'Sigma-Martin USA' guitars built in 1981 and 1982 only, had specifically assigned serial numbers ranging from 900,001 to 902,908 (2,907 in total.) These serial numbers are documented by C.F. And to this day remain the only Sigma related serial numbers that are publicly available. Hey FenderBender, Welcome to the forum. Dating Sigma guitars is not an exact science. AFAIK the serial numbers do not correspond to dates. Others on the forum are way smarter than I, but I think the best that can be done is to narrow it down to a decade or two based on the country of origin and couple of other physical traits of the guitar. There is no way to tell the age from the serial numbers as Martin used different factories and no obvious control over serial numbers. Price will depend on finding the right buyer for your guitar. However, if you are a player, I would recommend that you keep it as it will improve in value and tone as the years go. Nov 15, 2011 Dating Sigma guitars is not an exact science. AFAIK the serial numbers do not correspond to dates. Others on the forum are way smarter than I, but I think the best that can be done is to narrow it down to a decade or two based on the country of origin and couple of other physical traits of the guitar. Not finding what you're looking for? Save sigma dm3 guitar to get e-mail alerts and updates on your eBay Feed.
Guitar maker C.F. Martin & Co., based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, created a line of inexpensive guitars in 1970 to compete with the increasing number of imported guitars from Japan and elsewhere. The result was Sigma Guitars.
The Sigma line was discontinued by C.F. Martin & Co. in 2007.
In 2011 the German company 'AMI Musical Instruments GmbH' purchased the rights to the name and relaunched Sigma Guitars again, this time being produced in China.[1]
Since the U.S. rights to the Sigma brand name and trademark had been allowed to lapse by C.F. Martin & Co. prior to selling the brand to AMI, and had since been picked up by St. Louis Music of Missouri, AMI is not allowed to use the brand name 'Sigma' in the U.S. for their current line of guitars. They are distributed and sold in the U.S. as Kindred Guitars. The sole current U.S. distributor is now Six String Brokerage LLC, Nazareth, Pa.
History[edit]
Initial construction was in Japan by various manufacturers/factories from 1970 through 1983.
The first Sigmas were typically dreadnought acoustics, although Grand Concert Series (GCS) and classical models were also produced from the early 1970s (1971?) onward. Though other models were produced the most common two throughout the '70's were the Dreadnought models DM-5 (DM12-5) and DR-7 (DR12-7.) D for dreadnought, R for rosewood, M for mahogany and the number denoting the grade of wood, 5, 7, 9, 11, 15.[citation needed]
Construction moved from Japan from 1970–1983, to Korea from 1984-1994, to Taiwan in 1994 (made in both Korea and Taiwan for the 1994 model year) and finally Indonesia (?–2007). [2]
In 1978, model designations were added to capitalize on Martin model numbers: the DM-18, DM-19, DR-28, DR-28H, DR-35, DR-41, and DR-45. They are called 'Second Generation' Sigma's by C.F. Martin and featured solid wood top. The 'First Generation' DM-5 and DR-7 (laminate wood bodies and tops,) as well as other early models (e.g., the GCS-7/CS-7) remained in production during this time as well.
Pegheads & Logos
Sigma guitars made in Japan from 1970 through 1983.
Labels and Brands
Sigma's made in Japan from 1970 through 1979 used a paper label to identify the model and serial number of the instrument. The model and serial numbers were usually stamped on in ink, but some are known to have been hand-penned. This is especially true of unusual, special (sample/prototype models) and/or low production number models (e.g.: DT-30.)
