A Levin W32 guitar

Subject: A Levin W32 guitar
From: Nick Dow
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 05:39 PM

I have just aquired a 1976 W32 Martin built Levin. Unusually it has a (Brazilian?) Rosewood body.
Some clown had attacked it with carpentary tools, cutting into the bridge saddle, grinding down the insert and putting extra light strings on it.
The excellent Brian Eastwood of Bacup, remade a compensating nut, in bone, shaved off a fraction of the fingerboard and restored the intonation, adding Schaller tuners and 13 to 56 phospher bronze strings and a new bone bridge insert and brass end pegs, it has leapt back into life, and sounds very much like an early Fylde. I payed next to nothing for it, and I am well pleased. Are there any other Mudcatters with similar stories? (about Levins or how good Brian is!)

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 05:54 PM

I used to play with someone who had a Levin which I think he'd had from the 60s. As far as I remember, in the folk club one night, he forgot to fasten his guitar case and the guitar came out, crashing to the floor. Whatever, it hit the floor and the body sort of split in two.

He was a joiner (but not a luthier) and he stuck it back together somehow but you could see where the break had been and it never was the same instrument afterwards,

I think he replaced it with a Takemine.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: Nick Dow
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 06:24 PM

Saw that happen to a Yamaha once. Nasty. I have just been watching one of those vintage 1960's totp progs. and Peter Sarstedt was filmed playing a W32. Where do you go to my Doris when you're alone on the bus---or something like that I think.
Wouldn't swap my Levin for a Takemine though, all a bit too light built for me.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: michaelr
Date: 07 Aug 11 - 10:14 PM

What means "Martin built Levin"?

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: Leadfingers
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 04:49 AM

Martin bought the Levin factory - I THINK they later called them Sigma - mainly because they were too much competion !
I used to have an L60 - lovely tone , but the neck was well on the way out , and I replaced it with a D35 in 1970

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: Lox
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 04:52 AM

Levin make extraordinary Archtops - beautiful!

Just thought I'd say that!

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: bubblyrat
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 05:18 AM

I believe that Levin were experiencing some financial difficulties ,and that Martin were tempted into taking them over ,as they had a considerable stock of very good , top-quality tone-woods ,which obviously went with the deal ! ( Brazilian Rosewood probably included ).
                I have never owned one , but there are a few about ; A guy I used to see sometimes in the Bournemouth area ( we were both at Yeovil Folk Club to see Paul Simon in 1965 /66 !) has owned one for years , and still plays it today ; nice guitars , Levins. I believe that the "Goliath" was a popular model ??

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: PHJim
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 04:36 PM

Either you have given the wrong model number or you have a truly unique instrument. The W32 was made with a solid mahogany back and sides.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: PHJim
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 04:37 PM

I own a 1958 Goya M-26 Goliath. Goliath was Levin's name for Dreadnought. When the original Levin Company was building guitars, at least in the late 50s and early 60s, the name Goya went on the headstock of instruments headed for North America and Levin was on the European instruments. I have a friend who has a Levin that is exactly like my Goya except for the decal on the headstock. When built by Levin, the Goyas were professional quality guitars, but the Martin Goyas were entry level instruments.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 09 Aug 11 - 05:20 AM

Thanks for that Jim. It's definately rosewood and yes you are right most were mahogany. It is a W32 J if that one letter makes any difference. I am at the Herga soon, if anybody wishes to share their knowledge with me.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: GUEST,levin W32 owner
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 12:05 PM

I think the J means the guitar wa made in Japan.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 01:28 PM

I used to love Levins. They were more than I could afford in the 60's. But then a lady pupil turned up with an old one - sometime in the 1980's and it reawakened my interest. Ships that pass in the night. A vision of beauty.

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: Little Robyn
Date: 30 Nov 11 - 04:42 PM

John Hayday had a Levin when he visited the Monde Marie in Wellington, NZ in 1967. Not sure what model tho'.
Robyn

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: GUEST,Marco
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 12:54 PM

"j" means jacaranda=rosewood

Marco

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 01:04 PM

I have a levin w 32 j from 1977. It is made in sweden(not in japan).high class spruce top and rosewood body. The tone of the guitar is great and it can cope with a D 28 imho. In europe it is worth 1.000,- EUR.

more information: www.vintage-guitars.se

Subject: RE: A Levin W32 guitar
From: GUEST,RickS
Date: 08 Dec 11 - 03:24 PM

A Levin Goliath was my first decent guitar, back in 1966 - my recollection is that the sunburst models cost £45 (UK), & the blond-topped ones £54 - mine was a second-hand sunburst that I paid £28 for, I see the same models now going for several hundred! (but then the '48 Martin OOO-28 that I paid £150 for would now fetch c£15000!) Yes, they were fine guitars, tho there seemed to be a drop-off in quality around 1970, when they changed the design somewhat; wish I still had my old one tho! & even more, that Martin!