Sigma by martin

Sigma guitars were Made in Japan from 1970 to 1983

Sigma Martin Guitar Model #s - Here's What they Mean

“B” = Bass (or “Black” if used at the end of a model name as in TB-1B)
“C” = Concert
“CE” = Cutaway/Electric
“D” = Dreadnought shape
“E”= Electric
“G” = Grand (as in GC Grand Concert)
“H” = Herringbone purling around body edges and usually the sound hole.
“M” = Mahogany (usually the back and sides)
“N” = Natural finish
“R” = Rosewood fretboard
“S” = Solid back and sides
“SB” = Solid Body (electric guitar)
“ST” = Solid Top (usually Spruce)
“STB” = Solid top and bottom (probably Spruce, but maybe Spruce on top, Mahogany or Rosewood on bottom -- but solid wood, not laminate.
“T” = Translucent finish
“TB” = Thin Body as in TB-1B (Thin Body, Model#1, Black color.)
“12” = 12 strings

Codes designating color or finishing details (R, H, B, etc.) are usually the last letter in a model name.

Therefore, a Sigma SDR28H Acoustic Guitar, for example, has solid (as opposed to plywood) back and sides (S), a Dreadnought shape (SD), a Rosewood fretboard (SDR), model #28, which compares to the Martin style it copies, although I don’t have a comparison list (SDR2, with Herringbone purling . . . so its an SDR28H.

Model numbers usually designate quality and price, within a model range. For example, a DM-3 is higher in price, and better in quality, finish and detail than a DM-2 . My CS-6, for example, is top-of-the-line, compared to its CS-3 cousin.

As for prices, the solid woods fetch more than the laminates (i.e. plywood); the higher model numbers (within a model range) usually have more details and features (like purling, enclosed tuners, etc.) and so fetch higher prices. But, in the end, condition is everything. A mint and ORIGINAL condition, low-end Sigma will fetch more than a beat-up high-end model with non-vintage tuners. An original hard-shell case also adds value.

Check eBay completed auctions for current selling prices. In the end, a thing is only worth what someone will pay for it.

There are always exceptions to the above list of model codes, because Sigma guitars were made in different countries over a number of decades. You might, for example, find that "S" means "Spruce" on some models and "M" might mean "Maple". So look carefully at an instrument and use your good judgment when interpreting the model names.

Find out why other Sigma guitar owners love their instruments by browsing the reviews (listed by model name) at this link:
http://reviews.harmony-central(...)Sigma

More info on a few older Sigma models here: http://www.sigmaguitars.com/index.html

Hope this helps all you Sigma Acoustic guitar players and collectors out there.
http://www.acousticguitarforum(...)47425

Spécifications
Side & Back: Acajou
Top: Spruce
Touche: Palissandre
Prix de vente : environ 450 euros (occasion ou stock b, vu les marques)
http://item.rakuten.co.jp/elmg(...)d-18/

The Martin Company does not keep Sigma serial number records

Initial construction was in Japan from 1970 through 1984.

The first Sigmas were typically dreadnought acoustics, although Grand Concert Series (GCS) and classical models were also produced from the early 1970s onward. 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 mahogany and the number denoting the grade, 7 being the top grade instrument). Construction moved from Japan (1970–83), to Korea (1984-93/94), and finally Taiwan (1993-2007).[2]

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. The DM-5 and DR-7, as well as other early models continued to be built during this time as well.

Sigma guitars made in Japan from 1970 through 1979. The early '70's models 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, but by the mid-'70's (c'75-'76) the headstock design changed to utilize a gold "Martin style" decal stating "Sigma Guitars" with "Est. 1970" underneath... 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 classical guitars do not have the headstock logo, and one must rely on the inner label for identification.

Made in Japan Sigma's (1970 through the late '70s) had an inner paper label giving model and serial numbers. "Sigma Serial Numbers do not provide an indicator of the year in which a particular model was built. 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."[3] For example, serial numbers on the earliest DR-7s start with 4 digit numbers on through 5 digit numbers. One Sigma DR-7 owner stated "I have an old Sigma DR-7 Guitar....s/n 6860. Bought it new in 1970."[4] Further, DR-7s with a four digit ink stamped label serial number and a zero fret strongly suggests a very early build date. Later, early 70's Sigma guitar serial numbers started with 7* suggesting the 197* build date. "Sigma Martin USA" guitars built in the early 80's had serial numbers 900,001 to 902,908.[5] Serial numbers for Sigma guitars built in Korea and Taiwan are perhaps meaningless.

In 1970 or 1980 the paper labels were discontinued and the back brace was stamped. With the move of production to Korea in 1984, paper labels (of a different design) were reinstated although some early 1984 models still retained the back brace stamp.

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. 1970" underneath, in the familiar Martin headstock decal form. High end models such as the D-10 Anniversary model have the "Second Generation" logo in mother of pearl. Guitars made in Taiwan have a different headstock label: "Sigma Guitars" on top with a miniature version of the "C.F. Martin & Co." label underneath.

The issue of whether or not Sigma guitars are solid wood or laminate wood has been a source of controversy and confusion. 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.[6] [7] 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. 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S(...)itars

Basic Characteristics of Made in Japan Sigma Guitars

From 1970 to approximately 1975:[6]

Adjustable bridge on all dreadnought (except DJ-7) and GCS models, but this is an inconsistency as well as not all had the adjustable bridge.
Martin style peghead with adjustable truss bar through peghead from 1970 through 1979.
Peghead is a unique style that differs from the traditional Martin peghead design
Original peghead logo Sigma with Greek symbol Σ above
The first year 1970 DR-7 has a zero fret as well as some of the 12-strings.

From approximately 1975 to 1984:[7]

Nonadjustable bridge, often showing a pair of pearloid screw covers.
Martin style peghead with adjustable truss bar through peghead from 1970 through 1979. Truss Bar adjustments were accessed through the sound hole from 1980 forward.
From approximately 1980 through 1984, with few exceptions, back brace stamps were used instead of a paper label
Original peghead logo Sigma with Greek symbol Σ above until approximately 1975.
1975 onward, "Martin style" decal logo stating "Sigma Guitars" with "Est. 1970" underneath

The early '70's models 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, but by the mid-'70's (c'75-'76) the headstock design changed to utilize a gold "Martin style"

Année 75/76?
Ça chauffe dans le tabernacle
Pour le massif, il me reste à voir un luthier

Grandement merci à toi

Eventhough you can't date Sigma guitars based on serial numbers, you can roughly estimate the age based on other things. The greeg letter zigma-logo (like letter M sideways) was changed to "Martin Look alike" (SigmaGuitars /EST 1970) logo in 1979. Manufacturing was shifted to Korea in 1984 and to Taiwan in 1993-1994. So there are no Sigma's from the 70's that were made in Korea eventhough you see them in eBay listings a lot
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Aco(...)r.htm