given the unique sound he got. Definitely does not sound like a dreadnought. Also, he used a lot of very interesting alternate tunings.

For an overview of his tunings, check out:

http://www.algonet.se/~iguana/DRAKE/tunings.html

walrus