About Portman Guitars

Dave Portman began playing, collecting, and occassionallly selling vintage acoustic guitars, banjos, and mandolins in the summer of 1958. As a student at the time at the University of Michigan, he hunted out fine pre-war instruments with friends George Roberts and Marc Silber. In those days, the pre-war gems were far more plentiful and typically in far better original condition than they are these days. The three, and a few others, swapped instruments with Jon Lundberg in California and Harry West in North Carolina.

One of the first quality guitars Dave ran across was a 1930s Euphonon 16” jumbo and this sparked a lifelong interest in Larson Brothers guitars. As you can see here in the old pictures from that era, he has had his share of great Martins as well. These days in retirement, Dave continues to play and collect high-end big Larsons, Martins, and Bacon B & Ds, and is always glad to talk to others who share these interests. He can be reached at david.n.portman@gmail.com.

c. 1964 photo of (right to left) Dave with John Deichman's personal 1916 Martin 000-45 with ivory bridge, Lois Portman with 1920s Martin 0-45, friend Mike Bradley with Dave's c. 1929/30 Martin 000-45.  Photo taken in Ithaca, NY. — c. 1964 photo of (right to left) Dave with John Deichman's personal 1916 Martin 000-45 with ivory bridge, Lois Portman with 1920s Martin 0-45, friend Mike Bradley with Dave's c. 1929/30 Martin 000-45. Photo taken in Ithaca, NY.