Official Luthiers Forum!

I am looking for a book that gives fairly detailed specs on various models of Martin guitars... down to the nitty gritty.. Particularly vintage specs.

I have a book like this on gibson acoustics, and one for telecasters and strats, but I can't seem to locate one for Martin's. This is probably something only hard core collectors or luthiers would be after.

Does anyone know of such a thing? If so I would appreciate the tip.

Thanks.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I have this one, it is pretty good.

Martin Guitars

I think it is pretty funny that the author's name is Washburn!Arnt38960.4979861111

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I have this book too and it is very interesting and it does contain some technical detailed, but not down to absolute specs.

I just bought that a couple weekends ago, and although it's a great read, there are in no way the kind of details that Brock is looking for.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I think you are probably right, Don.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I thought it was cool about the author's name too...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Brock, I now it's not a book but this is the motherload of detailed information about vintage Martin guitars, the guy is an encyclopedia and will always answer questions.

Vintage Martin specs

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Ok, cool. In the short term what I am looking to do is gather every scrap of info I can on vintage pre-war martin 00's. But in the long run there are several other models I would like to have the skinny on too.

Thanks. I will check it out.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Brock,

The book "Martin Guitars - A History" by Mike Longworth, Martin's historian, might have what you're looking for. It has specs going back Size 5 up to 12- and 14-fret dreads, archtops, etc., with body, scale length and neck width specs, but perhaps not as detailed as you might need.

They're on ebay quite often, but a bit pricey. Our own John Hall just sold one.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Longworth's book is the real deal. Dick Boak is having it updated and a revised edition may be ready in the next 12 to 18 month's. Visiting the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum's Technical area is a good bet also. Those guys are amazing in their knowledge and various Martin employees will chime in on occasion.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Colin
Thanks for posting that link, very nice!

Tom

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http://www.moriciguitar.com

I suggest that you wait before spending a lot on a used Longworth book.

The new version IS in progress, and while there's no publication date yet
announced, it's going to happen. There will be loads of corrections and
additions, to say the least. . .

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Cheers,

Frank Ford

FRETS.COM
HomeShopTech
FRETS.NET

Cool....

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."