C.F. Martin Guitar Sizes
These are various sizes in which the Style 28 was produced.
1-28, 0-28, 00-28, 000-28, OM-28, D-28
Identifying Martin Guitar Sizes by Body Width
12 Fret
Dreadnaught - 15 5/8"
000 - 15"
00 - 14 1/8"
0 - 13 1/2
1 - 12 3/4"
2 - 12"
2 1/2 - 11 5/8"
3 - 1 1/4"
3 1/2 - 10 11/16"
5 - 11 1/4"
14 Fret
Dreadnaught - 15 5/8"
000 - 15"
00 - 14 5/16"
0 - 13 1/2
5 - 11 1/4"
The 12 Fret 1928 000-28 and early 1930 OM-28
These are the special sizes in which Martin produced guitars for the Oliver Ditson Company.
Size 1, size 11, and size 111
SCALE LENGTH OF EARLY MARTINS
The following is a sampling of scale lengths of early Martins illustrated on this web site.
The first number is the scale length. The number on the right is the string spacing at the bridge.
As you can see, the earliest scale lengths were quite long, followed by a period of short 24" lengths.
The later guitars seem to be somewhat standardized at 24 1/2" for the small body guitars, and 24 7/8" for size 1.
(all pre-1867 Martins unless otherwise noted)
EARLIEST FANCY MARTINS
25 1/4" Original Stauffer - moustache bridge. 2 5/16"
24 7/8" Hudson Street - replacement ivory pin bridge. 2 5/16"
24 1/2" Early fancy Spanish size 3 - ivory tie bridge. 2 7/16"
24" Ivory fingerboard Stauffer headstock - replacement ebony pin bridge. (I've wondered if the original was ivory pin or tie). New bridge plate. 2 1/4"
MARTIN & COUPA
24" Early Spanish Martin & Coupa - ebony tie bridge with ivory inset 2 9/32"
24" Koa Martin & Coupa - shield shape bridge, pins in arc. 2 5/16
LIGHT DIAMOND BACKSTRIPS/ Spanish foot
24 3/4" Hybrid X 1-28 2 3/8"
LIGHT DIAMOND BACKSTRIPS/ split neck blocks, old marquetry end
24 7/16" 2-23 2 1/4"
24 1/2" 2-24 2 5/16"
24 1/2" 2-24 2 5/16"
24 1/2" 2-20 2 5/16
DARK DIAMOND BACKSTRIPS
24 7/16" 2-23 2 5/16" (solid block)
24 1/2" 2- 21 2 5/16" (split block)
EARLY MARTINS WITH OTHER MARQUETRY BACKSTRIPS
24 1/2" 2-20 with herringbone backstrip, old marquetry end 2 5/16
24 7/8" 1-21 with zig zag marquetry rosette 2 5/16"
24 7/8" Early 1-28 with pearl rosette 2 7/16"
24 1/2" Early 2-27 2 5/16"
NO BACKSTRIP
24 7/8" 1-26 with zig zag marquetry border 2 3/8"
POST 1867 MARTINS
24 1/2" post '67 2-27 2 5/16"
24 7/8" 1890's 2-42 2 5/16"
earlymartin.com
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