Sigma Guitars By Terada

[Sigmania]

It looks like Martin may have sold the Shenadoah brand and possibly the Sigma brand sometime in the early 1990s to Kurosawa who then contracted with Terada to build high spec torch in lay Martin clones labeled as Shenandoah and Sigma?

 

[Sigmania]

Edit: 1992 Terada build?



I believe this style paper label with the floral border and gold lettering for “CF Martin & Co” (see first picture) is from the period where Terada possibly built some Sigma guitars?

My belief is that Terada made these in the late 80s and early 90s, though that needs to be verified

Very well built.

This one is marked as a SIGMA S00045V. So SIGMA version of a Martin 000-45 with Jacaranda back & sides.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sigma-Guit...-/265199797212?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

 

[Sigmania]

Here is another of what I believe is a Terada built Sigma.

This one is labeled as SD45J, the Sigma version of a Martin D-45 with Jacaranda back & sides. Seller, Ishibashi Music, states body is laminate.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373602703305?hash=item56fc74d7c9:g:f00AAOSwy29guNbX

 

[Sigmania]

And here is an SEC 2000J.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373602702844?hash=item56fc74d5fc:g:HcsAAOSwRtNguNbF

 

[Sigmania]

And another I believe Terada built Tokai. An S00028EC.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/324365547613?hash=item4b85b1785d:g:yJMAAOSwuDBfp3Zk

 

[Sigmania]

I am wondering if the case with the previous guitar was a mismatch? The label on the case looks a lot like a Cat's Eyes type case label? Which is a Tokai build. The label on the guitar looks like a Terada build. Wondering if they got switched?

Compare with this Cat's Eyes label.

 

[Sigmania]

And to go with the above guitar, a Terada built (?) Sigma S00028V.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/265199439010?hash=item3dbf1e4ca2:g:Fo0AAOSwVEBgy6c5

 

[Sigmania]

And this one, listed as a Sigma SEC28, that also has the case that looks like a Cats Eyes case....

This guitar seems to not have the paper label, so maybe it is a Tokai build?

I love this guitar. Sad to see the clouding in the finish. I don't know how to reverse that.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144064839710?hash=item218aef001e:g:0MkAAOSwO3JguuQh

 

[Sigmania]

And this unusual Terada built (?) Dreadnought. The owner is calling it a "Clarence White model" which is a first for me to see a CW/Tony Rice model made by Sigma. I do see the enlarged sound hole. Would love to know if that was done in the factory. Amazing piece if it was.

Additional info from the web site:

HD-28LSH, Serial #S073037

TOP: SolidSpruce
BODY: Rosewood
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
HEAD INLAY: AbaloneTorch
BodyPurfling: Herringbone

http://hakueda.web.fc2.com/vg/gvg.html

 

[Sigmania]

Here is another Sigma with the paper label with the metallic gold ink.

It is a guitar I once owned. An SMC-68.

Maple body. Cutaway. Oval sound hole.

 

[guitar hiro]

Never owned any Sigma guitars but they look fantastic; they must be great guitars if they were made for CFMartin.

Great thread you have created. 8)

 

[Sigmania]

Thanks. I would love to get more information, especially on those paper label models with the gold Martin logo on the paper. I'm starting to think that there is a strong possibility they were not exported, or that if they were it was in small quantities. Would love to know more.

The Sigmas we most commonly see in the US are definitely budget models, designed to not compete with Martins and offer a budget alternative (laminated bodies, etc.).

However, there were some that were great guitars. Some had solid bodies, although it can be really tricky to tell because Japanese luthiers were so good at matching grains, the inside and outside grain can look very similar even on a laminate guitar.

 

[Sigmania]

Sigma Guitars By Martin Sec-42 | eBay

 

[Sigmania]

No idea what this is (where and when made).

Something else for the Japanese domestic market?

Sigma by Martin SD-45 #0357 | eBay

 

[Sigmania]

Sigma Guitars by Martin&Co Sigma SEC-2000J Jacaranda | eBay

 

[Sigmania]

SEC-2000J

Acoustic Guitar Sigma by Martin SEC-2000J with Hard Case | eBay

 

[Sigmania]

SMC-28

Sigma Guitars by C.F.Martin SMC-28 Acoustic Guitar 1990 W/Hard Case F/S | eBay

 

[jselect]

I believe this style paper label with the floral border and gold lettering for “CF Martin & Co” (see first picture) is from the period where Terada possibly built some Sigma guitars?

My belief is that Terada made these in the late 80s and early 90s, though that needs to be verified

Very well built.

This one is marked as a SIGMA S00045V. So SIGMA version of a Martin 000-45 with Jacaranda back & sides.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sigma-Guit...-/265199797212?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286

Is this your guitar?

 

[Sigmania]

No. This is a long thread documenting the variety of Sigmas. This one seems to be a newly made guitar, and I am wondering if it was made in China? Seller is stating the back & sides are solid koa, but I would wonder.

 

[Sigmania]

Sigma Guitars by Martin&Co SEC-2000J | eBay