Re: Sigma Mandolin?
Sigma was a line of Asian imports that Martin commissioned around 1970. Their production moved from Japan to Korea (1984), then to Taiwan (c.1993). Martin stopped importing them around 2003, I think, but some German company has acquired the trademark and is building Sigma guitars in China now, I hear.
Most Sigma guitars copied Martin's "D" models. Sigma mandolins, however, were nothing like the Martin mandolin models, but more closely followed Gibsonian precedents: A- and F-models, laminated or with solid tops. I think all the tops were heat-pressed, but there may have been some carved. There were also Sigma banjos, electric guitars and basses.
Don't think Martin every imported many of them. The company had pretty much shut down making mandolins in Nazareth by the 1970's, with only a few Style A's being produced. Guess the Sigmas were supposed to fill in a bit for the absence of Martin-made instruments.
Allen Hopkins
Gibsn: '54 F5 3pt F2 A-N Custm K1 m'cello
Natl Triolian Dobro mando
Victoria b-back Merrill alumnm b-back
H-O mandolinetto
Stradolin Vega banjolin
Sobell'dola Washburn b-back'dola
Eastmn: 615'dola 805 m'cello
Flatiron 3K OM
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