Serial Numbers
Under the best of circumstances, Sigma serial numbers can only provide an indicator of the year when a particular model was built. This may be due to them being built in several Japanese factories at the same time with no coordination or tracking in the numbering system.[citation needed]However, while some models lasted the entire run from 1970 through 1983, others did not and were only offered for a limited number of years. Other physical indicators or attributes, such as finish, trim, tuners, etc., can help determine the approximate construction date of a particular example, but almost never exactly.[3]
In the 70's Sigma produced a line of guitars with model numbers starting with 52S, e.g., 52SDM-5, 52SDR-7 and 52SGCS-7. While it was thought at one time that these were somehow 'special' and had solid tops, based on current research and scholarship, an emerging school of thought dismisses this notion. Current documentation (taken from the files at Martin) indicate these models were produced by the Kasuga Gakki company as overload for the Tokai Gakki company. No solid top Sigma under numerical model designation '8' exists, save for the DM-1ST (Solid Top.) Further, tests conducted on the 52S models with model numbers below '8' show that they are, in fact, wholly laminate bodies. Models such as the 52SDR-9, 52SDR-11, 52SDR-14 and 52SDR-15 DO have solid spruce tops and are considered the predecessors to the 'Second Generation' models: Most Sigma guitars under the numerical model number 8 are wholly laminate bodies (exception is the DM-1ST.)[citation needed]
The top wood is another matter entirely. Many had laminated tops. Models designated 'Second Generation' or in the 'Marquis' series models had solid spruce tops and the cost reflected this upgrade as well, around $100 in USD more.
Actually this is not correct (read below)
Copied from the Sigma Generation III brochure: (see below)
High quality is readily apparent in the SDR-28 and SDR-28H rosewood Dreadnought with its rich appearance and wide range of features: solid spruce top, scalloped top bracing, rosewood back, sides, fingerboard and bridge and carved mahogany neck.
These guitars are thoroughly inspected and prepared by Martin craftsmen at our factory and carry a limited lifetime warranty.
Other Sigma instruments included mandolins, banjos, acoustic and electric Bass guitar basses and solid-body and Semi-acoustic guitar|hollow body electric guitars. Some solid body electric guitars were made by Tokai Guitars Company, LTD.[8]
After Sigma musical instruments were built in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and finally Indonesia, they were sent to Martin & Co. in Nazareth, Pennsylvania to be inspected and adjusted by Martin personnel before going to an authorized retail dealer for sale to the public.[9] These inspections and adjustments were made in the 'old' Martin building on North St. (1859,) then known as the Import house.
The DR-28 was manufactured in Japan, Korea and Taiwan while the SDR-28 and the SDR-28H appear to have been manufactured in Korea and Taiwan only, starting in early 1986. The DR-28, has a solid top with laminate side and back, and the SDR-28 having a solid Spruce top with solid Rosewood sides and back. The SDR models also feature 'scalloped' bracing ala' Martin's own HD-28 with the addition of herringbone design around the binding.
From the Sigma Generation III Brochure (see below)
High quality is readily apparent in the SDR-28 and SDR-28H rosewood Dreadnought with its rich appearance and wide range of features: solid spruce top, scalloped top bracing, rosewood back, sides, fingerboard and bridge and carved mahogany neck. A distinctive herringbone design around the binding adds to the appearance of the SDR-28H Dreadnought. It also includes scalloped bracing, solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides.
These guitars are thoroughly inspected and prepared by Martin craftsmen at our factory and carry a limited lifetime warranty.
The DR-28 and SDR-28 and SDR-28H are clones to the original Martin D-28 and HD-28 guitars and are high quality instruments.
Martin discontinued the Sigma line in 2007, and in 2011 the German company 'AMI Musical Instruments GmbH' (AMI) acquired the rights to the brand from C.F. Martin and relaunched Sigma Guitars worldwide.However, after a year or more of AMI energetically reviving the Sigma brand with an extensive 75 model range of acoustic and electric/acoustic instruments, all closely following Martin designs, it was discovered that C.F.Martin had, inexplicably allowed their rights to the Sigma brand name in US territories to lapse –
Furthermore, the US rights to the lapsed ‘Sigma’ brand name had expired prior to C.F. Martins intended sale of the brand to AMI and has been revived by St Louis Music of Missouri, who currently offer a four model range of Martin clones, all sporting a ‘block style’ Sigma logo similar to the one on the very early Japanese output marketed by C.F. Martin.As a result of this confused situation it has been necessary for AMI, and their US distributor Six String Brokerage LLC, to change the name they sell their guitars in the USA under to ‘Kindred Guitars’. This brand name appears to the left of the Sigma banner on the 'http://www.sigma-guitars.com' website and also at www.sixstringbrokerage.com
Basic Characteristics of Made in Japan Sigma Guitars[edit]
From 1970 to approximately 1976:[6]
From approximately 1977 to 1983:[7]
Tuning Machines
Made in Japan Models[edit]1970 to approximately 1975[6][edit]
72c Sigma 52SDR-11 made in Japan (back)
Sigma Guitars Serial Numbers Year
Sigma Guitars Made In Korea
Earliest models had a zero fret.
