Despite Martin's legendary status in the acoustic guitar arena, their electric guitars models have been less successful. Although in 1959 they had offered D-18 and D-28 dreadnoughts with added pickups and controls, Martin's first true electric guitars were the F series archtops introduced in 1961. These were replaced in the GT series, which was made until 1968. The GT Series consisted of three models: the GT-70, GT-75 and GT-75-12. These were semi-hollow bodied thin-line electric with two f-holes. They had bound rosewood 22 fret fingerboards, with dot position markers and large headstocks which were radically different from Martin's acoustic guitar pegheads. The GT-70 was a single cutaway and the GT-75 double cutaway. Both had two DeArmond pickups.
Martin described the GT Series as follows in their catalog:
- "These new Martin electrics feature exceptionally slender necks. each having 22 low-lying frets on a narrow linger- board at genuine Brazilian rosewood. this assures the brilliant tonal qualities and last action favored by professionals
- From their lean bodies to the smooth, close frets of nickel silver, these guitars provide the answer for the demanding musician who insists on the most modern technical advances in sound reproduction, matched with high quality workmanship.
- Martin's history of painstaking craftsmanship, blended With the latest resonance developments. have resulted in the production of these already highly-praised guitars There are no heels on the thin. especially-reinforced necks of either instrument, giving complete ease when playing the total length of the 22-fret fingerboard. bound in white. And, using a new, adjustable neck rod. we have ensured the lowest and fastest action possible.
- Both the GT-70 and the GT-75 are equipped With DeArmond high-fidelity dual electric guitar pick-ups, and both bass and treble have individually-adjustable magnets under each string which compensate for any variable characteristics and provide improved. well-balanced tone. In addition, the pick-ups have their own individual tone and volume controls. By using the three position selector switch, these guitars can utilize the treble or bass pick-ups individually, or both dual pick-ups simultaneously.
- The GT-70 and the GT-75 are both available in deep, polished burgundy or black finish, protected by lustrous white pick-guards and bindings on the head, neck and body. Both guitars are prepared for optional-extra Vibrato tail-pieces. now available. The GT-70 Single Cutaway, gaining the 15th fret on the bass side and the 18th fret on the treble. The G-75 Double Cutaway, joining the neck at the 18th fret on both sides."
MARTIN GT-70Introduced in 1965, the GT Series was Martins second true electric guitar series - replacing the F-series models. The Martin GT-70 model was made from 1965 to 1966 and has a semi-hollow plywood body with f-holes, bound 22-fret mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, chrome hardware, two exposed DeArmond pickups (with adjustable pole pieces) and a Bigsby-style tailpiece. The large, bound, non-traditional Martin headstock has a logo decal and 3-per side tuners.. The GT-70 was available in black or burgundy red finishes and only around 1,450 were made in total. | |
MARTIN GT-75The Martin GT-75 double-cutaway version of the GT-70 made from 1965 to 1967. It had a bound rosewood 22 fret fingerboard, with dot position markers and large headstock with decal logo. Pickups were two DeArmonds.Around 1,555 GT-75s were built in total. | |
MARTIN GT-75-12The Martin GT-75-12 was the 12 string version of the GT-75, made in 1967 only. The GT-75-12 was Martin’s only 12 string electric guitar. To fit the additional tuners the GT-75-12 has a elongated headstock - of different style to the GT-75 and GT-70. Evidently the low sales of the GT-75-12 the meant that some of these oblong headstock necks were surplus to requirements and were used on 6 string GT-75s. All GT-75-12s had red finish and the Bigsby vibrato was not an option. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Finish colors | Made in | Number of strings | Binding |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | black finish, red finish | USA | 6 strings | - | |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | black finish, red finish | USA | 6 strings | - | |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | red finish | USA | 12 strings | body binding, neck binding |
Model | Tone controls | Volume controls | Pickup selector controls |
---|---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls | 3-way selector switch |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | 2 tone controls | 2 volume controls | 3-way selector switch |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | - | - | - |
Model | Pickups brand and model | Pickups configuration |
---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | DeArmond pickup(s) | 2 pickups, 2 single coil pickups |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | DeArmond pickup(s) | 2 humbucker pickups |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | - | - |
Model | Body material | Body shape features | Body style | Hollow body | Pickguard shape | Soundhole | Pickguard material |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | plywood body | archtop, single cutaway | archtop | semi-hollow body | raised pickguard | 2 f-holes | - |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | plywood body | archtop, double cutaway | archtop | semi-hollow body | raised pickguard | 2 f-holes | - |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | plywood body | double cutaway | - | - | - | 2 f-holes | white pickguard |
Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece |
---|---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | adjustable bridge, tremolo bridge | chrome hardware | - |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | adjustable bridge, tremolo bridge | chrome hardware | - |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | - | - | trapeze tailpiece |
Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers |
---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | rosewood fingerboard | dot fingerboard position markers |
Model | Neck material | Number of frets | Peghead (headstock) | Tuner layout |
---|---|---|---|---|
MARTIN GT-70 1965 to 1966 | mahogany neck | 22 fret | bound headstock | three-each-side |
MARTIN GT-75 1965 to 1967 | mahogany neck | 22 fret | bound headstock | three-each-side |
MARTIN GT-75-12 1965 to 1968 | - | 22 fret | - | six-per-side tuners |