The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #71908 Message #1677017
Posted By: GUEST,Frank in Las Vegas
23-Feb-06 - 03:02 PM
Thread Name: Sigma Guitars
Subject: RE: sigma guitars
In response to the above posting by Steve Hankins, 05 Feb 04:
I have a DR-7 exactly like yours; bought it "used" in 1988 for $160 after having had to sell my Martin D-28 four years earlier, (which was kind of a "lemon" anyway). Mine also has the stamped brace (Made in Japan for C.F. Martin Co.), and the inner paper label where the serial number 037980 appears, along with the inscription, "Inspected by K. Saigo." It appears to have a solid spruce top, laminated back and sides, closed tuners that display the word "Sigma", lots of white binding, (including up the neck), and the gold "Sigma Guitars Est 1970" headstock logo. (It is interesting to note that the early Takamines from this period sported the exact logo).
This has always been a great sounding guitar; I took it to the local Guitar Center a couple years ago, and played it in the "humid room" along with the Martins. While of course it could not stand up to the higher end models, it held it's own quite nicely against the D-28 in terms of sound quality.
After finding this web, I ordered ebony bridge pins and a bone saddle from the Martin 1833 shop; the sound quality is much improved! (A nice $40 investment).
Regarding the serial numberings: your's is 024680, mine is 037980. I surmise our guitars were manufactured in 1980; your's is the 24th guitar of the month of June, mine is the 37th of the month of September. (I would like to hear Mr. Webb's view).
While I have my eye on one of the higher end Maritns, (HD-28V), this Sigma is definitely a "keeper".