Additional Models Approximately 1975 to 1978[edit]
Some of these guitars still had the early peghead logo, instead of the 'Second Generation Sigma' Martin style logo that started in approximately 1976.[7]
Sigma Dm3 Guitar Serial Numbers 1
Sigma produced numerous 'DR-*' models from the mid-70s on through 1984: DR-8; DR-9; DR-11; DR-14; DR-15; DR-28; DR-28S; SDR-28; DR-35; DR-41; and DR-45. The very rare DR-14 was often confused with the DR-41 but it was a different model. They have a 3 piece back ala' D35, and the fret markers are different as well. These rare, hard to find models were actually made in Japan and imported to, and guaranteed by Levin in Sweden. They cost more than the top of the range DR-41 at the time. They have a paper label stating 'Inspected and Guaranteed by Levin' and 'Sigma Guitars' 'est 1970' is inlaid on the headstock in abalone. There is a DR-14 on display in the Sigma Museum in Munich,Germany.
Special and Unusual Models[edit]
From 1980 through 1983, prior to construction being moved to Korea, Sigma produced several models that included electronic pickups: SE-18;SE-19;SE-28;SEMC-28 (with arched back); and SE-36. These models have saddles with each string individually compensated, yielding superb intonation. These models were produced in very limited quantities.[15]
In 1980 Sigma produced the D-10 Anniversary model to commemorate 10 years of Sigma production in Japan. Essentially a gussied up DM-18, the D-10 has a solid spruce top with 'matched' (re: laminated) mahogany sides and back, rosewood fingerboard with diamond and square position markers, mother of pearl band inlay stating 'Anniversary' between the 19th and 20th fret, tortoiseshell type pickguard and binding, and close-ratio tuning machines.[16] This limited production run lasted one year and this model remained on Sigma Dealers quarterly price lists from October 1980 until July 1981.[17] It is not known at this time just how many D-10's were built but it is believed by some, and indicated by the number up for saleat any given time that production ran into the thousands, not limited to 100 as previously rumored. They were only made in 1980, but throughout the entire build year.
A recently uncovered C.F. Martin memo dated August 7, 1980 further discusses 'economically uncorrectable' cosmetic flaws in the D-10 and how they were to be indicated by the inspectors: 'The flawed instruments were graded into 2 categories depending on the nature of the blemishes and were stamped on the back center strip accordingly.
Sigma Dm3 Guitar Serial Numbers Identification
In the years of 1981 & 1982, Martin imported partially assembled Sigma guitars from Japan and the assembly was completed in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. There were only two models, labeled 'Sigma Martin USA DR-28N and DR-35N,' 'N' for Nazareth. A Martin factory sales brochure shows the DR-28N retailed at $600.00 and the DR- 35N retailed at $650.00 The DR-35N had a 3-piece laminate rosewood back and sides and a solid spruce top. The DR-28Nhad a 2-piece back. The DR-35N had additional detail on the fretboard. The original factory brochure also states components were processed and finished on the same production line as regular Martins. The peghead logo reads 'Sigma Martin USA' and inside the sound box is on the neck block ' made in USA' with Martin address etc. Some consider the DR-35N to be a prototype of the inexpensive laminate Martin Shenandoah line of guitars,[18] later to become their current HPL (High Pressure Laminate) line of laminated bodied guitars. Since these models had serial numbers ranging from 900,001 to 902,908,.[5] it appears only 2907 of these Sigma Martin USA guitars were ever produced in total, though there may have been others that did not make final inspection and hence were not serialed (I personally know of one such Sigma-Martin,) and are the only Sigma related serial numbers publicly available from Martin at this time.
References[edit]
Sigma Dm3 Guitar Serial Numbers DatingExternal links[edit]Sigma Dm3 Guitar Serial Numbers And Values
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